Ready for You (Ready #3)(88)

“Here,” he confirmed.

He opened the ring box and nestled inside was a perfect representation of everything we’d been through.

“When did you do this?” I asked.

He’d somehow managed to take my original engagement ring and added to it. He’d combined three stones, adding a larger stone in the middle and two smaller stones on either side—past, present and future.

“A few weeks ago. I’m surprised you didn’t notice. It’s been missing from your jewelry box for a while now. I’ve been sweating bullets ever since I stole it. The smaller stone to the left is your original stone.”

“It’s beautiful, Garrett,” I said, tears trickling down my face.

“When I ask you this time, it’s forever, Mia. No matter what life throws at us, we will go through it together.”

I nodded as he took the delicate ring out of its box, and he placed it on the tip of my finger.

“Mia Emerson, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Yes.”

Six months later, on a Southern plantation overlooking the James River, Garrett and I had finally become husband and wife.

Looking down at my bridal set, I smiled, remembering my father walking me down the aisle and feeling nothing but peace, happiness, and hope.

I’d never expected anything more than that moment, and I never asked for it. A year later, Garrett had brought up adoption, and I had felt almost scared to ask for more.

We were happy. Did we deserve to ask for more?

He had explained to me that when two people had as much love as we did, it needed to be shared.

So, we had turned to adoption.

We’d found open adoption to be the right path for us, and the young girl who had chosen us was wonderful. She’d allowed us to attend every doctor’s appointment and even be present at the birth. Seeing our child being born had been the most precious gift she could have given us.

She was young, so very young, and she had chosen to walk away completely. We had given her other options, but she’d said anything else would be too hard. It was an extremely grown-up decision, and we had respected her wishes. I’d been in her shoes—even though I’d had Garrett and she had been alone—but I remembered feeling overwhelmed from the grown-up decision that had been too much for my age.

When I’d held Asher Thomas Finnegan in my arms for the first time, I’d fallen instantly in love with him.

He was a little miracle.

I finished cleaning the kitchen and ran upstairs to make myself presentable. Then, the doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of our first party guest.

“We’ll get it!” Garrett yelled from the hallway.

I exhaled in relief. I was nowhere near ready, and I was pretty sure I still had flour in my fingernails.

The doorbell chimed several more times as I ran around, putting on a flattering pair of jeans and a gauzy top. I finished the look off with some jewelry and wedged sandals, and then I flew down the stairs.

Everyone was gathered around Garrett and Asher. Our little boy was dressed in adorable jeans and a cute little vest. He’d grown so much since the day I held him in my arms for the first time. I remembered holding his tiny foot in my hand as he’d stared up at me.

“Our little guy needs a name,” Garrett said softly.

I rocked our son back and forth and smiled up at Garrett from the chair.

“Asher,” I answered, rising carefully from the rocker as I held our little bundle.

I gently handed him to Garrett and couldn’t help the giggle that escaped as I watched him tense. Asher was so small. His tiny head looked like a doll in comparison to Garrett’s massive frame.

“Asher,” he repeated, as he took him in his arms. “I like that.”

“It means “happy and blessed.”

Our birthday boy was passed around the room from laps to waiting arms. Clare cooed and made him laugh as she covered up her eyes in a game of peekaboo. I saw her look up at Logan with a knowing smile.

Perhaps Maddie and Ollie would be getting a new sibling soon?

Leah and Declan played blocks with Asher on the floor, and they laughed as he knocked down their carefully built towers each time. It was one of his favorite games.

My father rocked Asher back and forth when he got sleepy and put him down for a nap with the help of Garrett’s mother.

“Where’s Liv?” I asked suddenly, realizing we weren’t yet complete.

“Oh, she just called. She said a new neighbor was moving in next door and blocking her driveway with the moving van. She should be here any minute.”

Oh boy, a new neighbor? That could be interesting.

She showed up not more than five minutes later, carrying a tray of veggies and hummus. She told me the heroic tale of how she’d managed to get her car out of her driveway despite the rude new neighbor she had.

Lunch was ready. Everyone grabbed plates and served themselves from the kitchen. Nothing was ever fancy at our house, especially now that we were parents. I was proud of myself for managing to go to the store to pick up prepared chicken salad and for showering all in one day.

My once stark and empty house was now filled with color, warmth, and family. Every wall showed a glimpse from our past that had brought us to this moment. As we sat Asher in his high chair and watched him demolish his birthday cake, I couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed.