Page 114 of Second Chance Heart
While Isla leaned against the fence, hanging on the keeper’s every word, I closed in on Charlotte and wrapped my arms around her from behind. When her head dropped back and rested on my shoulder she was grinning like a lunatic.
“I’m gonna be a mom,” she whispered.
“You already are a mom, Charlotte.”
“Are you really okay with this?”
“Absolutely. But there is something I’ve gotta ask you,” I replied, swallowing down the lump in my throat threatening to choke me.
I dropped my hold on her and stepped back.
“Wh-what’s that?” Charlotte asked nervously.
Sucking in a deep breath, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the box before sinking to my knee. Charlotte gasped. Over her shoulder Isla and Mrs. Neal huddled together, holding hands and smiling hopefully.
“Don’t just be Isla’s mom. Be my wife. Be part of our family. Marry me. Make me the luckiest man alive. Let me love you. From now until forever. Marry me, Charlotte. Marry me.”
The time it took for Charlotte to take a breath was the longest seconds of my life. “Yes,” Charlotte whispered, at least I think she did.
“Did you just say yes?”
“Yes, Luke. I want nothing more than to be your wife and Isla’s mom. So yes, I’ll marry you.”
I didn’t need to hear anything more.
Sweeping her up in my arms, I crashed my lips down on hers and spun her around in a circle while Isla and Mrs. Neal cheered.
When I set her back down on her feet, I kept Charlotte tucked under my arm when Isla came barreling toward us launching herself into our arms.
I let out a huge harumph as she crashed into me, while Charlotte looked down at a smiling, giggling Isla. A few steps behind, clapping happily was Mrs. Neal.
I didn’t get a chance to celebrate, not the way I wanted to anyway. Interrupted by the ringing phone. I was going to ignore it. Nothing in the world was more important than this moment, but then I saw Doctor Williams’ name flash on my screen.
Stepping away, I answered.
“Sorry to interrupt your Saturday, but Isla’s test results are in’ and I thought you’d want to know straight away.”
“Yes. Of course.”
That’s all it took to wipe the elation from my body and fear, powerful enough to make me want to vomit, took hold.
“Luke, it’s good news. Isla’s tests are clear. She’s officially in remission.”
“Re-re-mission?”
“Yes Luke, remission.” She kept talking but nothing sank in. I’d call her back next week. The news that she was in remission was enough for me. Everything else was just noise.
“Thank you. For everything, Doctor Williams.”
“Why don’t you give me a call next week and we can go through what happens from here.”
“I will … thank you.”
I hung up completely speechless.
Almost three years ago my world and everything in it was sent into a tailspin and I wasn’t sure I’d survive. I never thought this moment would come. Never dreamed it would come. I didn’t think it was possible. Right now, I had everything I could ever wish for. I had a family. A happy, healthy family. My world, my life was perfect. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
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