Chapter 131 – Ogden

I was rushing around trying to get everything set. The flowers were delivered, and it took two full trucks and four men walking in and out of the house. I told them not to make a sound and of course one of them knocked over a chair. I told them we had to move fast because we only had a little bit of time to unload and light the candles.

I handed each of the men a hundred-dollar bill and a lighter and asked them to help me light all of the candles. They happily obliged and quickly left without another word. I tossed the flower petals on the floor making a trail from the bedroom to the living room.

I went to the guest room on the first floor where I stored my tuxedo. I wanted everything to be perfect. I stood at one end of the living room, and it was just in the nick of time. I heard Willow open the bedroom door and ask, “what the…”

I smirked at her confusion. At least I knew for a fact that my cousin could actually keep a secret. I already knew that because she was keeping a secret from me, but I was hoping after my confession that Willow would tell me hers.

She walked down the stairs, and she looked as beautiful as ever. Even in a pair of yoga pants and one of my sweaters. She was swimming in it, but it made my heart swell. She stared at me and looked to be on the verge of tears. I didn’t want her to cry. Oh god, what happens if she didn’t want to really marry me. Everyone said that they had no doubt that she would say yes, but what happens if they were wrong.

I closed the distance between us and brushed my thumb across her cheek. I didn’t write a speech. I knew I should have, but it didn’t seem organic. I wanted to tell her everything. Reveal everything and show her my true feelings for her.

So that’s what I did. I confessed that I have loved her since I saw her and listed our most recent interactions. And I hoped that was enough proof that I actually loved her. I would have lived with just having a contractual marriage, but I wanted more. I wanted forever.

I kneeled in front of her, presenting the ring to her. Willow’s hand covered her mouth as she stared at the ring in my hand. I waited a few beats. Normally, didn’t the woman say yes relatively quickly. Panic started to set in. She didn’t want this. I wanted to get off the floor and pretend that none of this happened.

“Willow?” The panic got the better of me.

She let out another sob. Were they happy tears? Or did I really misjudge this whole thing between us? “I didn’t expect this.” She said from behind her hand.

I looked at her expectantly. That wasn’t an answer. The smile that was on my face started to slowly disappear.

“I love you too.” She finally said.

I was able to take a breath, but she still didn’t answer my question. “So…will you marry me? Really?”

Willow chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. “Yes…”

My heart swelled. I pulled the ring from the box with a shaking hand. But she stopped me.

“But I have to tell you my secret before you put that ring on my finger. It may change things and I don’t want to force you into anything.”

I held the ring in my hand and stood. My heart started to pound harder in my chest. What would make me not want to marry her? My breathing became labored. “What do you have to tell me?” I said between clenched teeth. I wasn’t angry. I was just nervous and even though I got a yes from her, it was a yes with a stipulation. And that was what I didn’t like.

She gave me a small smile; the tears were still streaming down her face. “Like you, I have loved you since school but thought that someone like you would never even notice someone like me. So, when you offered to marry me, I said yes with a means to an end. To help my mom, but secretly hoped that you would learn to love me.”

I stared at her; learn to love her? I was already madly in love with her, and I wanted her to fall in love with me. I bit my tongue though; I wasn’t going to interrupt her. I needed to know what she was keeping from me sooner rather than later and the only way to do that was to remain quiet.

“The last few weeks have been amazing, and I tried to keep my emotions in check. But I knew that after our contract was done, I was going to be crushed.” She stopped and swallowed. “But hearing that you really love me, makes me so happy. And I want to marry you, for real, more than anything.”

This was slowly going to kill me. If she didn’t just tell me what she what she had been hiding from me, I was going to go crazy.

She walked to her purse and pulled out a piece of paper. Willow was sick, like her mom. She was sick and she didn’t tell me until now. My stomach dropped.

She came back to me and held the piece of paper to her chest. “As you can recall, I have been very nauseated lately.” She gave me a shy smile.

I furrowed my eyebrows at her and gave her a nod.

“Well, before you give me that ring, I need you to have all of the information.” She handed me the piece of paper.

I looked down at it. It was just a white blob. “What…what am I looking at?” I turned it this way and that, trying to make out what it was. “Is that a tumor?” Fear filled my gut; she was sick just like her mom.

Willow started to laugh. I looked at her quizzically. “It’s not a tumor. Look at the top.”

I looked at where the picture was labeled, ‘Baby Moore.’ I froze, the picture that I had in front of me wasn’t a tumor but a sonogram of a baby. Willow’s baby. Our baby. I couldn’t look away; I only could stare at the little bundle in the picture.

“Ogden?” She asked.

I didn’t look at her.

“Ogden, I’m pregnant. And it is yours.”

My whole world just flipped upside down as I stared at this little thing that was going to change my life. Emotions surged through my system. Was this really happening? I knew that I just popped the question to Willow, but now she one upped me and just let me know that I was going to be a dad.

“You really have to tell me what you’re thinking. I’m freaking out here.” Willow said. I finally looked up at her. She was gnawing at the bottom of her lip.

I pulled her into me and wrapped my arms around her. I felt like crying with joy. “You are giving me everything that I have always hoped for in my life. This was what you were hiding from me?” I pulled her away from me and looked down at her. She had tears streaking her cheeks again.

“Well, yeah. I wasn’t sure if you wanted a kid or not. And if I knew you were going to do all of this I would have told you sooner.” Willow brushed at the tears. “So you’re happy?”

“Am I happy? I am beyond happy.” I looked down at the sonogram again. “I have a baby and a wife if she says yes to my proposal.” I gave her a knowing look.

“Yes, I will marry you.” She smiled at me and held out her hand for me to put the ring on her finger.

I took the ring that I was still clutching in my hand and put it on her finger. My hands were still shaking, I was going to be a father and a husband. Really a husband. I couldn’t ask for anything more.