Page 24 of Hard To Love
“Yes.” Her hand slipped into mine, and I helped pull her up until she stood in front of me.
“Love me?”
“Always,” she responded, and I smiled. With an answer like that, how could I go wrong? Leading the way, I opened the front door and shut it behind us, then we walked toward the tree that held so many sweet memories.
“Auggie?” she called my name when I let go of her hand and spread the picnic blanket beneath the tree.
“If you think I’m gonna be able to sit and get back off from the ground—" I looked up at her and reached behind me. Suddenly, she was quiet. Both her hands covered her mouth, her honeyed eyes like saucers.
“Oh my god!” she gasped, and because I enjoyed surprising her, I pulled out the granola bars. She blinked and started to laugh.
“Will you have a picnic with me, Sandy?”
“Of course.” She sighed and reached for the bar. I dropped my hand and this time reached for the other back pocket. She was probably expecting something silly because she froze when she saw the ring I brought out.
“August.” Her eyes moved off the ring and searched my face.
“Will you be my picnic buddy, my best friend, wife, and mother of our children?”
“Auggie.” She sniffled, but her eyes, fuck me, her stare locked on mine unmanned me. I stood up and held both her hands in mine.
“I love you, Sandra. Have loved you and only you. There could never be anyone else for me. This is not because of our baby or because of the circumstances. This is because I adore you. Worship the ground you walk on. If I thought you’d let me—"
“You’re a nut.” She smiled and breathed in a shaky breath.
“I didn’t ask you because I moved so fast I didn’t want you to think it was because of him or her.” One of my hands left hers and rested on top of her belly.
As if feeling me, the baby kicked, and we laughed. “See, our little cupcake wants you to say yes,” I encouraged and then exhaled slowly. Nerves got the better of me. “I understand if you’re not ready and—"
“Yes,” she answered. “Yes!” She started to nod, not that I got to see more, not when I lifted her up and spun her. She yelped but giggled.
“Auggie! The baby!” Her laughter rang in my ears, but I still stopped abruptly.
“Shit,” I cursed, gently setting her down and making sure she was okay.
“I’m fine. I’m fine,” she reassured me. Then she stilled, and her hands cupped my face. “You asked me to marry you.”
“You said yes.”
“Any regrets?” Her eyes were still searching for something, almost like she was worried the other shoe was going to drop. With time, she would learn that with me, she never had anything to worry about. Not ever.
“Not one.”
And that was true.
I had a feeling some people would one day ask me about it, but I knew in my bones that my answer would never change. The kid could come out wreaking havoc and devastation, and I would still love her or him.
I couldn’t regret not making a move sooner because the baby kicking my hand hello wouldn’t exist if I had.
My lips touched hers, and like every time we kissed, the world dissolved, leaving nothing but the two of us behind.
Sandy
“I’m fine.” I grinned as I rocked back and forth on the swing chair Auggie had installed on the porch the day before.
An engagement gift, he’d called it. The thing was solid and super padded and was honestly the only place I seemed to get comfortable in. I was a week overdue and over it. I wanted to meet my baby and get the rest of our lives started.
“You say that, but…”