Page 152 of Heart Strings & Hotlines
I chance a peek at my sister and immediately wish I hadn’t because matching tears stripe my cheeks now as well.
“You do all this stuff for me, and you don’t have to. I—I wanted you to know how much I love you.”
The two most important people in my life collide in a crushing hug.
“Kara, I didn’t have to do any of those things, but I wanted to, I was happy to. I don’t even know what I’d do without you. You’ve brought so much joy and happiness to every part of my life. I love you, sweetheart. And I will always be here for you.”
I take that as my cue to fall into position.
“Thank you, Lottie,” Kara says. “There’s just—just one more thing we want to ask you before we go inside, and it’s a pretty big ask. It’s a lot to take on, but it’s also a pretty big deal.”
“What, sweetie? You can ask me anything.”
Kara slowly turns her toward me, down on one knee, with a perfect oval-shaped diamond in my hand.
Charlotte sways a little, causing Kara to frown and grip her arm a little tighter.
“Geez, Lottie. Don’t pass out. I’m probably not strong enough to catch you.”
My girl laughs, then presses her hands over her mouth.
“Now it’s my turn, and I won’t be as poetic or flowery as Kara was, but she’s right, this is important.”
I hold out my other hand and allow the locket to swing from my fingers while I slip the diamond ring into my pocket for safekeeping.
“Today is a special day for all of us, Kara.” She shakes her head, but I continue to beckon her forward with my fingers. “Today we all officially become a family.” I clasp the delicate oval locket surrounded in tiny diamonds around my sister’s neck.
She opens it immediately and laughs. On one side is a picture of the three of us, and on the other side is a photo of Hercules.
“I knew you’d never be able to give her up,” Kara says through watery emotions.
I shrug. “The mutt loves me. What am I going to do?”
My girls beam at me with happiness shining on their faces.
“It’s important to me that you know whatever happens today, you’re an equal member of this little family we’re creating, okay?”
She barrels into me like a freight train and wraps her arms around my neck. “This is supposed to be for Lottie, Brad.”
“I have two girls who mean the world to me. This day is for the both of you.”
She steps back and rolls her arm in aget on with itmotion while clutching the locket with her free hand.
Slowly, I retrieve the ring from my pocket.
“I told you a long time ago that I was going to marry you.”
Charlotte nods, causing tears to fall faster.
“But a very smart woman told me that I never actually asked you to marry me, so I thought today, the day we legally adopt Kara, would be the perfect time to correct that. I’d love nothing more than to have Thane and Charlotte Wilder on her adoption papers. What do you say, sweetheart? Are you willing to marry me and put up with my nonsense for a lifetime?”
She steps forward, grabs my face, then crushes her lips to mine. “Yes,” she says against my mouth. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
I push to my feet a moment later. “Yes. She said yes.” A flock of nearby pigeons take flight, irritating other court dwellers, but I don’t care. Nothing will ruin this day.
“But we would have to be married for me to have the name Wilder on her adoption papers, Thane.”
Oh, my beautiful bride. Leave that to me.
