Page 73 of The Caress

Her mouth falls open when we step into the dining room and she sees everything laid out on the table. "My goodness, babe. You really outdid yourself. I didn’t have any idea you could cook like this." She walks over to the table and gasps. "And you’re using the pretty china my aunt gave us! I love all of this so much, Keir. This is so beautiful and thoughtful."

"For my beautiful, thoughtful wife," I say, walking up behind her and leaning in to plant a trail of kisses up the side of her neck. "Let me pull the chair out for you, baby. All you have to do tonight is relax and enjoy. You’ve been running yourself ragged lately for our little family, and I want you to know I’ve noticed it and I appreciate everything you do. Always."

"Oh, my goodness," she laughs, dabbing at the edges of her eyes. "You’re going to make me cry and mess up my makeup if you keep saying things like that."

"Well, there’s just one more thing before we start eating." I walk over and grab a chilled bottle from the ice bucket on the corner of the table. "I know sparkling grape juice leaves a lot to be desired, but I promise we can have a toast with actual champagne next year."

Her smile is radiant as she reaches down and absently cups her hand around her pregnant belly. "Guess our timing was a little off, wasn’t it? A few months earlier or later, and we could have been drinking tonight."

"Our timing was perfect," I say, pouring each of us a glass of the cheap, bitter juice. "I’d rather drink ten bottles of this stuff than change one single thing about the past year of our lives."

She laughs. "I’m not sure if I’m just emotional tonight or if that was actually really sweet. We aren’t going to drink ten bottles of this stuff, though, just for the record."

"Just one sip is all that’s technically required for the toast," I toss her a wink as I raise my glass. "Ella, my love, I think you know how happy you’ve made me over the past year that we’ve been married."

"You’ve mentioned it once or twice," she says, nibbling at her lip as her cheeks flush a delicious shade of dark rose.

Damn, she’s perfect.

"This is our first anniversary together," I continue. "The end of our first year as a married couple. But it’s just the beginning of so many more happy years, and I’m truly lucky that I get to spend those years with you. Having you and Joy here has made my life and Isla’s life so much better in so many ways, and I’m so thankful that God, fate, or the universe kept bringing us together no matter how many times I foolishly sabotaged our relationship in the beginning. I didn’t realize I was so close to messing up the best thing that’s ever happened to me, but I’m glad you never gave up on me." I reach over to clink my glass against hers. "This is to you, for your grace and understanding."

"To us," she whispers, her eyes suspiciously bright with emotion. "And to never giving up."

It took a few false starts and stops, but we made it. We’re happier after this first year than we’ve ever been, and our love is growing stronger every day.

Soon, our little family will grow a little bigger, and the love in our hearts will grow right along with it.

I can’t wait.