“Not a single doubt?”
“Not a one,” she told him. “And it’s not even the way she makes me feel, though right this second I’m awash in all these incredible maternal instincts.”
“If it’s not that, then why are you so sure you’ve made the right decision?”
She smiled at him. “I saw the way you looked when you saw her for the first time. This little girl belongs with you, with us. I’ve never been more certain of anything than I am of that.”
“I fell in love with her months ago,” he admitted. “And with her mother long before that.”
“Even though I’m still a work in progress?”
“I’m an artist. Works in progress are filled with possibilities and surprises.” He sat on the edge of the bed and touched her cheek. “I can’t imagine there will ever be a day when you don’t surprise me.”
“I like things all planned out,” she reminded him. “How will that work?”
“We’ll balance each other.”
“Or drive each other crazy,” she argued.
A smile spread across his face. “I can live with that, too. Can you?”
Gabi glanced from the precious bundle in her arms—this child she’d never expected to hold, much less keep—then into the eyes of the equally unexpected man who made all things seem exciting and possible. “I can, yes.”
“Then I guess we should talk about a few things.”
She held her breath. “Such as?”
“A name for our daughter for starters.” He held her gaze. “Because she will be ours in every way that matters.”
“Daniella Jane,” she said at once.
He smiled. “That was awfully quick.”
Gabi sighed. “As soon as I realized I wasn’t going to be able to let her go, I started a list. I pretended I was just doodling some ideas, but it was more than that. Daniella seemed to stick and I wanted the Jane for Grandmother.”
He touched a gentle finger to the baby’s cheek. “What do you think of that, Daniella Jane?”
The baby actually seemed to coo her approval, her blue eyes wide, if not yet focusing. Gabi honestly thought she was responding to the sound of this man’s familiar voice.
“She already knows you,” she said.
“Well, of course she does. She and I have had several conversations lately about how stubborn her mom is.”
Gabi stared at him indignantly. “Is that so?”
“Well, you can’t deny that you have yet to say exactly how I’m going to fit into this future you’re starting to envision.”
“Don’t you know by now?” she whispered. “I can’t let you go, either.”
A smile broke across Wade’s face. “Then I suppose we should talk about making it official,” he said, his gaze locked on hers. “I love you, Gabi. And I love Daniella. I want us to be a family. In fact, I think I’ve been waiting for a very long time for this exact family to come along. Will you marry me? Soon? And before you ask, I already have your father’s blessing. He gave me that weeks ago.”
“You asked my father?”
He nodded. “You might not see yourself as a traditional kind of woman, but I am a very traditional guy. I wanted to cover all my bases. And we know Cora Jane is on board.”
Gabi laughed, relieved by his eagerness. How many times had she tried to shoo him away? More than she could count, but he’d stuck like glue. “I will, but it may not be soon. I want to fit into a decent wedding gown. And Emily’s wedding is coming up. I can’t steal her thunder.”
“You’ll be beautiful no matter what you wear.”
She laughed at that. “Keep on saying things like that and people will wonder about your eyesight. That’s not a good thing for an artist.”
“Sweetheart, one look at the two of you, and they’ll know I have an eye for beauty. Now we’d better get your grandmother and sister over here or we’ll never hear the end of it. I think Cora Jane wanted to be in the delivery room to be sure the doctor knew what she was doing.”
“Not to worry. I’ll tell her you took very good care of me. Thanks for subbing as my birthing coach, by the way. You were like an old pro. It must be all those times you pinch hit when Lou’s husband couldn’t get to the hospital in time.”
He shook his head. “It was nothing like those times,” he argued. “This was you. And Daniella. I’ve never been more terrified in my life.”
She laughed. “Now you tell me.” She squeezed his hand. “It’s okay. I never would have guessed.”
He winked at her. “Another three or four times and I’ll probably have it down pat.”
“Once more, and we’ll talk,” she said sternly.
But even as she said the words, she knew that after all he’d given her in terms of confidence and a new direction for her life, she’d give this man whatever it took to make him happy. And she’d do it without ever looking back at the life she’d left behind, because the future promised to be everything she’d ever dreamed of.
* * * * *
Be sure to look for Sherryl Woods’s next
Ocean Breeze novel, SEA GLASS ISLAND,
coming in June to your favorite retailer.
Keep reading for an excerpt of Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods!
For more warm and inspiring stories of friendship, families and heartfelt emotions, don’t miss the Sweet Magnolias series, also by New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods:
Stealing Home
A Slice of Heaven
Feels Like Family
Welcome to Serenity
Home in Carolina
Sweet Tea at Sunrise
Honeysuckle Summer
Midnight Promises
Catching Fireflies
Where Azaleas Bloom
Do you love to cook? Sherryl Woods shares delicious down-home Southern recipes and exclusive behind-the-scenes stories in The Sweet Magnolias Cookbook. Available now!
Looking for even more? Check out the Chesapeake Shores series, and dozens of other titles by Sherryl Woods, all available in ebook format.
“Woods is noted for appealing, character-driven stories that are often infused with the flavor and fragrance of the South.”—Library Journal
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