Page 61 of Her Billionaire's Baby Secret

The baby was born, and Sariah was right by his side when he held his daughter for the first time.

“Meet Eloise.”

Sariah took the tiny pink bundle from him and stared into her little face. Her eyes opened, and she focused on Sariah’s face.

“She’s beautiful, Kane. A perfect little girl.”

He looked at her with love in his eyes, for both her and for his daughter. A few days later, he loaded his jet with his tiny daughter and Sariah. She was there for him a lot during those first few weeks, often sleeping in his spare room to help him get up in the night for feedings. It would have been overwhelming for him to care for the baby on his own.

Sariah didn’t know what she was doing with such a helpless little human being, but she did her best. The more she took care of little Eloise, the closer she felt to the sweet girl. She loved being there for all her first milestones. She got to the point that she couldn’t imagine her life without the darling girl.

They went back to New York with Eloise often. When she was six months old, Orchid announced that she and her new husband didn’t want to continue with visitation. Sariah’s heart broke for Eloise, and she felt even more determined to be in the sweet girl’s life.

One year after Kane had moved back to Maple Creek, he took her to the spot next to the creek where they’d had their first kiss. The newly constructedDavid Edwards Rehabilitation Centerstood in the distance next to the beautifully renovated farmhouse and barn full of horses.

He got down on one knee and pulled out a little black box. He opened it and a huge diamond sat inside. Sariah covered a gasp with both hands.

“Sariah Tate, you’re the most amazing woman to ever come into my life. You’re my first love and my last. I couldn’t imagine my life without you. You’ve been there for my daughter and have raised her like your own. I want you by my side for the rest of my life. Will you become my Mrs. Leland?”

She leaped into his arms. “Yes! Are you kidding me?” How could one woman hold so much happiness in her body? To think she’d hesitated to be with him at first. All because she’d let fear rule her life. She was finished with letting fear take over.

It had been scary to help with Eloise at first. She didn’t know anything about babies. But she’d overcome that fear too. And now she was going to be the sweet child’s stepmom.

She was overcome with joy. Tears sprang to her eyes as she thought about her beautiful new family.

She took the ring from him and slipped it on her finger. “Where did you find this diamond? It’s beautiful.”

“I’m in the jewelry business now, remember? I have connections.”

Sariah giggled. Since the opening of her second store had been such a success in Roanoke, they were planning to open two more stores in the surrounding area.

“We need to tell our grandmas our news.”

They got back into his car and drove over to his grandma’s house to show off her new ring. They called her grandma on the way and told her to meet them there.

When they got there, Kane opened the door for Sariah. “Can you believe you’re going to be my wife?”

“Shush. You don’t want to spill the news too soon. They might hear you.”

They walked into the house together. Before Sariah could say anything, Mrs. Edwards grabbed her hand.

“Sariah Tate, are you engaged to my grandson?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Well, it’s about time.”

There was a knock on the door, and Sariah glanced out the window. She could see her grandma’s car parked in the driveway. “Guess who’s here.”

Mrs. Edwards opened the front door. “Lois, get in here and look at the size of this diamond on Sariah’s finger.”

“What?” She rushed toward them. “Let me see.” She grabbed Sariah’s hand and inspected it. “He finally got the guts to pop the question?”

Sariah and Kane laughed.

“He sure took his sweet time. Gayle and I have been waiting forever for this day.”

“Where’s the wedding going to be?” Mrs. Edwards asked.

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