Chapter 41 Part 41
Maggie
The boxes remained in the guest bedroom, but her suitcases had been unpacked, and she now shared a closet with Asher. He’d moved the dresser from the guest room to their room and moved most of his clothes to it.
Thomas invited them to have dinner in the main house, and it had been a lively affair. Eden had made a roast with plenty of side dishes, and two pies for dessert.
Dakota was lying under Melody’s eating chair, gnawing on a bone Eden had given him. They hardly knew the dog was there, but he was always either watching Melody or Asher.
“I asked Daddy to invite you to dinner because we have something very important to discuss,” Eden said. They had finished dinner a while ago, and were all having coffee.
“Sounds almost ominous,” Maggie said, leaning back in her chair.
“We’ve got five weeks before Melody’s first birthday,” she said, and you could hear a collective exhale from everyone.
“She’s turning one. We’ll bake a cake and take lots of pictures,” Asher said.
“Excuse me?” Thomas gave Asher a hard look. “It’s my granddaughter’s first birthday. It will be a special occasion.”
“You two want to tell us something?” Blair looked at Asher with a grin. Thomas’ declaration of Melody being his granddaughter had told them something was happening.
“It’s not like you don’t already know. I already said I was claiming Melody as my daughter. What more do you want?”
Dylan started chuckling, and Finn stood up from his chair. “A ring on her finger might be nice, you know? That way she’ll also know what your plans are.”
Maggie laughed, and looked at Asher. “He does have a point. You haven’t actually asked me anything. So far, you’ve just given orders.”
“What!” Eden glared at Asher before smiling at him. “You’re not in the Army anymore, Asher. Do it properly.”
Asher shook his head but stood up. He took out a small velvet box from his jacket pocket, and went down on one knee in front of Maggie. Her heart still fluttered, and a million butterflies were flapping their wings in her stomach.
“Maggie, even though our first interaction was you hitting me with a broom, I still thought you had the prettiest smile I’d ever seen.” The Fitzgerald clan chuckled, and Asher smiled again. “On our first date, you tried to poison me, but even though it was the worst pie I’d ever tasted, I’d eat it again, if it was made by you. I want a lifetime of terrible pies with you. I want to wake up to your pretty smile, and I want to go to sleep knowing you’re right there with me. I’d be honored if you would agree to be my wife. Now, say yes, woman.”
Maggie had tears in her eyes as she looked into Asher’s eyes. She’d never met anyone as open, caring, and human as he was. In her eyes, he was perfect, not a perfect person, but perfect for her.
“Yes.”
Asher slid the ring onto her finger, and she glanced down at the vintage-looking ring. It had an elongated cut emerald set in the middle of a white-gold and diamond filigree design. It fit her finger perfectly, and the stone almost seemed to glow as it caught the light.
“It’s beautiful, Asher.”
“I’m glad you think so,” Thomas said, with a proud smile. “That ring was bought by my grandfather sometime in the 50s when this very ranch sold its first herd of beef cattle.”
“And from then, every first-born son proposes with it,” Finn said.
Maggie’s eyes reflected a brief moment of horror before she disguised it. Eden was looking right at her, and she started to laugh. “No, Maggie, Asher never proposed to Lorelei with that ring. Daddy refused to give it to him.”
“But you gave it to him to ask me?”
“Of course. I’m much wiser than the few gray hairs on my head. From that first night he brought you to dinner, I knew you were the one.”
“That really means a lot to me,” Maggie said, as she smiled with happiness.
“Now you have to kiss him, Maggie; he did make a half-decent proposal,” Blair said.
“I’ll kiss her tonight when we’re alone,” Asher said, glaring at his brother.
“Maybe this time you’ll get a grandson, Dad,” Colt said, ducking as Asher aimed to hit him.
Melody joined in the laughter, her bubbly voice making everyone laugh harder. She clapped her hands, and Asher picked her up from the eating chair, and sat down again.
“What do you say, little lady? Ready to call me Daddy?”
“Dada,” Melody said.
The laughter died down, and everyone sat in silent shock as a single tear ran down Asher’s cheek. “Yeah, that’s me. Dada.”
Maggie had tears in her eyes as well, and she smiled at Asher. She did feel a little jealous pang that Melody’s first word wasn’t momma, but Asher truly deserved the moment. He’d saved their lives in more ways than one.
“My turn!” Colt yelled, and ran toward Asher. He took Melody from him, placed her on his hip, and turned away from the table. “Say, Uncle Colt.”
“No, no, I spend the most time with her out of all of you. It’s Auntie Eden!”
Thomas laughed, and shook his head. “She’ll say ‘Grandpa’ next. Mark my words.”
“I think Momma will come before Grandpa,” Asher said, as he took Maggie’s hand, and kissed it.
It was the perfect ending to a perfect night, and Asher told her that later that night when they put Melody to bed. She had a new lightness resting on her soul. It was happiness; she knew that.
She was safe, and she was happy. She trusted Asher and the rest of her new family. She believed that this was her happily ever after. It didn’t happen for everybody, but she’d been lucky enough to find it. She wasn’t ever going to let go of it.
“I can’t believe we got engaged tonight,” Maggie said, as they climbed into bed.
“Why not?”
“Isn’t it too soon?”
Asher turned on his side and looked at her. “There’s no such thing as too soon when it’s right.”
Maggie smiled and closed her eyes. “Wise words, Mr. Fitzgerald.”
It was much later when Maggie woke up and looked at the clock on the bedside table. It was nearly 3 a.m., and Asher’s side of the bed was empty and cold to the touch.