Page 33 of Entranced in the Mountains
I smile shyly, my cheeks blushing as I remember that amazing moment.
“I want you to stay, Ellie. I love you. You’re the one for me.”
He loves me? My heart aches when I hear it.
Nothing has ever felt so right in all my life.
“I love you too, Ryland,” I whisper, and I mean it. Ilovethis man.
“Then, you’ll stay?” he asks, his face lighting up in the cutest way.
“I’ll stay,” I say, nodding with a smile on my face. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”
He wraps his big protective arms around me and kisses my mouth with all the love and excitement we’re both feeling.
It’s going to be new and it’s going to be an adventure.
But there’s no one else I’d rather go an adventure with than this perfect man.
EPILOGUE
Ryland
Two years later…
Domestic bliss.
That’s what I’m living. No more bachelor life with an empty fridge and a perpetually quiet house. No more living to work and being bored on my time off. No more sleeping in until noon and staying up all night.
All that is over with and I couldn’t be happier.
Look what I have now…
I smile as I sit in the rocking chair in the corner of Alexa’s room, watching my angel singing softly to our baby while her fingers dance across the strings of her harp.
The serene sound of my girl singing to my baby fills me with warm emotions and my eyes begin to water. I can’t believe this is real.
Alexa settles in her crib and lays down as Ellie plays a new song—Alexa’s favorite.
I just watch with a sense of awe blooming in my chest as I watch my girl doing what she loves. She’s still as beautiful as ever, even with her long golden hair tied up in a messy bun, sweat pants, and a baggy hoodie on. I still can’t believe she’s real.
The tune is slow and sweet and it always puts Alexa to sleep. It’s like magic. Ellie wrote it one winter day while she was pregnant and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. I watch my girls from the chair, feeling like I’m trespassing on heaven.
Alexa babbles like she’s singing along to the soft, tender words. Ellie looks at me and we both smile at each other. I love this life.
The babbling slows and then eventually stops as Ellie continues the song. By the time her finger plucks the last string, there’s a heavy silence in the room.
She peeks into the crib and smiles with love.
“She’s out,” she whispers.
I slowly stand up, trying to keep the wooden rocking chair from creaking, and peek into the crib.
Looking at her sleeping so soundly like that makes my heart hurt. She’s so at peace. All she knows is safety. All she knows is love.
Alexa came into our life seven months ago, and I don’t know how we lived without her for so long.
Ellie slides her hand into mine and holds it as we stare into the crib at the surreal sight. Staring at my baby is like staring at a campfire. It’s just so hard to look away.
