Page 54 of Tiny Precious Secrets (The Brothers of Calloway Creek The Montanas #4)

Asher

When I wake to an empty bed, I turn toward the baby monitor. Allie is hovering over the crib in what will eventually just be Alex’s room, but is currently the crib and room he’s sharing with his sister.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised Allie is in there watching them sleep.

For three months they slept beside us. Each time they woke in the night, we were right there to soothe them back to sleep.

Last night was the first time one of them slept through the night, so we figured it was time for the move.

But this first night apart is proving to be tough. More so on us than them, I imagine.

When Alex stirs, Allie starts singing. I could listen to her sing all night long.

I’m so drawn to the sound of her voice that I get out of bed and stand in the doorway to the nursery, mesmerized.

I really did hit the jackpot with Allie.

Not because of her family money. Because she’s the most incredible woman and the absolute best mom I could ever wish for our children.

I walk up behind her, wrap her in my arms, and whisper, “Hey, you.”

She leans back into me. “I love them so much, Asher. I never thought I’d be able to love another child as much as I loved Christopher.”

“I know what you mean. But it’s like the heart has this amazing capacity to expand and hold equal amounts of love for all of them.” I kiss her neck. “And I love you, Mrs. Anderson.”

I think I’ve said those exact words ten times a day since our wedding last weekend. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to her being my wife. But she is my wife. And every day I wake up and have to pinch myself because I feel as if I’m living in a dream.

She raises her hand, admiring her rings. She twists the engagement ring around her finger. “Do you really believe in soulmates and divine intervention and stuff like that?”

“I do. Don’t you?”

“I suppose.” She sighs heavily as if about to reveal something. “Did I tell you how I used to go on walks when I stayed at my aunt’s house in Oregon?”

“No. And you never told me it was Oregon.”

“Is that significant?”

I shrug, because honestly I don’t know. But then again, somehow I do . “Tell me about your walks.”

“There was this bridge a few blocks from her house. I would walk over it every day. It was so beautiful and serene. The grassy, rocky, ravine below seemed out of a fairytale. I’d always stop and stare out and dream about becoming a mom.

About what life could be like with Christopher if the doctors were all wrong.

“Then after he died, before I came back to Cal Creek, I wanted to walk over that bridge again, but for a very different reason. Something called me there. Maybe it was Christopher.”

She leans her head back against my shoulder.

“This particular bridge didn’t have water running beneath it like the other ones in Klamath Falls, so I knew there would be nothing to break my fall.

It would be quick and easy, and I felt almost at peace in that moment, knowing how simple it would be to just take one step so I could be with him, wherever he was. ”

I pull her close, my heart thundering in my chest as my head spins. “Did you say Klamath Falls?”

She nods. “Strange name for a town, huh? So there I was, climbing over the railing, balancing on the edge. I was all in. There wasn’t a question of if I would do it, I was going to do it. But that’s when the divine intervention happened. Because right at that moment—”

“A guy driving a blue SUV honked at you.”

She spins around in my arms. “How do you know this? I’ve never told anyone.”

I swallow hard. I can’t believe I didn’t put it together until just now. “Allie.” I run a hand through my hair. “Holy shit, Allie, it was me . I was the guy in the blue SUV.”

Her head tilts in confusion. “What? How?”

“Jesus. I thought it was all in my head. I swear the moment we met, I knew we’d met before.

I felt it in my soul. I’d begun to think it was some past life thing, or we’d worked together but forgotten, or we crossed paths as kids.

Whatever it was, I knew it had happened.

I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve stayed up wondering how, when, and where I’d seen you before. ”

I can’t help it when tears well in my eyes at the realization of just how profound that moment in time was for both of us, yet we never knew.

“Sweetheart, it was me. I was in Klamath Falls ten years ago. I was driving back to my hotel after working a long day on the job when I saw a girl on the other side of the bridge. My heart slammed into my chest when I thought she might jump. But it was a divided bridge with a gap between the two sides. There was no way for me to get over to you. So I stopped the car, honked, and started yelling. I was so freaked out I can’t remember what I said, but I scared you and you ran off. ”

“T-that was you?” she asks, still as stunned as I am.

I cup her face. “Yes, baby, it was me.” I lower my lips to hers. “Now I know for sure that we’re soulmates.”

Her lips are salty and sweet when I kiss them. We cry into each other for what seems like hours, holding on like we’re each other’s lifeline.

“Wait,” she says, causing me to pull back.

I cock my head, wondering why she wants me to stop comforting her.

“That’s what you said. You said to wait. You were yelling, and my head was all over the place, but I remember you said to wait, and if I still felt the same way tomorrow, I could always come back.”

I shake my head in disgust. “Well, that’s stupid advice. Wait to kill yourself until I’m not there to see it?”

“It wasn’t stupid, Asher. It saved my life.

I was embarrassed, so I ran back to my aunt’s house.

And when I went back to the bridge the next day, I looked over the edge into the peaceful ravine, wanting to jump, but hesitated.

I heard your voice in my head urging me to wait.

Wait until tomorrow. So that’s what I did.

For weeks. I’d go to the bridge, contemplate jumping, but then I’d wait until tomorrow. ”

I lower my forehead to hers, my tears dripping onto her face. “Thank God tomorrow never came.”

“You saved me.”

“After you ran off, I patrolled that damn bridge all night, sure you were going to come back. I think I’d have staked it out the next day, too, if I didn’t have to catch a flight back to Orlando.

And though I couldn’t remember what I said to make you run off, the image of that night never left my mind.

I scoured the internet for weeks for any news of a bridge jumper in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

I remember being so relieved that I didn’t ever come across a story.

” I chuckle. “That was just a few weeks before I proposed to Stella. Maybe that’s why I didn’t give her the ring.

It’s because even then, somehow I knew that girl on the bridge would alter the course of my life. ”

“Oh my god, Asher. What are the odds?”

I cup her face and smile. “I’d say pretty damn good when you’re two people who are destined to be together.”

“But why not then? Why didn’t we meet all those years ago?”

“It wouldn’t have worked then. You were grieving your son.

I was about to get engaged.” I inwardly roll my eyes.

“Not to mention I’d have been close to being arrested as you were only nineteen and I was thirty-one.

” I push her hair behind her ear. “We met when we were supposed to. After you went through your shit. After I went through mine.” My eyes close briefly, still not believing this.

“In the car at the winery—the first time I saw you—there was something in the back of my mind that said ‘that’s her.’ I didn’t know what it meant.

I assumed it was my imagination going wild and telling me I was experiencing love at first sight. ”

She bites her lip. “You really thought it was love at first sight?”

I nod. “Oh, yeah. Obviously, I never said anything. I was sure it would drive you away. But I knew… somehow I knew that no matter how long it took, we’d end up together. So I was patient.”

She chuckles, eyes sparkling as she gathers my face into her hands. “You must be the most patient man on the planet, Asher Anderson.”

I gesture to the twins. “I guess I was waiting on them. They seemed to know more than we did when we were ready.”

She looks away from me, her gaze settling on the twins. “You think they were always meant to be?”

“Yes. They were just waiting for the right time.”

Her arms come around my neck. “Do you know how much I love you?”

“I do.” I motion toward the door. “But I wouldn’t mind you showing me.”

She takes my arm, leading me out of the room. “Right this way, Mr. President.”