Page 66 of Fairy Tale Marriage

“Open mine.” He handed her thebox.

She could see a hint of uncertainty dimming the blue of his eyes and lines of tension bracketing his mouth. He didn’t know how she’d react to his gift, she realized. She stared at the box for a long moment before she carefully unwrapped it. Removing the lid, she found a stack of letters.

Her brow furrowing, she lifted out the first one. Her name was scrawled across the envelope and it had been sent care of the Montagues. And then she saw the date. Christmas Eve, nine years ago. Slowly she turned over the envelope. It was sealed.

“Open it,” hesaid.

Without a word she removed the letter and read it. And then she reached for the next, dated Christmas Eve, ayear later. And then the next, until she’d read his testament to a decade of enduringlove.

The final one wasn’t postmarked. “You... you wrote this last night, didn’t you?” she asked unevenly. “When you were locked up in your office with Jack.”

“No Jack, Iswear. Just a stack of writing paper and a pen. It takes me a while to get the letters right. Most of the night, usually. But for some strange reason, Ifound this one a lot easier. Which left plenty of time for a few other chores.”

He meant the tree and decorations, she realized. As she had with all the others, she turned the envelope over and pried it open, removing the single sheet of paper.

To My Newly Found Bride,

There’s only one thing left to say. Only one thing I’ve neglected to say. Only one thing that would have been said if I hadn’t been so afraid.

I loveyou.

My wife. My one true love. My ForeverLove.

By the time she’d finished reading, she was so overcome with emotion, she couldn’t speak. “There’s one last item,” he said. “It’s in the bottom of the box.”

Barely able to see through her tears, she pulled aside the tissue paper. Two golden tickets glittered in the subdued lighting. Tickets to next year’s Anniversary Ball. “Oh, Chaz,” she whispered.

“I know it’s ten months away, but I thought maybe we could make it a date. Right now.”

“I don’t understand.” She stared at him in bewilderment. “You were so sure you couldn’t love anyone.”

“I was wrong. Iloved you from the first moment I set eyes on you. I’ve always loved you. Fear held me back.” His mouth tightened. “I never thought of myself as a coward. But denying how I felt for you was easier than facing the truth. Safer than admitting that without you I was only living half a life. And I was furious, Shayne. Down to the bones, raw with anger. Angry at your brother for parting us. Angry at you for not coming back to me. Mostly, angry at myself for not finding you.”

She offered a look of utter understanding. “I know all about fear and anger, remember?”

He met her gaze then, straight and earnest and totally frank. “I love you, Shayne. Ialways have and I always will. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to come to my senses.”

She slipped into his arms and kissed him, akiss of love and forgiveness. Akiss of promise. Akiss of passion. When they drew apart, she handed him the present she’d wrapped for him. “I don’t know how you’ll take this,” she confessed.

“I’m sure I’ll love it, whatever it is.” He used far less care than she had opening the box. He ripped the paper away and pulled off the top. And then he simply sat, not uttering aword.

She regarded him apprehensively. “Aren’t you going to say something?”

He picked up the baby rattle. “You’re pregnant? For real?”

She nodded. “For real.”

Without a word, he tipped her backward onto the bed and pushed up her sweater, baring her stomach and cupping the slight swell with gentle hands. “This—” He blinked hard. “This is the best present you could have given me.”

“Are you sure?”

A blissful smile touched his mouth. “Oh, yeah, sweetheart. I’m real sure.” Then he frowned. “There’s only one problem.”

“What’s that?” she asked nervously.

“You don’t suppose...” He broke off and shook his head. “Naw. It’s too ridiculous.”

“What?”

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