Page 93 of When You're Home
Chapter 50
Tori
Therewasnopointindelayingtheinevitable.Everythingoverthelastforty-eighthourshadcomeintofocus,sowhenRhettaskedhertomarryhim,shesimplysaidyes.
She was amused that he was so surprised by her response. She realized that he had probably been prepared for her to fight him on this, for her to mount a whole campaign about why they couldn’t get married after just finally agreeing to being back in a relationship last night. But so many of her fears and concerns were already staring her straight in the face. She didn’t have the bandwidth to fight with him just to delay the inevitable. She was truly, madly, deeply in love with the man who had just proposed to her, so she said yes. It was honestly the easiest decision she had made in a long time.
“Um, any chance you’re forgetting something?” she prompted, pulling away from Rhett’s lips to look him in the eye.
“Yeah, about that…”
“Everhett! Did you seriously just propose to me without a ring?!”
She wasn’t really upset, but she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tease him. Mr. Logistics was so damn good at planning everything, at setting up a strategy and following through. She was genuinely curious as to why he didn’t have the ring with him right now.
“I’m sorry, beautiful. I didn’t know where things stood between us when we came up here yesterday. I didn’t even go to my house when I got to Hampton. I came straight to you, then we drove here,” he explained. “I already have the ring… It was my grandma’s. She gave it to me before she died. Mom and Maddie got all her other jewelry, but she wanted me to have her ring. If it makes you feel any better, I knew the second she gave it to me that the ring would be yours one day.”
“That does make me feel better,” she assured him as she cupped his face in her hands. Rhett’s selflessness when she was at her lowest of lows was the definition of devotion. She hadn’t known love could feel like this until he dropped everything to be by her side. “But I think it’s going to be a long time before you live down forgetting condomsandmy engagement ring in the same weekend.”
“My mom offered to drive it up to me, but I told her you wouldn’t mind waiting.”
“Wait, your mom knows?”
“I called her when I went to the store. I sort of already knew what I was planning to do, but I just felt like I needed to talk it through. You’ll get your ring as soon as we get home,” he promised.
“You were right with what you told Anne. I don’t mind.” She breathed him in, savoring the quiet and the calm she felt from being in his arms. She didn’t want to ever forget this moment.
“I love you,” she added earnestly.
Rhett smiled back at her. “I have always loved you, Victoria. I will keep loving you for the rest of forever.” He interlaced their fingers and bent down to kiss the top of her head.
She felt a sense of peace settle between them. There wouldn’t be any more pushing after this. Rhett knew what he was getting into, and he had made his choice. She couldn’t keep protecting him from her, not anymore, not now that they were promising each other forever, or as long as they had together.
“What are you thinking right now, Mrs. Wheeler?” he teased, loosening his grip on one of her hands so he could rub up and down her arm.
“Hpmh.” Tori snorted. “I’m thinking you’re crazy if you think I’m going to change my last name when we get married,” she retorted. “Do you know how many pieces I’ve created that I’ve signed Tori Thompson on?”
“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure I could find several of these little things,” he tilted his head to the notebook on her lap, “that say ‘Mrs. Victoria Wheeler’ in them from middle school.”
Tori smiled up at him but shook her head.
“You know I don’t care,” he clarified before she could get a word in. “Keep your name or change your name, it doesn’t matter to me. All that matters is that you’re mine, now and forever.”
Chapter 51
Tori
HershoulderstenseduparoundherearsasRhettpulledintotheparkinglotoftheclinicandfoundaspotnearthefrontdoor.Hehadtimedeverythingperfectly.Theyhadleftthecabinafterlunchandhadarrivedwithtwentyminutestosparebeforeherappointmentatthree.
“Okay, beautiful.” He turned toward her as he put the car in park. “We’re here. What can I do for you right now?”
Tori swallowed down the lump in her throat. She didn’t know what to say; she didn’t know how to ask for support. She was so used to doing all of this alone, to being strong and just powering through. She had no idea what she needed. She glanced up and met his eyes, shaking her head slightly and offering him a sad smile.
“Hey, don’t do that,” he whispered, reaching over for her hand. “You can’t shut me out, V. Not anymore. We’re in this together now, remember?”
“I know. And I’m not trying to shut you out,” she promised. “It’s just a lot…”
“I know, beautiful. Just remember that you’re not alone.” He used his grasp on her hand to pull her toward him and place a gentle kiss on her forehead. “I’m here for you,” he swore to her.
