“He is perfect, Em, just like you.”
I smiled and realized I was now a mother. The best feeling in the entire world.
I couldn't wait until I could hold my baby in my arms and kiss him.
The nurse took him from Cash and put him in an incubator to keep him warm.
Cash leaned into me, smiling from ear to ear. “He is healthy, a little fatso.”
“Because he was eating everything I was.” It wasn't a joke that I was eating everything in sight.
“I was really scared.”
“And everything was okay, just like I said.”
“Thank God.”
I leaned down to her. “Em, I want you to marry me and be my wife. I want us to be together forever. Will you marry me?”
I started to cry and the doctor looked over to make sure I was okay.
“I didn’t ever think we would get here…of course I will marry you, Cash Galloway.”
He kissed me and wished he could take me in his arms. “I love you, Emma.”
“I love you more.”
33
EMMA
Three months later
“I still regret I ruined your graduation day,” I said. It had been on my mind a lot that he didn't get that day to celebrate.
“Are you kidding me? You gave me the best gift anyone could ever give another person!” He leaned into kiss me.
We had just gotten Matthew to sleep and were sitting down with a cup of coffee. I knew we would only have a few hours, but we had learned to cherish those moments. In so many ways we were so new, but then so familiar, it was as if we had never lived without each other.
I was exhausted, and looked like I’d been hit by a truck, but regardless Cash hadn't stopped trying to help me as much as he could. His hours had been hectic at the police station, but so far he had really gotten along well with everyone and enjoyed the challenges he had been facing. He felt like he was making a difference and that felt good.
I had been on maternity leave and did plan to start back up soon, but would be working a hell of a lot less. It wasn't worth it, and if it meant we had to figure things out at that time we would. My parents and Cash’s mother were going to take turns watching Matthew so he wouldn’t have to go to a daycare. The thought of that made me nauseous, leaving my baby. I’d already cried over it.
Cash had found a perfect home for us, but we had decided to hold off on it for now. He moved in with me, and we would plan to buy another home in time. Right now, we had plenty of room and we weren't stressed to pay bills. That was a huge stress reliever.
Cash was rubbing my feet, as I closed my eyes taking in the quiet. The baby monitor was sitting on our coffee table and we both kept eyeing it and double-checking the volume was up.
“We are the classic picture of worrywarts, you know that, don’t you?” I asked him and he smiled.
“Yep. And I don't feel bad about it for a second.”
“Me either.” He leaned in to kiss me.
“I’ve been thinking…why did you never give up on me?” Cash asked.
“Why didn’t you ever give up on me?” I seconded.
“I knew I would never find someone else I loved more for eternity. I couldn’t picture a single day without you in it.”
“Look at you, Cash Galloway. Quite the romantic now, huh?”
“I have been thinking… what do you think about getting married Saturday?”
“Saturday?”
“I just want you to be Mrs. Galloway. I don't care about any of the other stuff, unless you do…”
“No, I don't care. I waited for you for too long. I would marry you right this minute, in this living room with these spit up rags on me, this hair a mess, and the dark circles that have…”
“Your beautiful to me. You are a natural mother.”
“Promise me one thing, and I will marry you Saturday. It matters to me, even if it doesn't you.”
“I will promise you anything you want.”
“Would you be marrying me if we hadn't had Matthew?”
“In a heartbeat. I want to marry you because I love you. I have loved you from the first time we met at Kelleye Joe’s but I was just a weak man who couldn’t… wouldn't be…”
He started to stutter for words, and I saw that he was trying to form the words to say.
“I fell in love with you too. It was cosmic, I guess a lot like Breigh and Wyatt, but we were just too stupid to see it.”
“I was too immature and selfish,” he said, ashamed.
“I was selfish too, Cash, it wasn't just you. Let’s get married. I think it is perfect.”
“I have already asked Wyatt, Breigh, and my mom. Call your parents and see if they can meet us, if you want.”
“Okay. Honestly if it was just me and you, I would be okay.”
“No, I want our family around us. It matters to me. I want our family to be our priority always.”
“I was so scared you were going to try to marry me to be honorable, because it is what you should do, that we were just a season, something that would pass and we would look back on it one day and say, you remember that person.”
“I am here for life, Emma. This isn't just our season, baby, this is our forever, our lifetime.”
“I love you, Cash Galloway.”
“Today I get to marry my best friend, and the only woman I have ever loved,” Cash said, as we stood in front of the justice of the peace, about to accept each other as husband and wife.
“I can’t believe I am standing here with you. I dreamed of it but never thought it would
