Page 39 of Love Unexpected

"I love you, too," she whispers.

We sit in comfortable silence for a while, just staring down at the perfect life she created. The soft rise and fall of the baby’s breathing is the only sound in the room, filling our hearts with warmth.

"I want you to tell me everything I missed. Start from the beginning. The last thing I remember is being loaded up in the ambulance."

"Em... “ I hesitate, my heart aching at the thought of revisiting those painful moments. “Let’s skip past the tragic parts of the story," I plead.

"No. I want to know everything. Please, Noah. I missed so much, and I want to know what happened." Her eyes are fierce yet vulnerable, and I can’t deny her anything after what she’s been through.

"Alright..." I sigh, preparing to dive into a tale that feels heavy but necessary. As I settle onto the bed, drawing her closer, I launch into the details beginning with me trailing behind the ambulance after leaving her house.

Her body tenses through the more stressful parts of the story. But when I get to the details of the baby, she smiles and chuckles through her tears.

"I can't believe this little girl tortured you all through the night like that," she says teasingly. "I'm so glad Marcus was there for you."

"Yeah. Me too,” I nod, feeling a flood of gratitude for my brother. He has always been there through my darkest moments.

As we talk, I catch a glimpse of my hand resting on the bed, the wedding ring I forgot I was wearing glints in the light. Emma’s gaze suddenly shifts to it, confusion flickering across her features. “Noah... Are you wearing a wedding ring?” Her brow furrows, uncertainty clouding her beautiful face.

My heart stutters for a moment as I realize what I’m going to do. “About that,” I chuckle nervously. “My backup plan was to pretend we’re married in case Lucas‘s parents start asking questions. I got rings for both of us just before you woke up.” I pull the ring off my finger, feeling its weight in my palm. “But maybe it’s time to make this real instead of just pretend.”

I reach into my pocket and pull out the small velvet box, my hands trembling slightly. Emma's eyes widen as the box opens, revealing an oval-shaped diamond engagement ring. “Emma,” I say, my voice steadying, “I know this isn’t the most romantic time or place to propose, but life is fleeting and unpredictable, and I want you by my side through it all. I want to be a family with you and this little girl. Will you marry me—for real?”

The air thickens with the weight of my words. I see her eyes welling up with tears, a cascade of emotions washing overher. “Noah... are you serious?” she whispers, her voice barely above a breath.

I nod, my heart racing as I take her hand gently. “With everything that’s happened, I’ve realized just how precious our time together is. I don’t want to waste any more time without you.”

Emma holds her breath, her eyes darting between the ring and my face, reading the sincerity that lies bare in my gaze. Tears spill over from her eyes, shimmering like tiny diamonds in the soft light. “Oh Noah… Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you!”

I slip the ring onto her finger and it fits perfectly, just as I knew it would. She gasps softly, staring down at the diamond that captures every glimmer of light. Her smile illuminates her face with a happiness I had desperately hoped to see.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Emma murmurs, her eyes shimmering with joy as she looks up at me. “We’re really doing this.”

“Together, no matter what comes our way.” I lean in, capturing her lips with mine, sealing our promise with a tender kiss.

Just as I deepen the kiss, the baby stirs in Emma’s arm, pulling us back to reality.

"Any idea what you're going to name her?”

"I've always loved the name Penelope. What do you think?" She looks up at me for approval, those beautiful eyes brimming with hope, and my heart swells at her wanting my opinion.

"I think Penelope is perfect. It fits her." With a smile, I imagine Penelope growing, her laughter echoing through our home, filling it with so much joy. The future seems brighter, and for the first time in my life, I feel an overwhelming sense of peace wash over me.