Page 64 of Due North
“One at a time,” Heaven said, laughter filling her lips.
Cece held up the envelope. “Thank you for the birthday gift. I’m still in shock, but I want you all to know how much it means to me that you’ve accepted Poppy and me into your family without hesitation. I couldn’t have done this over the last few months without your help. I know you all know that, but it should be said repeatedly. We love you all, and I’m going to accept this gift with a grateful heart because I know it was given with nothing but love.”
I put my arm around her and kissed her temple as Ash leaned forward to speak. “And that is all it was given in. Love for you and Poppy with no expectations or stipulations. We take care of our family here, and you are part of our family now. Don’t ever forget that.”
Cece nodded and hugged Poppy Rose to her, kissing her cheek. “We couldn’t if we tried.”
“Our work here is done,” Heaven said to Amity before giving her a high five.
Laughter filled the fire ring as everyone knew the night was winding down, the celebration was coming to an end, and tomorrow we’d have new guests arriving and work to do.
“Well, son, what’s the update?” Ash asked from across the fire.
“Update?” I asked, confusion filling me as I offered Poppy a graham cracker.
“On finding your direction. It’s been three months, so I thought you might have an update.”
“Three months isn’t that long, sir,” I said with a shrug of my shoulder.
“Sure ain’t,” Beau said, “but my life changed with two words, so I know it sure as hell can change in three months.”
I tipped my head back and shook it, laughter on my lips. “Okay, point taken. I would have to say I’ve decided to head north again.”
“North again?”
I nodded and rubbed my hands on my thighs, nervousness driving the motion. “I’m going to remember what I was in North Dakota. I was a brother there, and it’s time to remember them not as a failure but as one of the greatest things I did in my life. My mother handed me two tiny baby girls and walked away. I raised them for three years, and they were the joy of my life.” I reached over and took Cece’s hand. “Someone once told me no one gets a happy ending, but you do get a beginning and a middle. She told me to remember the middle and all the fun and laughter we shared. I’ve started doing that when I go north,” I explained, pointing to the ridge above us. “I ride Dolly up there once a day, and I remember the middle. By doing that, the blue has slowly waned and allowed the other colors back into my life.”
“That’s a wonderful way to explain it, Caleb,” Heaven said, wiping her eye. “I’m glad you’ve found a way to remember them.”
“Me too, and in a healthy way,” I agreed. “I’ve also come to realize that I can manage the team here and still spend time on things I love. People I love,” I clarified, kissing Cece’s hand. “I’m also looking forward to the changes the therapy school will bring to the ranch.”
“Another brilliant business decision on your part,” Ash agreed. “Though, I’m inclined to believe starting a therapy ranch for the disabled is more a heart decision than a business decision.”
“In the beginning, yes, but I know I can make it both. My role will be mostly behind the scenes with training the horses and coordinating their vet care. Tobi will be the face of the therapy school, which is how it should be. She’s done most of the work, and I want to support her and help her get her dream off the ground. I truly believe horses can change lives.”
“I know Poppy is always calmer after she’s been with the horses,” Cece said. “It’s like the horses understand her when we can’t.”
Ash nodded, putting his arm around Amity. “I agree, and I know you’ll be key in making sure the school is successful. I’m proud to call you my son, Caleb.”
My cheeks heated at his words, and I dipped my head for a moment. “Thank you,” I whispered. “I’ve never had a father before, and I sure do appreciate having you in my life. I appreciate having all of you in my life. I don’t know how I would have made it through the last few months without your constant support and understanding.”
“That’s what we do in this family,” Amity said, winking. “We learned the hard way what happens when we don’t, and we’re never doing that again.”
Blaze reached out and squeezed her shoulder, a silent understanding between mom and son for past pain and hardship.
“I’ve learned a lot in the last few months, too,” I agreed, standing and rubbing my hands on my jeans after I took off my gloves. “I learned that family doesn’t have to be blood. I learned that showing weakness doesn’t mean you’re weak. I learned that following your heart sooner rather than later is always the best choice. To that end, I want to say something to Cece, if y’all don’t mind.”
They leaned forward and waited as I went down on one knee. I took Poppy’s hand and put it in Cece’s, whose eyes were wide as I knelt before her. I pulled out the red ruby and diamond ring I’d been carrying around for too long and held it up. “I picked up this ring a month ago and brought it home. Every day I look into the red ruby, and I see your beauty reflected at me. I see your temper. I see your determination. Most of all, I see your love. The way you trust your little girl with me without question shows me your love most of all. You both fill my life with the beautiful color red.”
I paused and swallowed, my hand shaking as it held up the ring, and I watched as the first tear fell over her cheek.
“I know that we haven’t been officially dating for long, but I can’t wait any longer to ask you this because, with my ring on your finger, I know you’ll be mine forever. So tonight, I ask you in earnest to be my wife, Cecelia Douglas. That beautiful gift our family gave you, can we make it ours? Let’s make a home for Poppy where she can grow up safe and loved by us.” I set the ring on the ground and signed ‘together’ to Poppy, and she held out her two tiny fingers with a wide grin on her face. I reached out and lifted my third finger, leaving it up as I fought through the nerves to remember the signs I’d perfected in the mirror over the last few days. “Cece, will you marry me?” I asked at the same time I signed it. I picked up the ring again and held it in my shaking fingers. “I love you, baby, so much, and I want to spend my life making you and Poppy happy as my family.”
Her tears were audible when she sucked up a breath and then let it out in a shaky exhale. “I want nothing more, Caleb North,” she whispered. “I love you.” She held up the I love you sign until Poppy followed suit. I held up my hand in the I love you sign and touched it to both of their hands, drawing a gleeful giggle from Poppy Rose.
Cece held her hand out, and I slid the ring on her finger and then dropped to both knees and pulled them into my arms, kissing Cece with all the tenderness and love that filled me. “I love you, my sweet girls,” I whispered as our family clapped and hooted, filling the night with the sounds of joy, love, and happiness I’d been missing in my life.
“I love you, Caleb. I’ve learned over the last six months that love is all we have in this life,” Cece whispered as she gazed up at me.
I gasped when I met her eyes. “The blue … it’s so—”
Her hand cupped my cheek to ground me. “Don’t let the flood take you, baby.”
I shook my head as I gazed into her eyes and then Poppy’s. “No, sweetheart,” I assured her. “I’m not going anywhere. The blue in your eyes is so different now. The rippling water is gone. All I see is the blue of the northern summer sky.”
I stole her lips then and kissed her with all the gratefulness inside me for how she’d thrown me a lifeline when I was drowning. It took me ten years to find my due north, but holding them in my arms was the only compass I’d ever need.
