Page 95 of Constantine: Britain's Story: Part 2
“Thank you, Liam,” Caroline steals the words right out of my mouth, but I’ll gladly take the progress. I smile at Liam and he comes around the island to give me a kiss on the top of my head.
“You don’t mind about the car, do you?” He whispers and I shake my head no. He steals an extra piece of toast, then excuses himself to the office to go do “car research.” Before I start eating, I can feel Jess’ gaze on me so I look over to her. She slips Eden a piece of toast to chew on, but keeps looking at me.
“What?” I ask her.
“I’m just wildly jealous, that’s all,” she says, then corrects, “Not of Liam. Fuck, you know what I mean.”
I do. Because I remember sitting at lunch over margs, feeling jealous of Jess, and Tommy, and Eden, and now look where we are. Things can change in the blink of an eye, I just hope for my sake, things stay the same, at least for a little bit.
On Sunday afternoon, I slip on my favorite Dôen midi dress. Looking at myself in the full length mirror, I can see just how happy I am. There’s color on my cheeks from spending all day on the lake yesterday. My breasts seem to be getting fuller bythe day, and thanks to Carly’s cooking, my belly does, too. I’m hitting my peak pregnancy body and I make a mental note to try and savor it because I’m sure in just a few short months, I’ll be hating life and uncomfortable 24/7.
I know I look happy, but Ifeelhappy too. Somehow “happy” doesn’t even begin to describe it, though.Happyisn’t encompassing enough to define how I feel. I’m with the man of my literal dreams and my kids have fallen in love with Spearhead, my favorite place in the world. I have family in my life for the first time in decades and I’m finally building the life I’ve always wanted, with a family I’ve chosen and chooses me in return.
Alex was kind enough to drop off Georgia’s box this morning, and since then, I’ve been holed up in my room for hours going through the photos and cards that were stashed away beside her notebooks. I read all 18 birthday cards Constantine had written to me, and they were beautiful. Filled with his hopes and dreams for me, his regrets, his sadness. But most of all, his love.
Liam’s footsteps draw my attention as he walks into my closet, coming behind me and embracing me, letting his hands rest on my bump. “I love you, Bambi.” I smile at him through our reflection in the mirror.
“I love you too, Liam.” We stand entwined for a couple minutes, but eventually he releases me.
“We should probably go downstairs…” The way he trails off gives me pause.
“I just finished doing my hair and makeup,” I remind him, “and it’s only been like 5 hours since you last had me.”
“So? I always want you.”
I laugh at him. “Not right now. Sandy’ll be here any minute.”
He mockingly rolls his eyes at me, “Fine.” He turns around to walk out of my closet, but stops, turning back. “Is it too soonfor you to start wearing your engagement ring again?” I’d almost forgotten about it.
“Well, seeing as how you haven’t proposed…yes.”
“Ahh, you’re going to make me do that again?” I look at him, dumbfounded.
“Yes,” I say completely straight faced.
“Right, no, you’re right,” he says, then walks out of my closet, opening our bedroom door for me.
The house seems eerily quiet.Huh. I thought there’d be more hustle and bustle and prep happening for dinner. When we get to the foot of the stairs, I turn to head towards the kitchen, but Liam stops me, taking my hand to head out to the deck.
“I want to show you something,” he says, squeezing my hand a bit firmer.
“Sure,” I say in return. It doesn’t take long for me to realize something is afoot. When we step outside, the whole back deck is covered in flower petals and the stairs leading down to the dock are lined with large arrangements of white and blue flowers. On the dock itself, I can make out what looks like…a string quartet?
“Wh-what’s all this?” I ask Liam with a trembling voice.
“Just dance with me, Bambi, nothing crazy.” He leads me down the stone stairs, all the way to the dock, and when we’re almost there, the quartet starts to play. I recognize the song, instantly. It’s “The Chair” by George Strait.
There’s a small open area on the large floating dock, and he pulls me into his arms and we dance. It feels just like the first time, except infinitely better. Because I know him, and I love him now.
When the song ends, I lean back and say, “That was nice,” and he just smiles back at me, cupping my face in his hand, and stroking my cheek gently. The quartet starts the next song, and my tears start falling without my permission. It’s “I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton and Liam’s eyes turn watery, too.
He gets down on one knee, and pulls out a familiar ring box. “Britain, I won’t make you any promises. We never even have to exchange vows if you don’t want to. But I want you to know, I will always love you. That is a fact. It’s who I am. I am the best version of me, for you, because of you. You changed my life before I even knew you, Britain. I was always yours, and you were always mine.
You’re my home, and my favorite person, and I don’t want to spend another day where you’re not mine forever.” He pauses to swallow, then says, “I’m already the luckiest bastard alive because you’re here. Can you make me the happiest one, too, and marry me?”Yes.It’s a no-brainer. I fall to my knees beside him, and kiss him like it’s the end of times. But it’s not, it’s just the beginning of our beautiful life.
I release his mouth and whisper out, “Yes,” as tears fall down my face. He kisses me again, then opens the ring box to slide his ringbackon my finger, where it belongs.
Liam looks down at my hand, then back up at me, and I can see how much he loves me reflected in his eyes. When the song ends, the group of musicians set down their instruments to clap and cheer, but it’s the high-pitched yapping sound that pulls my attention away from my fiancé.
