Page 99 of Matchmaker

“Is that what I think it is?”

“Open it.”

She did. Inside, lay an emerald and diamond ring. She looked at the ring, and then back at him. “Where… How…”

He seemed to know what she was asking. “Would you believe that there’s a Tiffany & Co. in the Singapore Airport?” He shook his head. “I picked it up on my layover.”

“Oh, Theo.” She sniffed, clambered to her feet, and went to go to him. She was so desperate to hold him.

“There’s more.” He nodded to the first box.

What more could she want? Theo was everything she needed. She looked inside the box and pulled out a photo of a black-and-white ball of Staffordshire terrier mix. “A dog?” She stared at him. “When did you have time to do all this?”

“It was a long plane ride from New York, and the plane had complimentary Wi-Fi in business class,” he explained before motioning to the photo in her hand. “So, Daisy is waiting to be adopted if you want to start our family with her.” He seemed to think of something. “Or we can pick out our dog together, but I liked Daisy’s story, and Annabelle and Blake insist that she’s the sweetest dog ever.” He laughed. “I think Blake will adopt her if we don’t. But if you’re okay with it, I’ll ship her to Sydney and move here too, if you’ll have us… me. I love you so much, Chloe.”

Slipping the ring on her finger, Chloe dropped the photo, the papers, and the onesie to launch herself at Theo, throwing her arms around his neck. Her love for this man and the happiness at being back in his arms brought her to tears. This time, though, they were happy ones. “Yes. Oh, God, yes! I’ll have you.” She sniffed. “You’re all I ever wanted. I love you, too. I want the dog, the adoption, and everything. Most of all… I want you.”

Theo wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tight. Dropping his forehead to rest against Chloe’s, he said, “I’m going to do everything I can to make you happy.”

She cupped his face in her hands. “You already make me happy. So, so happy!”

He lowered his head and kissed her with so much passion, she felt it down to her toes. Chloe couldn’t remember a time she’d ever been happier. Even if they never had children, Chloe’s life was complete. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world.

She had everything she needed standing right in front of her.

Epilogue

Three years later.

“You’renearlythere,Chloe.Just a couple more pushes,” Dr. Rebecca Morgenstern, her obstetrician, encouraged.

Chloe dropped her head back on the bed. “I can’t do this anymore. Make it stop!” she cried.

“Glowy.” Theo kissed her sweaty brow. “Yes, you can. You’re doing great.”

Chloe squeezed her eyes shut and tossed her head from side to side. “No, I can’t. I’ve changed my mind. I want all the drugs—now,” she wailed on the last word as another contraction gripped her body.

“It’s too late for drugs. You need to push.” Dr. Morgenstern looked up from her place between Chloe’s legs. “Now!”

Chloe clutched her knees, leaned forward, gritted her teeth, and groaned. The sound echoing through the room.

She clutched his hand through the contraction. If Theo could take his wife’s pain away, he would. Why the hell did women put themselves through such torture? Adoption had been so much easier. After adopting their two oldest children Matthew and Makayla—a brother and sister aged two and six—Chloe had gone through multiple rounds of IVF to go through what looked like a hell of a lot of pain. She needed a medal. Fuck that, he’d buy her the goddamn moon.

“That’s it. Good job. The baby’s almost here. I can see the head,” the doctor said.

Theo was stunned by what he was witnessing. Never had he seen anything so amazing. Thanks to Chloe, he had the family he’d always dreamed of, and now their third child was being born. He watched as the doctor maneuvered the baby into position. Chloe gave another guttural scream as Dr. Morgenstern pulled the baby out.

Chloe slumped back on the bed with a groan of exhaustion. “Is the baby okay?”

“She is! Congratulations, it’s a girl!” the doctor announced.

“A girl.” Chloe beamed with pride. The smile replacing the pain etched on her face only moments ago.

The doctor handed Theo a pair of surgical scissors. With some minor trepidation, he cut through the umbilical cord and the nurse placed the baby on Chloe’s chest.

“Oh my God. Theo, we did it. She’s so beautiful.” Tears spilled from her eyes as she kissed the top of their daughter’s head.

She was. They both were. He wanted to savor this moment, sear it into his memory so that he’d never forget.

Pride emanating from every pore, he kissed Chloe on the lips, then their baby’s cheek. “She’s perfect. You’re perfect,” his voice cracked with emotion. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Chloe reached out and clasped his hand. “We’re so lucky and blessed.”

He cleared the tight knot of emotion in his throat. “Yes, we are.”

Damn, his life was good.