Page 30 of Searching for Sunshine (Crestbrook Cove #1)
STELLA
TEN MONTHS LATER
“ H appy anniversary, Stels,” Wyatt says, pushing into the bedroom, carrying a tray with two plates, both piled with pancakes and bacon.
“Good morning, hubby. And happy anniversary to you too,” I say, wiping the sleep from my eyes and taking the energy drink he’s holding out for me.
“I can’t believe it’s been a year since we got married. Did you ever think we’d end up here when you agreed to all of this?” he asks, sitting the tray down on the bed between us.
“I definitely didn’t see all of this coming, but I’m so glad we ended up where we did.
I— Oh my goodness, Duke, you’ve gotta stop,” I say, turning my attention to our lab who keeps pawing the bed, obviously excited by the smell of the food.
He ignores me and jumps on the bed, tail wagging, and tries to sneak a piece of bacon.
Wyatt just rolls his eyes at the pup and throws him a piece before turning his attention back to me. “So do you want your present now or later?”
“Is that even a question? Gimme,” I tease before adding, “but I kinda feel like an asshole, because I thought we agreed on no gifts.”
“We did. But this isn’t really an anniversary gift. It’s just something I want you to have,” he tells me, standing and searching through his bedside table before pulling out a small ring box.
I look at him in surprise as he bends down to one knee beside the bed and opens the box, revealing a gorgeous vintage ring. I stare at it for a moment before I realize it looks familiar.
“Is that my Memaw’s?” I choke out, tears already clogging my throat.
“Yeah, apparently she had one more trick up her sleeve.” He laughs, and I wait for him to explain.
“I got a call from Mr. Marshall about two weeks ago asking me to come by the office. Apparently, your grandmother left instructions for him to contact your husband at the end of the year and give it to him. Or if you’d decided not to stay married, he said he was supposed to call you.
Either way, none of that really matters.
And I know we’re already married but you deserve a real proposal and a real ring.
So, Stella Hale Robinson, will you be my real wife? ”
I laugh, wiping a tear from my eye before nodding. “Of course, I will.”
“Thank god,” he mutters, slipping the ring on my finger. “And I also thought we could take a real honeymoon this time…what do you think?”
“Really?” I ask, my eyes wide. “I would love that. But where should we go?”
“Wherever you want,” Wyatt answers. “Now that we’ve hired on a full staff, I feel like we can take a little time off. Where do you want to go? Barbados? Aruba? The Maldives?”
I squeal in excitement, before saying, “Oh my gosh, this is going to be so fun, but who will watch Duke and Stan?”
I look over to see Stan, our lizard friend, sunning in the window sill and laugh a little at the question. We’d never intended to make him a pet, but after the sixth visit from the exterminator, we finally gave in and admitted defeat.
“I think Stan will be fine on his own. He’s a big boy and he’s used to taking care of himself,” Wyatt points out, and I giggle.
“Yeah, you’re probably right. And I’m sure Avery will be happy to keep Duke. I know she loves when she gets to spend time with him,” I admit, cutting off a piece of my pancake and popping it into my mouth.
“Perfect. As soon as you pick, we’ll start planning and we can go in the fall as soon as our busy season ends.”
“This is going to be the best time,” I gush. “But are you sure you don’t want to pick?”
“Nope, as long as I’m with you, I don’t care,” Wyatt says, reaching over and kissing me.
“Aww, who knew you were such a romantic. I personally never saw that grumpy side of you that everyone loved to tease you about, but what would the town say if they knew about this side of you?” I tell him, and he rolls his eyes.
“They don’t need to know, because I’ve already found the only one I want to be with.”
I smile. “We better not let Miss Eleanor find out or she might key my car.”
“Eh, yeah, that’s possible,” he teases, and I push the food to the side so I can kiss him.
We’ve only been kissing a few seconds when I hear a knock on the front door. “I swear to god, if that’s Avery… That woman has a radar for when I’m about to get some,” my husband mutters, and I laugh as I throw back the comforter and grab my robe to cover my pajamas.
“I don’t know who it is. If it’s her, she didn’t text me that she was coming over,” I say, swinging the door open and pausing when I see a woman in an elegant white wedding dress standing at the front door.
At first I worry that I forgot about one of our weddings this weekend, but as soon as I look at the girl’s face, I know that’s not what’s going on.
She’s got tears and mascara streaked down both cheeks, and I don’t miss the slightly panicked way she’s looking around right now.
It takes a moment for my brain to recognize her, but eventually I realize it’s Hailey, the girl from the first bachelorette trip.
“Oh my gosh, Hailey. Are you okay?” I ask, opening the door wider for her.
“Stella, I’m so sorry,” she cries. “But yesterday was supposed to be my wedding and I just couldn’t do it.
I couldn’t marry him. So, I got in the car and I ran.
I had no idea where to go and I told myself I wasn’t going to take you up on your offer to move here, but I got scared and just started driving.
I can leave if you want me to. I know this is absolutely crazy.
I just really didn’t know what else to do. ”
“You’re okay,” I tell Hailey, wrapping my arm around her. “Just take a deep breath. You know, not too long ago, this was the place I came to when I was feeling a little lost. And I think it could be the same for you. Why don’t you come inside, and we’ll figure something out?”