Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
She licks her lips. “It’s beautiful.”
“You have no idea.”
“Bennett, I don’t understand.” She’s looking at the painting again. “Breezy said—”
“Breezy was doing me a favor to get you here. See, I wasn’t sure you’d answer a phone call directly from me, seeing as I’ve been such a dick and all.” Her eyes jump to mine, and I smile. “Isn’t that what you called me in Earl’s that day?”
“Something like that.” She snorts. “And then you made some crass remark about how big yours is.”
“Yeah, that was pretty bad.” I groan, but I quickly move the conversation toward the whole reason she’s here. “Norah, that day, at the funeral, when you told me you still love me, I should’ve said it too. I love you—and have loved you, I’m pretty sure, since the moment I met you.”
“The moment you met me, you kicked me out of your truck.”
I smirk. “Self-preservation.”
She shakes her head, and I move. Forward and fast, I grab her hand in mine and sink down onto one knee.
Her whole body locks up, and her eyes grow unbelievably wide. “Bennett, what are you doing?”
“Norah Ellis, love of my life, you came blazing in when I thought I needed you the least. You were fancy and fresh, and you had the kind of compassion I didn’t think anyone possessed. You ramble more than almost anyone I know, you are absolutely fucking terrible at coffee, and you’re a pain in the ass fifty percent of the time, but hell, so am I. I want days with you, not without you, and even in my darkest hours, you gave to me without any expectation of anything in return. You loved my daughter like I did, and now, I want to love you like she did. With my whole heart, my whole soul, and my last breath.”
Her knees shake, and so does her breathing.
“Norah, please, I’m begging you…would you do me the honor of marrying me?”
“Bennett…I…I have to tell you something.”
It’s not the answer I’m expecting, but I’ll be honest, I was expecting a no. This…I think I can handle.
“Is the thing you have to tell me ‘Yes,’ by any chance?”
“Bennett…I’m…I’m pregnant.”
A candle blows out in the corner and then another one at the side, and before I know it, the whole room is cloaked in darkness. And then, just like it never happened, the candles are lit again.
“What was that?” Norah whispers, scared. And that’s when it hits me that this is Summer’s way of saying hello.
My throat is thick as I choke around a ball of emotion. “Pregnant?”
“I just found out,” she whispers. “And I know this is probably not the best time for you to hear this news, and I know—”
“Norah, I love you,” I tell her and rise to my feet. In an instant, I pull her into my arms. “Marry me. Be with me. Raise our baby with me.”
“You’re…” She pauses and leans back to meet my eyes. Tears stream down her cheeks, and her bottom lip quivers with her words. “You’re okay with this?”
“Okay with this? Norah, I want it all, and I want it with you.” I press my lips to hers, taking her mouth in the kind of kiss I’ve been desperate to feel with her for what feels like forever. “Marry me,” I say again, my lips just barely grazing hers.
And this time, she answers.
“Yes, Bennett. Of course, yes.”
My life and all its scary parts flash before me like a blinding light. And then, peace.
Just like that…we’ve made it to the good part.
Epilogue
Norah
Tuesday, November 9th
With Bennett’s new paintbrush tucked in my mouth, I grab the mug of coffee I just made in one hand and my laptop in the other and rush to the side door of the house to get to the studio.
For the past few weeks, he’s been back in his studio and painting. And with the pace he’s been going lately, I know he’s been up and working for hours. But when it comes to me being able to wake up in the mornings and start my day when he starts his, this pregnancy is kicking my ass.
I’m halfway there when my phone rings in my pocket, and I have to shuffle to figure out how I can free up a hand. Bennett’s log-splitting station is nearby, so I make a quick jog, set down the steaming coffee, and grab my phone out of my pocket just as the ringtone is coming to an end.
There’s no time to look at the caller, so on a wing and a prayer, I put it up to my ear and say, “Hello?”
“Hi there. May I speak with Norah Ellis, please?”
My eyebrows knit together slightly. “This is she.”
“Hi, Norah. My name’s Amanda. I’m Dr. Vesper’s nurse, calling from Burlington Women’s Group. Dr. Vesper wanted me to call to let you know that we got the results of the genetic testing back from your blood work.”