Page 181 of Unexpected Redemption

She inhales briskly and squeezes my hand. Her chin quivers as she looks from me to the ring and back again.

“Violet, from the moment I first heard your voice, I was under your spell. Your beauty enchanted me. Your laugh andsmile drew me in even more. Little did I know, that was only the beginning of the things I’d come to love about you.” I swallow around a growing lump in my throat to steady my tone. “Before you fluttered into my life, I was a shell of a man. You’ve made me whole, fixing things I didn’t know were broken. You taught me to laugh, taught me how to feel, and how to love. Without you, I’d be frozen inside and out. You’re the warmth, the sun, and the light.”

“Oh, babe.” Her voice cracks, and she fans her eyes with her bouquet, attempting to dry her tears. “I love you so much.”

“When we met, you were crying at a gas pump and on the verge of giving up. You’ve blossomed into a confident, determined, vivacious woman. You’re poised, funny, smart, talented, creative, self-assured, and sexy as hell. And these are only a few of the things I adore about you. I could go on.”

The sound of her soft chuckle feeds my spirit, pushing me to continue when all I want to do is kiss her.

“You’ve suffered more than any sweet soul deserves. But through it all, you’ve emerged stronger. Your light shines brighter. Your compassion, patience, and forgiveness have inspired me to be a better man. I promise you I’ll never stop earning your love. Day after day, I’ll protect, cherish, provide for, and love you. I can’t wait to watch you spread your butterfly wings and become a mother. It’ll be the second greatest honor of my life.”

Through misty eyes, she asks, “What’s the first?”

“The greatest honor of my life will be when you become my wife.” A sheen of tears coats my eyes, and I have to blink them away to see her ethereal smile. “And so... Violet Anastasia Holt. My sugar bear and love of my life. Will you marry me?”

A wave of emotion cascades over her face while she fights back the tears.

“Yes,” she rasps softly, expelling a huge breath. Once she’s steadied herself, she adds,“Of course, I’ll marry you, Tomer. I love you so much. You mean the world to me. I never want to go a day without you.”

My world tilts as I slide the ring onto her trembling finger. It’s almost as if something is shaking me from the inside, attempting to lock me into place.

It’s joy, raw and pure.

When my vision clears, she kneels before me, sets her violets aside, and cups my cheeks. She stares at me with the smile of an angel. Slowly, I join our mouths for a tender kiss. Her pillowy, soft lips feather over mine before becoming insistent. Our love overflows inside me, sending a tear down my cheek. And I feel no shame for it.

As we pull apart for air, a shrill voice calls out. “Now, Varley. The bugs! Release the bugs!”

Sammy Mason.

Why in helldid she yell that? It wasnotin the script.

Rather than suffering from Tomer-level confusion, Lettie cracks up, laughing as raucously as ever.“Oh, my gosh. You didn’t. Tell me you didn’t. Not the bugs.”

I scan the room, and my eyes land on Sawyer, who releases the butterflies. A hundred monarchs take flight around us.

Lettie gasps and glides her vision around the room, wonder shimmering in her eyes. “I can’t believe you did this. I love it so much. It’s perfect, babe.”

Standing, I help her to her feet and hold her close. She snakes her arm around my midsection, and we watch the butterflies selecting their branches and flowers. Like always, one of my hands finds its way to her belly.

Applause fills the pavilion, followed by Big Al’s deafening whistle. Someone yells, “Huzzah!”

Aside from the bizarre thing Sammy screeched earlier, everything is perfect.

Somehow, Lettie manages to make it even better.Turning to face me, she rests her arms on my shoulders. “Tomer, this is magical. Thank you. Everything about this is perfect. But the thing is...” Her face falls, just a minuscule tug at the corners of her mouth. “I know you sometimes think of me as a butterfly.” She shakes her head subtly. “I’mnot.”

I don’t answer. There was no question.

Instead, I relish her beauty and close proximity.Her sparkling irises shine, holding me hostage in their depths.

“Tomer, a caterpillar tucks itself into an empty shell. Where it’s dark and cold. Only then can it change into a butterfly.” She blinks, more tears cascading down her rosy cheeks. I wipe them away with my thumbs.

A quivery breath passes her glistening lips. “Even in my darkest days, you gave me warmth. When I couldn’t see, you shone a light. Although you were hurting, you comforted and cared for me. I never had to go into a cocoon. So you see... I’m not a butterfly. And you can trust me, given I’ve seen this metamorphosis firsthand. I’m kind of an expert.”

A rebuttal rests on the tip of my tongue. Not about her expertise, but about her assertion.

Before I can object, she puts her index finger on my lips.“It was you. Somewhere along the line, you emerged from your shell. The beautiful soul I’ve always known was inside you broke free.Youwere the butterfly all along. I was simply the lucky one to help you learn to fly.”

No words could be meaningful enough to follow her proclamation. The way she sees me is so unexpected. It’s powerful. She’s a balm to my battered soul. The wonder cream on my wounds. My person. My forever.

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