Page 89 of Trusting the Fall

When my tears finally settle down, he pulls back to swipe them away.

“I love you, Claire.”

“I love you, too,” I whisper.

He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out a black velvet box with a smile.

I wipe at my face as he pops the lid, showing a rose gold band littered with diamonds. A huge, glittering pink teardrop diamond sits in the middle, with more diamonds bordering it.

Like two fumbling idiots, we smile at each other as Leif places the ring on my finger. Smiling and laughing at each other, I jump into his arms, wrapping my limbs around him, never wanting to let go.

I don’t know how long we stand together, but it feels like forever.

Four Years Later

Carefullybalancingthetrayin my hand, I pull the door open to Parlour Tricks.

“Morning, Lee.”

I tuck my sunglasses into the neck of my T-shirt and smile at Maeghen.

She’s been working at Parlour Tricks since the start and has helped run the place whenever Claire needed time off. Like when I whisked her away to Europe for our honeymoon and then nine months later when our daughter was born. Soon, she’ll be stepping up once again when Claire takes maternity leave.

“Hey, Maeghen. Is my wife around?” I set the tray on the counter, pulling an iced mocha out for her, which she greedily accepts with a smile.

“Thank you. I love it when you visit.”

“Why don’t you make your own husband visit more?” I laugh.

“He gets too tempted by Liv’s beignets. Says he’s gotta keep himself pretty for me.”

I know that feeling. Just like I know both Claire and Maeghen wouldn’t care how their husbands looked. They know our hearts are pure. Maeghan has firsthand proof of just how much her husband would do for her. And I take any opportunity to remind my wife that she is the fire that makes my life burn brighter.

“Yep, we’re both punching above our weight. Gotta remind you ladies why you keep us around.”

“Is that why you keep knocking Claire up?” She laughs. I hold a finger to my lips, as if she figured out my secret.

“Daddy!” At the sound of the sweetest little voice, my head turns to see my princess running towards me.

Covered head to toe in pink, bright blonde pigtails fly behind her as she gets ready to launch into my open arms.

I scoop her up, holding her tight against my chest and lay kisses all over her soft, rosy cheeks.

“Hi, Sadie girl.” She giggles when I let my beard tickle against her. “Look what Daddy brought you.”

I turn to the counter and pull out the small strawberry smoothie. Just like her mum, my princess loves pink. I hold it up for her so she can take a sip from the straw.

“Thank you, Daddy.” My heart pounds every time that word falls from her lips.

Before long, that word will become threefold. I guarantee my heart will melt into a puddle even further.

“Where’s Mummy?”

Sadie points her little finger to the back of the salon toward the kitchen and, on cue, my beautiful wife appears.

Her once-short hair now hangs past her shoulders, the bright blonde tresses taking on a darker caramel tone, and her stomach is heavy and round as she carries our twins.

To be honest, I was half expecting Sadie to be twins since they run in my family, but I’m glad we had a practice round of parenting with just the one for our first time.