Page 126 of The Outpost (Jamison Valley 4)
My feet stopped dead as realization dawned.
“What?” Beau asked when my hand slipped out of his. “Are you okay?”
I shook my head. “What are we going to tell my parents when they ask how you proposed? Or our kids? We can’t tell them the real story. It will scar them for life!”
He stepped into my space and smiled. “You’re the storyteller, I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
Maybe I could tell them that he surprised me. Just keep it vague. That would work, right?
Right.
Beau
Eight years later . . .
“Daddy?”
“Ella?” I tucked my six-year-old daughter under her dark purple quilt. Everything in this room was purple. The walls. Her bed. The chair in the corner. Sabrina had even found a round rug that was entirely swirls of purple. Because Ella loved it so much, it had become one of my favorite rooms in the house.
“I’m not very happy with you,” she declared for the fifth time tonight.
I grinned. “I know.”
“Mommy’s going to be really mad at you too.”
I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Probably.”
“I still can’t believe you did that.”
I tried not to laugh but her stern expression was too cute and one slipped out. Ella had my dark hair, but other than that, she was Sabrina’s tiny clone. Personality and all.
“It will be fine,” I told her. “Now did you get the rest of your clothes picked out?”
She nodded and smiled, revealing two missing front teeth. “Mommy said I could have my own suitcase this time.”
“Okay. We’ll load it up tomorrow.”
“And you’ll remember to bring my book?”
I nodded. “Yes, I’ll get your book.”
“And the picture I drew for Grammy and Grandpa?”
“And the picture.”
“And my movie for the plane?”
“Yes, and your movie. We’ll get it all tomorrow. Now, time for bed.”
“Okay, Daddy.” She tucked her hands under her cheek as she sighed. Her beautiful green eyes looked at me like I had hung the moon. Even when she was grown, I hoped she’d always look at me like that.
“Night-night, princess.” I gave her another kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Daddy.”
I shut off the purple lamp next to her bed and pushed up off the floor, closing her door before walking down the hall to the boys’ room. I loved that the kids were all downstairs these days. They had been upstairs when they were babies but now the upstairs extra room was for guests. It gave the kids more space and Sabrina and I more privacy.
“Peyton, Tanner,” I called as I walked into their room. “Time for bed.”
