Page 123 of Sherry and Sunflowers
"Do you think we should show him the backyard?" his dad asked Zia.
"Yes." Zia got to her feet. "Come on, Homer. You're going to like it out here. You can lie in the grass and watch the clouds."
Reaves chuckled as he and Alara watched Zia take his dad's hand, the two of them walking away with Homer following along—as if he'd always been part of the family.
When they'd gone, he slid his arm around Alara's waist and pressed a kiss to her lips. "How are you feeling?"
She nodded. "I'm doing so well, Reaves. You've seen for yourself—every day I'm a little bit stronger." She dropped her gaze. "And I'm putting weight on."
He couldn't help sliding his hand down over her backside. "And it suits you," was all he said.
She laid her palm on his cheek. "In case I haven't told you yet today—I love you."
"And I love you." His hand went to his pocket, automatically checking that the other thing he'd collected this morning was still safe there, in its box. "Let's go around back and see how they're getting on. There's something I want to ask you."
She gave him a puzzled look, but took his hand and let him lead her to the backyard.
His dad was sitting on one of the new chairs out there. The house was still a mishmash of the old furniture and the new that had started arriving—but it didn't bother Reaves in the least. It was like his dad said: you made a house a home by living in it, not by decorating it. Homer and Zia were settled peacefully at Charles's feet.
His dad raised his eyebrows, and Alara laughed when she caught it. "What are the two of you up to?"
Reaves chuckled. "You caught me. Nothing that I want to hide from you for too long. But like I said—there's something I want to ask you."
Zia looked up at him. "What are you going to ask, Prince Daddy?"
"You'll see in a minute, Z. And then there's something I want to ask you too."
"Okay."
He turned to Alara, and realized he wasn't even nervous. This just felt so right. That was the thing about her and Zia—they'd both felt right to him from the moment he first met them.
He took the small velvet box from his pocket. He hadn't intended to get down on one knee, but his dad was nodding approvingly and Zia was watching wide-eyed, so he did. He caught hold of Alara's hand.
"This is what I want to ask you. I've already told you I want to spend my life with you. But I don't think I've told you why." He tightened his hand around hers. "You came here with nothing, and you gave all of us everything. You brought my dad back to life. You made a home out of a camper, and then you did the same with a castle, because making places beautiful for the people you love is just what you do. I don't want to take care of you because you need it, Alara. I want you because you're the best thing that ever walked into my life. You and Zia both." He glanced at the little girl watching wide-eyed. "She told me at Jacob and Becca’s wedding that I'd be the King of all the Daddies one day. She was right. She usually is." He looked back at Alara. "So let's make it official. Marry me. Let me be yours, and Zia's, for the rest of my life."
She gripped his hand tight and nodded slowly, two fat tears rolling down her cheeks. "Yes, Reaves. Yes, please. I want to marry you. To spend the rest of our lives building a wonderful life." She glanced over at Zia and his dad. "A wonderful family. Yes."
He got to his feet and slid the ring onto her finger.
"Oh, Reaves. It's beautiful. Thank you."
He nodded. It had taken him a long time to find the right ring—but as soon as he'd seen it, he'd known it was the one. The diamond was set in little swirls of gold that made it look as though it sat at the center of a flower.
He closed his hand around the back of her neck and kissed her, not caring for once that his dad and Zia were right there watching. When he finally lifted his head, Zia came running and threw her arms around their legs.
"Now you get to be king and queen," she declared.
Alara laughed, and Reaves looked down at Zia. "Is that how it works?"
She nodded solemnly. "It is. Now you're not Prince Daddy anymore. You're King Daddy. I always knew you'd be King Daddy one day—and now you are."
He scooped her up and sat her on his hip. "I'll try my best to be a very good king."
"That's okay. You don't need to try. You already are good." She looked over. "Isn't he, Grandpa Grape?"
Reaves turned to his dad, who'd gotten to his feet. Charles hugged Alara, who clung to him tightly for a moment before stepping back.
"He's a very, very good man. I'm proud to call him son." He held Alara's gaze. "And I'm proud—as well as thrilled—to make it official that the two of you are family."
