Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Her eyebrows lift in surprise. “Bear, what is it? What’s wrong?”
“Wrong?” I repeat. “Nothing’s wrong. Everything is just right.
Since that first day I saw Camille at the Feed Haven, I knew my life would be forever changed. I just had no idea how good it could get.
Camille reaches up and cups my cheek. “Are you sure about this? If you’ve changed your mind about us, I’d rather know now than later.”
I hold her face in my hands. “Changed my mind? About you and Katie? You’re my family, baby. You’re stuck with me.”
“Can you—” she starts and then stops as her cheeks turn red and she shakes her head. “Forget it.”
I put my finger on her chin and lift her head so she’s looking up at me. “What is it? Say it.”
She shrugs and tries to look away, but I don’t let her. “Talk to me, baby. Tell me what’s going on in that pretty head of yours.”
She doesn’t give me that smile she usually does when I call her baby, and it tells me there’s something really bothering her. She bites her lip and then says, “I need you to love Katie like she’s your child, Elliott, and if you can’t do that, I need you to tell me now. I know it’s a lot to ask but—”
I lean toward her, wanting to get closer to her without disturbing Katie. “Katie is mine, Camille. She’s my daughter. What am I doing wrong? Tell me and I’ll fix it.”
I’ve never seen her look so unsure. “It’s just, I know how it is, that’s all. I was told my whole life that I would never be loved like a real daughter. I always said I’d do better for my kids and—”
“Baby, I can’t imagine what it was like growing up in foster care like you did. I’m sorry that you know the pain you’re feeling right now, but you need to know that Katie is my daughter. I love her because she is our daughter. No one will ever be able to convince me she’s not mine. From the moment I met you and knew I loved you, this little girl has become mine. I’ve tried to take it slow and not put any pressure on you, but maybe I handled this all wrong.”
Her forehead creases in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I love you, Cammy.”
She nods her head. “I know you do.”
I agree with her. “And I know you love me… but am I enough?”
“Enough!” she exclaims.
I lean down and kiss the top of Katie’s head. “Yes… enough. I want to give you the world. I want to give you everything your heart desires, but there’s some things I just can’t give you.”
I see the understanding on her face as she smiles at me. “You and Katie… that’s all I need.”
I want to believe her. “And if one day—”
She cuts me off. “And if one day, we want to give Katie a little brother or sister, we’ll figure out a way to make it happen.”
I let her words fill me, and I decide that now is the time I’ve been waiting for. I’ve wanted to ask her since day one, but I kept putting it off, needing her to be sure. I put my hand in my jeans pocket and pull out the little square box. I hold it up to her. “Camille, I love you, and I want nothing more than for you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
She reaches for the front of my shirt and pulls me close to her. Baby Katie is snuggled up between us, and she sleeps right through it all. “I was wondering if you were ever going to ask me.”
I shrug. “I just wanted you to be sure.”
She laughs. “Oh, I’m sure. Yes, Elliott, I’ll marry you.”
I put the ring on her finger and then kiss my future wife… with our baby between us.