Page 93 of The Brides Brother

“It might be too soon to say, but I know that I’m in love with you. I’m not asking for us to go beyond this week just so that we can keep sleeping together. I want to know even more about you. Everything about you. I want our lives to melt into one, and I want to see with all my heart where this will take the both of us.”

I remained shocked, and then I said a prayer of thanks to Anna. And then, because this had been a damn emotional day, tears filled my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. It’s so embarrassing, yet he didn’t mind. He kissed me slow and deep, and then with my hand in his, he led me over to the bathroom. In there, I watched him, unable to believe what was happening, unable to believe the point we had come to. It felt like I had just jumped off a cliff together with him, and I was never so assured. A bed of roses was sure waiting for us, and if this was not the case, then I knew as he took me in his arms once again, that I would never have any regrets.

The end

Epilogue

Evelyn

Three months later

The funeral was a somber affair, the air thick with grief as we gathered around Drake's mother's grave. Raindrops mingled with tears on the faces of the mourners. Drake stood beside me, his eyes reflecting the pain of loss, and I couldn't help but reach for his hand, offering silent support.

I had more or less become a part of their family over the past three months, and they had all welcomed me so dearly, especially Aurora, who was now truly like a sister. I can recall now the Sunday lunches, laughter in the air, Aurora's pregnancy tantrums, and their mother teasing us all. It had seemed as though it was all a fairytale that would go on forever, but now it was over. So suddenly.

It still felt unreal to me. I could still remember Drake getting the call in the middle of the night from his father. I'd never seen him so flustered and out of control. We had driven straight to the hospital, and there it had been confirmed. She had finally passed away from cirrhosis. Aurora had completely broken down. After she found out when she returned from her honeymoon, the cause of her wedding being hijacked, she had been irate, sad, and then happy, vowing to spend every single day with her mom until the end. She had done it, forcing her mother to move into her new apartment with her and David and to accompany her in her studio.

Her mother's birthday was the next week. Aurora was due the week after. We had planned it to be a celebration. This was supposed to be yet another magical month, and then this had happened. Aurora was clinging to her husband, unable to look. She had stopped crying, and so had her father. They had had ample time to expect it, but still, it had come as a cold and terrifying shock.

Drake, my love, had broken down silently in my arms, in the quiet of the night where no one could see. I had fallen more in love with him then, needing to take his pain away, but there was nothing I could do. So, I held his hand tightly reminding him that I was here and that we would be alright eventually.

Soon enough, her coffin was lowered into the grave, and we walked away. We headed back silently to their townhouse for the reception. There was food, light conversation, and a few smiles here and there. Aurora was nowhere to be found, but I knew she was in her mother's room. Drake mingled with a few guests and then disappeared up the stairs as well. I gave them all the space they needed, but then eventually, when I couldn't stand it anymore, I went up to find my love.

I found him in his mother's room alone, but he seemed a bit lighter. He didn't look up when I came in, but eventually, he did and smiled. He held out his hand, and I went over to him. Then I sat by his side, and we gazed at her memorial photo together.

“She was really looking forward to her birthday,” he said, and I nodded.

“Yeah.”

“It was going to be your event planning debut, well, after Aurora’s wedding,”

I smiled again. “I'm only event planning for this family. I cannot handle the stress. And it's for my photos.”

“I know, I know,” he said and squeezed my arm just a bit tighter.

I felt inexplicably sad then as I stared into his mother's gorgeous eyes because I knew I had to hold on to my secret just a little while longer. I had been so confused and uncertain, wondering whether to tell, but now… I had to wait. It was the wrong time. But by then… it might be too unexpected? Maybe after Aurora had given birth. There would be joy once again. I could wait till then.

Just then, Drake reached into his pocket, and I shifted slightly to let him retrieve his phone.

“During her birthday dinner, we had planned something together,” he said, and I was intrigued.

“Really? How come I wasn’t told?” I smiled then, shaking my head as I looked at her because I knew this was just the kind of mischief that they both frequently got into against the rest of us.

I was going to miss her so dearly, but for Drake's sake, I kept my emotions at bay. He moved then, and I got up. It was time to return to the guests downstairs. However, to my surprise, he began to lower, and I turned in shock. At first, I was confused, wondering why he was on one knee, but then he produced the box, and my heart stopped. It was gorgeous and emerald and velvet, and I couldn’t move.

He smiled.

“I wanted to do this in her presence,” he said. “We talked about it… I really wish she had waited a bit longer.”

“Oh my God,” I gasped, the tears I had been doing my hardest to hold back then filling my eyes

.

“I love you, Evelyn,” he told me in his soft kind voice. My gorgeous and capable man. There were no words suitable enough for me to reply with. “These three months with you have illuminated my life in a way that I cannot explain. I'll propose to you again, forgive me, but I need it to be in her presence because she loved you as well. Everyone came to truly love you, and that's who you are. You are the most gorgeous, kind, smart woman I've ever met, and I just... I don't want to wait a single moment longer. Please marry me?”

I stared at him, and the floodgates opened. The tears poured down my cheeks, and he was slightly alarmed as well as amused and sad all at once. The emotions were just too much to take in.

“Is this a no?” he asked, and I lowered to him as well. But it took a while, and I was eventually able to get myself together, and the moment I did, I told him what I needed to say because I truly couldn't wait another minute longer.