Love's Suicide (Love's Suicide #1)(127)

Our weekend together was another reminder of how precious life and family were to us. I’d spent so much time running away to realize what I’d always had.

I’m not really sure how the twins made peace with their mother, and it wasn’t my place to judge or have an opinion. I was happy if they were.

Since their visit, Mel and I had been talking about wedding plans at least a few days a week. They’d picked out a beautiful location to exchange their vows. It was located near Towson in Maryland, which was a short drive from their parent’s house. The historic building was classified as a castle on a quaint piece of property. Even I was surprised with how excited I was for them. It said a lot about how happy I was with Brooks and our family.

“Earth to Kat.” I looked up to see Brooks standing in front of me. “Do I get a kiss goodbye, or are you going to stand there in your weird trance?

I felt embarrassed. “Sorry.”

He kissed me goodbye, but it wasn’t exactly appropriate. Brooks grabbed the back of my head and stuck his tongue in my mouth.

Branch started making gagging sounds. “Can we go before I puke?”

I pulled away from Brooks and wiped off my wet lips, while he laughed and walked toward his brother.

I watched as he crouched down and called B over. She went running into his chest. “Daddy, I go.”

“Daddy’s got get you a surprise. Go home with Mama and I’ll see you there. Okay?”

B stuck out her bottom lip. “No. I go with Daddy.”

He kissed her on the head and stood up, looking toward me for help. I walked over and coaxed her away by promising to stop for a treat, which meant chicken nuggets.

After we’d finally made it home, and gotten my child her treat that she barely ate, I stood around the kitchen with Walt, Mel and Danica.

“So, what’s this surprise? I know you all must know it?” In the back of my mind I swore he was going to propose, but unlike Branch, Brooks knew I wanted to wear my mother’s rings. Plus, I wasn’t ready to drive to the courthouse, just yet, while the ink was still wet on Bobby’s death certificate. My heart still ached for him, because aside from all the bad, was someone that offered me hope when I felt like I had nothing.

It wasn’t like Brooks and I were in a hurry. We both knew it was going to happen eventually. Being married to him was going to be wonderful, albeit I knew that even without the certificate we were already committed to being together for the long haul.

Mel giggled. “Just wait and see.”



“It is something shiny?” I had to keep guessing until they broke down and told me.

Mel put her finger up to her chin like she was thinking. “I suppose some parts are very shiny.”

“Is it big?”

Danica laughed and answered. “It’s huge.”

So I was getting something huge and shiny. How could it not be a ring? “Will I like it?”

“You may pass out,” Walt replied.

Had Brooks really gone out and got me a huge diamond ring? I’d love it because it was from him, but it made no sense. Sure, he’d saved almost all of his money for his entire time he was in the military. His credit was perfect and he’d have the means to purchase something extravagant without breaking the bank.

“I know what it is.”

They all laughed.

“Katy, just let him show it you before you say something about it. Even if you do know what it is, or think you do, just be surprised for Brooks. This means a lot to him.” Mel was so serious when she said it. I wasn’t sure how to take it.

“I’d never act ungrateful if that’s what you’re implying.”

She shook her head. “Just wait. They’ll be back soon. Branch just sent me a message.”

I sat down at the counter waiting for my surprise to arrive. B was taking a nap and Danica didn’t need help with the food prep, so I was left to sit there with my roaming imagination of how everything was going to play out.

Brooks was sentimental, so he’d want to propose on a special day. This day was the most important day of my life. I’d lost my parents and then had our daughter. There would never be a day filled with so much meaning.



Exactly seventeen minutes later I heard the guys coming in the door. I couldn’t help but notice the way Brooks’ arms flexed while he was carrying the cake. I got butterflies imagining us being alone later. He sat it down and I noticed Branch had a big smile on his face. He tapped me on the shoulder. “Katy, Katy, Katy. You’re about to shit your shorts.”

Danica threw a dish rag toward him and he caught it. “Cut it out. You aren’t kids anymore. Let your brother have his moment for once.”

I turned my chair and saw him approaching me. Thinking he’d get down on his knee, I started breathing heavily and preparing myself for the big reveal. Instead, he stood there and extended his hand for me to take it. “Come with me.”

I was so confused. “Where are we going?”

“Close your eyes.”

I did as he said and felt the blindfold going on my head. He made it tight, so I couldn’t see what he was doing. Then he began leading me outside. I could hear the family following him and giggling. “Seriously, what are you doing? Why can’t you show me inside?”

He kept pulling me along with both hands, so I couldn’t lift off the blindfold. From the amount of steps we took I realized that we were almost to the street. “I have some surprises for you. The first one is that I wanted to tell you that I got a job. It’s a good one, Kat. I won’t ever have to travel and I’ll be home for dinner every night.”