Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 13981 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13981 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
"What are you talking about, Mason?" I ask him, adjusting my gown and dress so they don't interfere with one another.
Mason drops down to one knee. "I don't want you to think this is a fling between us. This isn't a fleeting romance that dies after you graduate, Madison. My love for you erupted the morning you walked through that door. Call it love at first fight because that afternoon in my office told me that I never wanted to argue, or love anyone as much as I wanted you."
"Mason, what are you doing? What's going on?"
"What's going on is, I love you, Madison. I've already spoken to your father and mother about this. My resignation is sitting on Principal Paulson's desk, and this ring's been burning a hole in my pocket for a while. I want to marry you, Madison. I want us to figure out our futures together because there's no one else I'd rather have by my side. Please say you'll make me the luckiest man alive and marry me?"
I giggle and choke back tears as he slips an enormous engagement ring out of its box and onto my finger. "Yes, shit. Of course, I will. I love you too, Mason."
He gets up with a smile on his face, pulling me in for a kiss before we leave the classroom and this school behind. Love is on the horizon and our future is brighter than ever.
EPILOGUE
MASON
One Year Later
The soft cries of Marco echo around our bedroom, with the moon shining brightly through the window. Madison rolls over, exhaustion peeking through as her brows furrow at the notion of having to get up in the middle of the night. I won't let her, leaning over to kiss her gently on the forehead.
"I'll grab him, babe. Sleep."
She moans her thanks and turns over to return to her peaceful slumber. I pad across our large bedroom with a wall of pictures from our wedding, honeymoon, baby-moon, and treks across Europe. This past year's been full of lessons and life changes that I never imagined.
Teacher.
Lover.
Husband.
Father.
All the titles I cherish are only mine because Madison's the love of my life. My teaching days aren't behind me as I've taken an instructional job with my father's company. It gives me plenty of time to stay home and be a father to our little guy, Marco.
Inside an elephant-gray nursery with white and blue furniture, our son cries with fury. Marco's chubby face with large blue eyes, mimicking his mother's beautiful gaze. They are red with tears as I approach the crib. It's a sharp sense of protection washing over me to make sure he's alright, scooping our little bundle into my arms. His little body still scrunches together like a bean when I pick him up, cementing another memory into my mind.
The moment he's close to my chest, he tries desperately to feed through my shirt. Well, that answers the question of what's woken him. It's a few steps to the bottle warmer where a midnight snack waits for our son.
Son.
Such an amazingly simple word with the weight of the world on my shoulders to keep him safe, fed, and happy. I can't stop smiling at Marco as he closes his eyes, sipping milk from his bottle and dozing off as he eats. A head full of black hair, similar to mine, captures his scent. It's a mixture of soap, soft citrus, and talc powder.
"I could sniff him forever," Madison says from the doorway to the nursery.
"You can have your turn at five in the morning. Right now, I get all the smells," I tease her. "I got it, honey. You should lie back down. Don't you have work in the morning?"
"I do." She chuckles. "I guess I have you to thank for my latest stint in the marketing department. Super early mornings, Montoya."
I whisper to her, "But you get three-day work weeks. I was only trying to help when I mentioned it to your supervisor."
Madison pulls her robe closed and comes into the room where I'm sitting in the rocking chair, holding Marco close to me. I admit I'm not ready to put him back in his crib, even though he's sound asleep.
Madison lowers her face to kiss Marco's sleeping face and turns slightly to kiss me. It's slow, tender, and everything I love about our kisses.
"Don't start while I'm holding, Marco. At least wait until I put him back in the crib."
She giggles, kissing me again gently. "Well, you've already put him to sleep. Why don't you come help your wife sleep through the night?"
This is why I'm the luckiest guy in the world. I couldn't have asked for a better friend, wife, and mother. Her patience can use some work, but I love her still.
"Give me a few to make sure he's okay and I'll come right in."