“It tore me apart to leave like that. But I couldn’t face you, knowing you might be glad I was going.”
His arms wrapped her a little tighter. “Promise you’ll never leave again.”
“I promise I’ll spend the rest of my life by your side.”
Then Nathan kissed Sara once more, looking forward to a future he hadn’t even dreamed of before he met her. Now they would dream together and make those dreams come true.
Epilogue
W hen Kyle saw Sara, he gave a yelp of surprise and ran to her, hugging her hard. “You came back!”
Nathan stood behind Sara, and she could feel his presence as well as his love. Last night had been a honeymoon experience, although they weren’t married yet. They would be soon, though.
Stooping, she took her son into her arms. “I came back.”
Nathan hunkered down to Kyle’s eye level, too. “I asked Sara to marry me. She’s going to live with us always.”
“Really? You’re really going to be my mom?” Kyle waited for her answer with wide-eyed anticipation.
“I’m really going to be your mom.”
Galen and Val had been standing in the kitchen. They came to Sara then, both of them wearing approving expressions.
When Sara straightened, Galen gave her a hug. “When’s the big day?”
“As soon as we can arrange it,” Nathan declared. Wrapping his arm around Sara’s waist, he accepted Val’s congratulations. With a grin, he asked, “Can you help us plan a party for next weekend?”
“What kind of party?” Her eyes were dancing at the prospect.
“An engagement party. I want to invite all our friends. Then I can introduce Sara as my wife-to-be…and Kyle’s mother.”
The idea that Nathan would open up his life again, for her, brought tears to Sara’s eyes.
Galen said, “We haven’t had a party in a long time. And Val might need some help. We can have that new deli cater it, and Val can supervise. She’s good at that.”
Val looked surprised at Galen’s praise, and blushed. Sara felt vibrations there…as if they’d become genuine friends. Maybe more.
As Sara slipped out of her coat, Kyle asked, “Did Dad tell you I’m gonna go to preschool soon?” He appeared to be excited about the prospect.
After laying her coat over the side of a chair, she took Kyle’s hand and led him to the sofa. “Your dad told me last night. How do you feel about that?”
“I can play more. And learn a lot. But…I don’t wanna get sick there.”
Quickly, Nathan stepped in to reassure their son. “You’ll always have your inhaler in your backpack. Mrs. Morton will have one, too. And her house is only a half block from the hospital if you need to go there. Sara and I will check in on you a lot. I think you’ll be fine, as fine as you would be here.”
Last night, after making love most of the evening, she and Nathan had discussed many topics. Kyle, of course, was the main one. Nathan had told her he’d looked into preschool and was happy with the one he’d found. Sara knew letting go of Kyle even for a few hours a day would be difficult for him. But he was attempting to do what was best for him.
The evening flew by as Sara played with Kyle, made plans with Val and happily let Nathan kiss her whenever they found a few minutes alone. That night, they put Kyle to bed together. After they’d both kissed him good-night, he snuggled into the covers, looking like the happiest little boy on earth.
She knew the feeling.
As soon as they stepped into the living room, Nathan took her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. Then, smiling, he clasped her hand and tugged her to the sofa.
Pulling a small box from his pocket, he knelt down on one knee before her.
“Nathan?”
He smiled up at her. “I bought this before we left Minneapolis while you were tying up loose ends at your office.” He took a ring from the box. It was a diamond, a beautifully set oval in an antique-style setting.
“I love you, Sara. The depth of that love makes me shake my head in wonder. Will you accept this ring and a lifetime with me?”
She realized she had absolutely no doubts when she replied, “I love you, Nathan. I want to spend every day with you for the rest of our lives.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger, kissed her palm and gazed up at her with all the feeling her love had set free.
After he rose to his feet, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bedroom.
When he closed the door, she knew their happily-ever-after had just begun.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-1250-7
THE DADDY DILEMMA
Copyright © 2008 by Karen Rose Smith
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The Daddy Dilemma Page 19
