Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
I’d spotted my ring as soon as they set the tray on the counter. It was a large, round, brilliant diamond.
It was the first one Jacob pulled out and slipped on my finger, and we didn’t bother with any others. It was just perfect. When something was meant to be, you didn’t walk away from it. We’d learned our lesson.
Gilly glanced at my hand, which had no doubt been part of Jacob’s intention when he mentioned my ring.
“You’re engaged?” she asked, glancing between me and Jacob.
“Yes,” I said and I held up my hand, my palm facing inward. I wiggled my fingers, letting the stone catch the sunlight.
I figured I didn’t owe Gilly a bigger explanation than that.
“To Jacob?” she asked as if I’d been unclear.
“Yes,” I said as I peered into the back of the car.
“But you said that you were dropping off books. Does this mean you’re going to resign? You can’t blame me if I go and tell Wanda. You told me yourself. There’s no way you should be working in the same—”
“Excuse me, I’m going to take this inside.” I didn’t need to listen to Gilly’s response to my relationship. It really was nothing to do with her. She could tell who she liked. I didn’t care. I pulled out my framed degree certificate, an umbrella, and the lamp I’d bought from Ikea because the one in my rented flat smelled of fish whenever I turned it on. I closed the boot of the car and headed inside, leaving an open-mouthed Gilly on the pavement.
All I cared about was getting to spend the rest of the day, all night, and every night after that with my soon-to-be husband.
As I got to the top of the steps to the front door, a beep of a horn nearly made me drop everything.
“What the hell—is that Zach?” Jacob asked. “What’s he doing driving a van?”
Gilly had disappeared, luckily and now Jacob was going to get a nicer surprise.
I couldn’t stop the grin spreading across my face. “He’s helping me with something.” I’d been added to the Cove family WhatsApp group and had been instantly treated like a sister by all the Cove brothers. It was a new experience for me having all these people invested in my life, wanting the best for me. I loved it.
“Helping you? Zach is far too perfect to drive a van. It’s not his vibe at all.”
Apparently, Zach never put a foot wrong and was ribbed mercilessly for it. “He’s so perfect, he agreed to drive a van for me,” I said.
“Someone’s going to have to help me in with this,” Zach called out.
“I’ll do it.” I handed the lamp, certificate, and other things I was holding to Jacob and ran down the steps toward Zach.
Zach unlocked the back double doors of the van to reveal the gift I’d bought for Jacob. It was perfect.
“What’s all this about?” Jacob said as he approached us.
“It’s a present. For you.” I beckoned him forward. “Come and see.”
A grin unfurled on his face. He slid his arm around my waist as he looked into the van.
“A rowing boat,” he said, and pressed a kiss on the top of my head.
“I thought we could put it in the back garden. Then you don’t have to go to Hyde Park to think. I bought it in Norfolk. I know it’s not exactly the same boat you laid in all those years ago, but I hope this will do.”
“It will more than do, Sutton. I love you. It’s wonderful.” He chuckled.
“Why are you laughing?”
He reached around to his back pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. “Because I’ve been working on this.” He handed the paper to me and I opened it out.
It was a sort of architect’s drawing of something but I couldn’t quite work it out. “It’s a library. For you. I thought we could convert the attic. I’ve had the plans drawn up.”
I pressed my palm against my chest. “You are the most thoughtful man. I love you so much.”
Zach coughed, interrupting the moment, but I couldn’t help but laugh. “Are we nauseatingly in love?” I asked.
“A little,” he replied.
“Zach’s a psychopath. He doesn’t do feelings,” Jacob explained. “Let’s get this boat round the back and then I can show you the samples I’ve got for the attic.”
Is this what my life would be like from now on? A husband who was always trying to think of ways to make me smile. Brothers-in-law that were rooting for me and each other. A mother and father-in-law that already meant more to me than my own parents. Life was so good. So easy. So entirely full of love and laughter that I knew that a part of me was going to have to keep reminding myself that it was all real.