Page 80 of Back in the Country
“He’ll come around,” I say as I take her hand and lead her to the back of her grandparents’ house. Electricity shoots up my arm from where we touch, and I wonder, not for the first time, if it will always be like this.
God, I hope so.
“Waylon! What is this?” Her exclamation alerts the rest of the family who is waiting—not so patiently—now that part two is taking place.
Hands clasped over her mouth, Marlee walks around the perimeter of the chicken coop that my brothers and I built. It is painted a bright yellow, because she’ll always be the sun to me and I will forever be in her orbit.
“You made the sign!” she squeals as she launches herself into my arms. “Way, this is so amazing.”
“I didn’t want you to have to put those chickens in your nonexistent Nashville apartment.”
She nips my bottom lip with her teeth, causing me to growl. She kisses the sting away before walking over to the coop and running her hands over it.
Pride swells in my chest as I watch her trace the letters in the sign, The Ladies,displayed proudly for the world to see.
Sorren thought I was an idiot when I told him what my plan was, but seeing her face now, I know I’d been right. I send him a smirk from across the yard, and he looks away to hide the smile.
“When can we get chickens?” Marlee asks as she comes bounding back to squeeze my hand. I kiss her cheek.
“Miss Thelma knows a guy. We’re going next week.”
“I’m so excited!” Chuckles erupt from around the yard, and she looks around with the brightest smile I’ve ever seen. Mama, Dad, Rhea, Otto, Case, Hank, and Sorren all stand around taking us in and sharing in this celebration—a celebration that isn’t quite over.
Her eyes narrow at Hank as she stalks over and punches him in the arm.
“Dammit, Marlee!” he growls as she faces off with him, her hands on her hips.
“You let them ambush me,” she hisses as he pulls her into a tentative hug and kisses the top of her head.
“I put those little cheesecakes you like in your fridge,” he says with a triumphant look.
“Hank Marcell Thayer, are youbribingme?”
He shrugs.
“You’re forgiven,” she says and tries to cover her smile with a huff.
“I have one more surprise for you,” I say, bringing the attention back to us.
“Really?” I nod and pull her toward her grandparents’ house before taking a deep breath.
A new welcome home mat is placed in front of the door, and Marlee smiles as I push inside.
“What’s going on, Way? I—”
Her words are cut off when I open the door to what will be our master bedroom. She gasps.
“Oh, Waylon.”
Soft gray walls with cream-colored linens make the space feel cozy and intimate. Accent pillows line the bed while framed pictures of us rest on the nightstands. Above the headboard hangs a sign I’d made using the wood we’d collected from the barn together. The coordinates of Clementine Creek forever memorialized in the grain are so much more than a place—it isus.
Marlee turns to me with tears in her eyes again. I swallow and drop to my knee. One hand flies to cover her mouth as she watches.
“Baby Girl, all of my happiest memories are because I shared them with you. You’re sunshine and forever and home. You’ve always been home.”
I hold the ring up with shaking hands as I look up at her tearstained face.
“Marry me, Marlee?”
