Page 115 of Someone to Hold

“Molly,” Chase continues, “you taught me what home really means. Not just a place, but the people who make you feel like the best version of yourself. You and Luke and Laurel are my home. You’re my whole world.” He takes a shaky breath. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” I whisper, taking another step toward him. “Of course, yes.”

The kids cheer as Chase slips the ring onto my finger. It fits like it was made for me, and I love the history of it and the way this is the start of our future together. Then he’s pulling me into his arms, kissing me softly while Luke and Laurel dance around us and Kevin moos his apparent approval.

“I love you,” Chase murmurs against my lips. “All of you.”

“I love you, too,” I say, reaching out to pull the twins into our embrace. “We all do. Our family.”

We stay in the barn for another hour, taking turns loving on our fuzzy baby and talking about wedding plans.

“I might have been more scared talking to you two than I ever was getting on a bull,” Chase tells the twins. They love that, and regale me with stories of how hard it’s been keeping the secret for three whole days.

Luke wants Chase to wear his cowboy hat during the ceremony, and Laurel thinks we should get married in the flower fields now that everything’s in bloom.

“A wedding in the field sounds perfect.” I can’t stop looking at the engagement ring on my hand. It feels like my insides are made of champagne bubbles, all light and effervescent. “Maybe next month? I don’t want to wait too long.”

Chase kisses my temple. “I’d marry you tomorrow if you wanted.”

“Tomorrow,” the twins chorus.

“I need a little time to plan,” I say firmly, smiling at all of them. “I want it to be perfect.”

“You said yes.” Chase claps a hand to his chest. “Everything else is gravy.”

As we head back toward the house, the late afternoon air warm and scented with the fresh smell of my flower fields, I fall into step beside Chase. The kids race ahead, still buzzing with excitement, and although I’ve walked this path a thousand times, today it’s different. It feels like a new beginning.

My phone buzzes, and I pull it out of the back pocket of my jeans to see notifications from the book club group chat.

Piper: Anyone available for a short-notice get together? I need to talk to you all about something.

Taylor: How about Casa Rosa? I’m craving loaded nachos something fierce.

Avah: I’m in.

Sloane: Me too.

Sadie: Sure.

Iris: Can’t tonight, sorry. Date with my guy. Netflix and not chill.

Sloane: No one likes a bragger.

Iris: Jake likes me just the way I am.

Piper: Can we meet at my house?

I pause,frowning at my phone. That’s odd. Piper usually loves going out.

Sadie: Everything okay, sis?

Piper: Yeah, I’d just rather talk in private.

A memory surfaces of Piper’s face in the coffee shop when Sally mentioned secrets. At the time, I was too consumed with my own issues to really pay attention to hers, but now I wish I had.

Avah: Private usually means the talk is going to be really good or really bad? Which are we dealing with?

Piper: I honestly don’t know yet.