Page 14 of Turn My Crank

"It was perfect," I assure him, still feeling like I'm floating. I glance down at the ring on my finger, still not quite believing it's real.

He follows my gaze, a satisfied expression crossing his face. "Now you're more than just a teacher," he says, echoingsomething he's teased me about before. "You're gonna be spoiled by your blue-collar husband."

I laugh, remembering how he'd insisted on paying when we first started dating, how he'd been almost offended when I tried to split the check. It had taken me months to understand that his pride in providing wasn't about control—it was about showing love in the way he knew best.

"I already am spoiled," I tell him, reaching up to touch his face. "I have everything I need right here."

His expression turns serious. "I meant what I said, Lacy. You changed everything for us. Before you, I was just going through the motions, trying to be enough for Susie. But you showed me what it means to really live again."

I rise on my tiptoes to press my lips to his, a brief but tender kiss. "And you showed me what it means to be part of a family," I whisper against his mouth. "Something I never thought I'd have."

His arms tighten around me, and in that moment, surrounded by construction paper artwork and tiny desks, I know with absolute certainty that I've found my home.

Not in a place, but in the people who love me.

"Ms. Reeves!" Susie calls from across the room where she's showing off her bracelet to one of her classmates. "Can we get ice cream?"

Colby laughs, the sound rumbling through his chest against my cheek. "What do you say, future Mrs. Reynolds? Ready for your first official family outing as my fiancée?"

I look up at him, at the love shining in his eyes, and I know there's only one answer.

"I've been ready since the day I met you."

And as we walk hand in hand toward Susie, her tiny fingers reaching up to grab mine, I realize that all those years of feelinglike I was waiting for my real life to begin—they were just leading me here.

To this man. To this child. To this family that's now mine.

To the happily ever after I never believed in until now.

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