Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
“Why are you—” She doesn’t finish her sentence when she sees the china cabinet on the far wall. “It can’t be.”
“It is,” I tell her and place her on her feet.
“It’s the china cabinet I made for the auction?” She turns to look at me, and I nod.
Tears form in her eyes, and I pull her against my chest. “Don’t cry.”
“It’s silly, but I really didn’t want to let it go.”
“I know.” I wipe away the tears. “I could tell. The day I took it to the auction, I saw the way you looked at it. I knew it was something special.”
“Before the auction, they asked if I’d make a piece, and I said I would. The whole time I kept thinking about you and me, and while I worked on it, I let myself imagine what our life would have looked like. You know, if we'd gotten together.”
“I’m sure if I try hard, I can picture it,” I tease, and she playfully slaps my chest.
“The china cabinet ended up being something of a wish, I guess. Then that night I got you at the auction and everything changed. I thought that if giving up the cabinet meant getting you, then it was worth letting it go.”
“And now you don’t have to choose.” I kiss her forehead and turn her to face it again. “Why don’t you open the bottom and see your gift.”
“Wait, the cabinet isn’t the gift?”
I shake my head. “No, kitten. It’s what’s inside that counts.”
She rolls her eyes as she grins at me and then walks over to the cabinet. When she opens the bottom doors, there’s a stack of dishes inside.
“What is this?” She brings the plates out and places them on the table to look at them.
“So I didn’t tell you before now, but I was the one that bought the cabinet.”
Her head snaps up. “You bought it? Then where has it been all this time?”
“I had your mom hold it for me.” I shrug. “I wanted to wait until our anniversary to give it to you.”
“You were so sure you’d get a ring on me?” She pretends to be cocky, but we both know I wasn’t going to let a little thing like her keeping me at arm's length stop me.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” I kiss her temple as I point to the plates she’s got spread out in front of her.
“These are all different. Where did they come from?”
“You can’t tell?” I point to one on her right that’s white with pink roses. “This is from that little boutique we went to in Colorado.”
“Oh my god, it is!” Her eyes light up. “But how on earth did you get it without me knowing?”
“I have my ways.” I smile so big she can see my dimples, and she goes up on her toes to kiss me. “And this one with the yellow birds is from our trip to New Mexico when you were dropping off that huge conference table you made.”
“I forgot about that.” She holds up a baby blue dish with a lace pattern. “I remember this one. I saw it at a flea market.” Her eyes snap up, and she leans back. “You weren’t even with me. How did you—” She stops talking and shakes her head. “Liv, of course.”
“Of course,” I echo, and she laughs.
“This is the sweetest, most thoughtful gift ever. Well, besides the house.” She turns in my arms and places her hands on my chest. “Have I told you how much I love you?”
“Not this morning.” I grin and rub my nose against hers.
“I love you, Sawyer. You are the man of my dreams.”
“I love you. There’s no one else on earth I’d rather be so fucking devoted to.”
* * *
THE END