Page 122 of Claimed By my Father's Enemies
From the doorway Adrian claps his hands twice. "There is no time for that."
Sol flinches at the clap and bolts. Off the bed, across the floor, out the door past Adrian's legs. Adrian’s expression translates that he just complicated his own situation considerably.
He points at William. "Put some clothes on and hurry up."
Then he's gone, his footsteps quick down the hallway, and I can hear him somewhere in the house saying Sol's name in the tone he usually reserves for opposing counsel.
William gets up and steps into his sweatpants and doesn't bother with anything else. I pull on my robe. He takes my hand and says, "Come on. We have a surprise for you."
I follow him into the hallway. Both my hands go to my mouth trying to reign in a surprise gasp, when I reach the living room.
Flowers.
Everywhere.
Every surface, the floor, the windowsills, the low coffee table.
Different types, different colors, more of them than this room should reasonably hold. The morning light comes through the floor-to-ceiling windows and everything in here is blooming.
Standing in the middle of it are Carter and Adrian. William joins them.
Each of them is holding a kitten.
Carter has Cedar, the calm one, who is sitting perfectly still in his hands as though this is a formal occasion and she understands that.
William has Ash, the most adventurous one, draped over one forearm like a very small and self-satisfied scarf.
Sol is in Adrian's hand,, which means he lost the chase and is now sulking about it.
Juniper is on top of the sofa, watching everything with the measured judgment she applies to all household events.
They are smiling at me and I have no clue why they are standing in the middle of the living room surrounded by flowers and kittens.
Carter pets Cedar's head once. He looks at me the way he always does when something matters to him. Steady. All the way through.
"I spent a long time thinking love was not in the cards for me," he says. "I didn't trust it. But you changed my mind." he makes sure the words are right before he gives them. "I love you, Sienna. And if you want me, I will spend the rest of my life loving you."
The tears are immediate.
I'm trying to pull in a breath steady enough to answer him when William speaks.
"You once told me about Komorebi." His voice is careful. "How we can appreciate the beauty of time passing." He holds my eyes with his. "I want to spend my life watching the shadows change with you."
I am going to burst with happiness. I followed my heart here, every terrifying step of it.
And then, it’s Adrian’s turn.
"I want a future with you," he says, and his voice is the most unguarded I have ever heard it. No polish, no deflection, no half-smile. Just him. "Say you'll marry me before I completely lose my mind."
The laugh and the sob arrive at the same time.
I cross the room to them. I'm crying in a way that I know is not flattering and I cannot stop. I reach for Adrian first and I'm about to kiss him when all three of them drop to one knee at the same moment, each of them holding a kitten out to me.
I take all three, one awkward armful of small warm animals, and that's when I see it.
Each kitten has a ribbon at the neck.
And on each ribbon, an engagement ring.
