Page 39

Chapter 38

Annette

A s I was putting on earrings, Terry came into the bathroom. Of course, he came straight up to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. His start of a five o’clock shadow rubbed against my shoulder cleft.

It felt so good. After he spun me around to face him, I got a good look at his smile. He was up to something. I’ve learned to hate that smile since it meant that either he or his son was up to something.

As much as I wanted to ask him what he was up to, I knew it was fruitless. So I said the much lamer, “You’re in a good mood.”

His hand drifted up and lingered on my back. “Yup. Tonight is going to be a very good night.”

“Oh?”

He tapped me on my butt and basically shooed me out of the bathroom. “You’ll see, but you gotta let me get ready first.”

I shook my head, but I realized Eric was being too quiet.

At least with the mini-version of Terry, I could find out what he was up to.

I went to his bedroom first, but he wasn’t there, so I went downstairs, thinking he was outside shooting pucks on the net again. Instead, he was sitting up nice and straight at the table, coloring.

He looked adorable in the little suit. It was totally something his dad helped to pick out since it wasn’t a black suit jacket. Nope, it was in a burgundy brocade. It couldn’t be boring.

“What are you and your dad up to?” I asked.

Eric didn’t even look up at me when he said, “You have to wait.”

I shook my head, realizing Eric was indeed up to something.

Eric had gotten too trained in keeping secrets, and it was not fair on him. Though I would probably love whatever they’d cooked up, Eric seemed to be damn happy just by his sheer demeanor.

Before I could ask more questions, I noticed my long-haired Viking walking into the room in the same burgundy brocade jacket and black pants. He looked so damn good. But there was that flicker in his eye that screamed of mischief and pride.

I crossed my arms. While I didn’t think he would share too much information, I was getting annoyed at being the only one out of the loop.

“Enough, you two. What are you up to? And what’s up with the matching suit jackets?”

Terry wrapped his arms around me and kissed my forehead. “Why can’t I take my family out for a nice dinner?”

Because that’s not the way life works.

Shh.

I needed to quiet the voice in my head that said I deserved only the worst things in life, but it was hard to unlearn everything, even when I was shown each and every day how much I was loved.

While those evil thoughts were subsiding and working with the therapist, it was still taking time.

That was when Walter trotted into the room. He had a bandana that matched the boys’ jackets. I was about to question Terry about what was going on when I realized something was in the overgrown puppy’s mouth.

“Walter, come here,” I called out.

The puppy walked up to me and sat down as if he had some prize in his mouth. “Drop it,” I instructed.

I reached forward to catch whatever was in the dog’s mouth. He dropped a jewelry box.

Terry glided forward, went down onto one knee, and practically shooed his dog out of the way. Walter licked Terry’s ears as Terry looked intently up at me with the most loving eyes. “I wanted to do this once before but didn’t have the opportunity to do so. Now, I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you and Eric. Let’s make everything official. Will you make me the happiest man alive by becoming my wife?”