Page 140 of Julian

“It’s fine.” She looked up at him from within the circle of his arms. “In fact, it’s perfect. Thank you.”

Julian ushered her around the table to her chair. Once everyone was seated, Jude was the one to say grace before they ate, including thanking God for Kiara.

“Oh, itisroast beef,” Kiara said as the dishes of food were brought to the table. “It’s my favorite.”

“That’s why it’s on the table,” Angie said. “These are all your favorites.”

So much time and attention had gone into this meal, and Kiara was struggling to grasp it all. Angie had always tried to make her birthday special, just like Kiara had tried to do the same for Angie. However, they’d always been constrained by their budget.

There had definitely been no elaborate decorations. Nor had there been roast beef dinners. And the pile of gifts had usually been a pile of one.

This was just so much, and Kiara refused to take it for granted. She had a man who cared for her, a healthy baby, and a brand-new family. Even without the meal and the presents, this would be the best birthday she’d ever had.

Following the meal of roast beef and all the fixings, Mrs. Stevens brought in a beautifully decorated cake with several candles on it. There weren’t enough to represent every year ofher life, but there were enough to make them a challenge to blow out. It was a rich chocolate cake with a silky buttercream frosting. So decadent.

Then came the gifts. Kiara needed nothing, but still the gifts were things that she loved and which spoke of the family’s love for her.

Elizabeth and Duncan had given her a matching set of diamond earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet. She’d never had anything so beautiful and expensive.

Annie and Cole gave her an ankle length, black woolen cape with fur trim. She never would have bought it for herself, but it really appealed to her sense of romance, for some reason.

Angie and Jude’s gift to her was a gorgeous copy of her favorite book, which wasAnne of Green Gables.This book had painted page edges and a gilded cover. It was a far, far cry from the worn paperback she’d read as a girl.

“Thank you so much, everyone,” Kiara said when the table was empty of gifts. “I don’t have the words to describe what this means to me. This has already been a wonderful year, but now I can’t wait to see what the Lord has planned for me in the year ahead.”

“You actually have one more gift,” Angie said.

“What?” Kiara glanced around. “I absolutely don’t need anything more. You were all more than generous.”

“Don’t you want a gift from your husband?” she asked.

She hadn’t even realized that she hadn’t opened anything from Julian. He’d already given her so much that she didn’t need or expect an actual gift from him.

Julian pushed his chair back from the table, then bent down on one knee beside her. Kiara frowned, confused by what washappening. If they hadn’t already been married, she might have thought he was proposing.

“When we got engaged,” Julian began, “it wasn’t the most romantic moment. In fact, it wasn’t romantic at all. Now that we’ve decided to make a go of our marriage, I don’t want you to have missed out on the romance of a proposal. As well as receiving an engagement ring.”

Kiara stared at him in shock as he pulled out a small box and opened it. Inside was a beautiful diamond ring.

“I’m not going to ask you to marry me because we’ve already passed that point,” Julian said as he reached for her hand. “But what I do want to do at this moment, as I give you this ring, is to pledge my love to you. I love you, Kiara, and I want you to know that I am so thankful to God that you are my wife.”

Helovedher? Tears came to her eyes again. So maybe there was one gift he could give her, and he had.

“I love you too, Julian.” The relief she felt at finally being able to say those words to him was immense. “And I couldn’t ask for a better husband or a better father for TJ.”

He slid the ring on her finger, then leaned forward and gently cupped her face as he kissed her.

They’d kissed twice before. Once at their wedding, and once the night he’d come home, but this one lingered just a little longer and was filled with emotion and promise.

“You and me forever, my love,” Julian murmured.

Forever…

At one time in her life, forever hadn’t felt like a positive thing because she and Angie had been stuck in a situation that wasn’t very good. Now, though, forever was a promise she wanted and embraced with all her heart.

EPILOGUE

Julian was smiling before he even reached the steps to the front porch. No matter what was beyond the door—crying children, stressed wife—none of it could dim the happiness he felt at being home.