Robyn turned to Maxwell as the wind whipped her hair all over the place. “Okay, so exactly where are you taking me?”
He kept his eyes on the road. “Patience has never been a virtue for you. Be patient. It’ll be worth the wait, I promise.”
“Will there be food and wine?”
He nodded and chuckled. “I’d be a fool to take you anywhere where there is not food and wine.”
“Okay. Is there . . .”
Maxwell cut her off and tipped her nose with his finger. “I’m not telling you anything else. We’ll be there shortly.”
True to his word, Maxwell drove her to their spot. Only this time, there was a road leading from the highway to a beautiful cottage style home.
Her hands went to her throat. “Oh, my God.” She looked over at him. “This is the house!”
Maxwell parked the car and gazed lovingly at Robyn. “Yes. This is the house.” For a moment, neither of them could tear their eyes away from the other. He spoke first. “Let’s go inside.” He got out and went over to open her door.
Robyn slid out of her seat and placed her hand in his as they walked hand in hand. When they arrived at the threshold of the door, she was about to walk inside, but Maxwell stopped her. “Wait.”
She looked on curiously.
“I know this might sound crazy, but I planned for my bride to walk into this house.” He placed his arms at the base of her knees and swept her up into his arms.
Robyn gasped and looked into his eyes. “We’re not married.”
“No, not yet, but at the end of proving myself to you and getting reacquainted, it’s my hope that we will be.”
Maxwell opened the door and carried Robyn over the threshold. The curtains were pulled, so that it was dark inside except from the glow of candles all around the room.
Slowly, her body slid down his as her feet touched the floor. Her eyes were filled with wonder. “You did all of this for me.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact.
Maxwell had recreated the romantic celebratory feeling from nine years ago and added to it by duplicating, on a smaller scale, the set-up he’d had the night of the party.
Her eyes were glassy. “You’re making this hard.”
He caressed her cheek. “It doesn’t have to be.
Robyn looked down at the floor. “We’ve been running around in circles for nine years. What makes you think us, as a couple, would work?”
“Because you own me. I’m better with you in my life, and I want to spend the rest of it with you.” Maxwell dropped down on one knee wearing his heart on his sleeve. He spoke. “I couldn’t afford all of the trappings back then that I can now. But I promised myself, one day, I would give you everything.”
Robyn knew what her mind was saying but decided to listen to her heart. She dropped down on her knees as well as she looked deeply into his eyes. Her voice was soft, as she whispered into his lips. “All I want is you. That’s all the everything I’ll ever need.”
Maxwell placed his lips on hers, and tenderly kissed her with all the love he’d long held inside. Robyn let all of her fears go and kissed him back.
This moment between them was special not only because it was a new beginning but because it was the final resolution to a love that had stood the test of time. There was no need to search to fill the nagging emptiness that plagued them both. Who needed just The Room when being in each other’s arms finally felt like home?
Epilogue
Robyn was standing in the bedroom of the House on the Hill staring at her reflection in the mirror. Eva was fussing over her veil.
“You look so beautiful. Maxwell is going to lose his shit when he sees you.”
Robyn touched her face. “I hope so. None of this even feels real to me. It’s like I’m a fairy princess or something.”
“That might have something to do with the fact that Maxwell’s been treating you as if you were Princess Diana. Anyway, this wedding is well overdue—like ten years overdue, and I love that it’s so over the top!”
“Who would have thought a year ago we would be getting married in our dream home.”
“Hell, not me. After two months of being back together, I figured the two of you would have snuck off and eloped. But, you waited longer than I would have expected.” Eva’s eyes began to water. “I’m just so glad you found your way back to each other.”
Robyn’s own voice was thick with emotion as she responded thoughtfully. “Me too.”
Eva’s tears continued to fall. “The love you have is rare and has already stood the test of time. Uh, I’m going to mess up my make-up.” She reached for a tissue. “These damn baby hormones are driving me insane.”
“Can you pass me one too? So, are mine.”
Eva stilled. “What?”
Robyn nodded her head up-and-down. “Yeah, we’ll finally get to raise our children together.”
“Oh. My. Gawwwd!” Eva threw her arms around Robyn.
“We haven’t told anyone yet. We just found out last week.”
Eva cried and said the words in a sing-songy voice. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I’m scared to death, but I couldn’t be happier.”
The wedding planner knocked on the door and interrupted their private moment as she peeked her head inside. “Are you ready, Ms. Levy, because it’s time.”
Eva handed Robyn her bouquet. “Are you ready to become Mrs. Ian Maxwell Bryant?”
Robyn
