Chapter 112 Saying Yes
CAITLYN'S POV
I could not breathe. Could not think. Could not do anything except stare at Jason kneeling in front of me with a ring in his hand. He was asking me to marry him. Jason Cross was asking me to marry him.
"Caitlyn?" Jason said. He looked scared. Like he thought I might say no. "Will you marry me?"
"Yes," I said. The word came out as a whisper. Then louder. "Yes. Yes of course I will marry you."
Jason's face broke into the biggest smile I had ever seen. He took the ring out of the box and slid it onto my finger. It fit perfectly. It was made for me.
"It is beautiful," I said. I was crying so hard I could barely see. "Jason it is perfect."
He stood up and pulled me into his arms. Kissed me. I kissed him back. Felt the ring on my finger. Felt his arms around me. Felt our baby moving between us. This was everything. This was all I had ever wanted.
"I love you," Jason said. "I love you so much Caitlyn."
"I love you too," I said. "I have always loved you. Even when I should not have. Even when I was with Collin. It was always you."
We stood there holding each other. Crying and laughing and kissing. I could not stop looking at the ring. Could not stop thinking about the fact that I was engaged. That I was going to marry Jason. That we were going to be a real family.
"When did you plan this?" I asked. "When did you buy the ring?"
"Today," Jason said. "I went to the jewelry store this morning. I could not wait any longer. I had to ask you. Had to make this official."
"You were so nervous at dinner," I said. "I thought something was wrong."
"I was terrified," Jason said. "I thought you might say no. Thought it might be too soon."
"Too soon?" I said. "Jason we have known each other our whole lives. We have a baby on the way. How could it be too soon?"
"I do not know," Jason said. "I just kept thinking about everything you have been through. Everything with Hayes. The kidnapping. The trauma. I thought maybe you would not be ready for this."
"I am ready," I said. "I have been ready for years. I should have married you the first time instead of Collin. That was my biggest mistake."
"But if you had married me back then we would not have this baby," Jason said. He put his hand on my stomach. "And this baby is worth everything. Worth all the pain. Worth all the waiting."
"You are right," I said. "This baby is worth it. And now we get to raise them together. As husband and wife."
"Husband and wife," Jason repeated. "I like the sound of that."
"Me too," I said.
I looked at the ring again. It was simple but elegant. A solitaire diamond on a platinum band. It was exactly what I would have chosen if he had asked me. He knew me so well. Knew what I liked. Knew what would make me happy.
"How did you know?" I asked. "How did you know this was the perfect ring?"
"I just knew," Jason said. "I looked at a bunch of them but this one felt right. It felt like you."
"It is perfect," I said. "Everything about tonight has been perfect."
"I wanted it to be special," Jason said. "I wanted you to have a good memory. A happy memory. After everything you have been through you deserve happiness."
"I am happy," I said. "Right now in this moment I am happier than I have ever been."
We sat back down at the table. I could not stop staring at my ring. Could not stop smiling. I was engaged. I was going to be Mrs. Cross. I was going to marry the man I loved.
"When do you want to get married?" Jason asked. "Do you want a big wedding? A small one? Do you want to wait until after the baby is born?"
"I do not want to wait," I said. "I want to marry you as soon as possible. I do not care if it is big or small. I just want to be your wife."
"What about before the baby comes?" Jason asked. "We could do something small. Just us and a few people. Something simple."
"I would love that," I said. "Something intimate. Something that is just about us."
"Okay," Jason said. "Then that is what we will do. We will plan a small wedding. Before the baby comes. So our baby is born into a family with married parents."
"Our baby," I said. I put my hand on my stomach and felt a kick. "Our baby is going to have two parents who love each other. Who are committed to each other. Who chose each other."
"That is right," Jason said. "No more running. No more hiding. No more being with the wrong person because it feels safe. We are choosing each other. For real this time."
I thought about Collin. About how I had married him because I thought I had no other choice. Because I thought Jason did not want me. Because I thought I needed protection. That marriage had been a nightmare. A prison. A living hell.
But this was different. This was real. This was choosing to marry someone because I loved them. Because I wanted to spend my life with them. Because I could not imagine a future without them.
"This is the first time I am marrying for love," I said. "The first time I am saying yes because I want to. Not because I have to. Not because I am scared. But because I love you and I want to be your wife."
"That is the easiest yes I have ever heard," Jason said. He was smiling. "You did not even hesitate. Just said yes immediately."
"Because it was easy," I said. "Saying yes to you is the easiest thing I have ever done. There was no doubt. No fear. Just love."
"I am going to spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret that yes," Jason said. "I am going to be the best husband. The best father. The best partner you could ask for."
"You already are," I said. "You have already proven that. You saved my life. You protected me. You loved me even when I was broken. You are everything I need."
Jason took my hand and kissed my knuckles. Right above the ring. His ring. The ring that meant I was his and he was mine. Forever.
"I cannot believe this is real," I said. "I cannot believe we are really doing this. Getting married. Having a baby. Building a life."
"Believe it," Jason said. "This is real. This is happening. And nothing is going to stop us."
"What about the trials?" I asked. "What about testifying? What if something happens?"
"Nothing is going to happen," Jason said. "We are going to testify. We are going to put those people away. And then we are going to move on with our lives. We are going to get married and have our baby and be happy."
"You make it sound so simple," I said.
"It is simple," Jason said. "We choose each other. Every day. No matter what. That is all we have to do."
I stood up and Jason stood up with me. I hugged him. Held him close. Felt the ring on my finger pressing against his back. This was my future. This man. This baby. This family.