Trail of Secrets(92)

                She glanced up. “What?”

                “Do you love me?” She started to speak but hesitated. “Tell me the truth. Do you love me?”

                She exhaled a big breath. “Yes. I thought I’d gotten over you until I came home, but I hadn’t.”

                He leaned forward and covered her fists with his hands. “I love you, too, and I want you in my life. I want more than that. I want you as my wife.”

                She shook her head. “You don’t understand...”

                He placed his finger on her lips. “No, you’re the one who has it all wrong. You think I can’t be a father unless it’s a child of my own? Have you forgotten how Dan has been the father I always wanted? Don’t you think I could do that, too?”

                She frowned. “How?”

                He chuckled and shook his head. “I always thought you were the smartest woman I’d ever known, but I’m not so sure anymore. There are a lot of options available to couples who can’t have children. Adoption, foster parenting, in vitro fertilization and who knows what else. Those are things to be explored in the future. First off, we have to decide how we feel.”

                “What do you mean?”

                He took a deep breath. “Well, you wanted me to be happy so badly that you walked out on me, and I lived through the two unhappiest years of my life. From what I guess, yours haven’t been that great, either. Am I right?”

                “Yes.”

                “Then we have to do something about that. I think I heard you say you love me. Do you?”

                She nodded. “I do, Seth, but I want you to be happy.”

                “Then marry me and take away all the unhappiness I’ve had for the past two years. I love you, and I promise you, we’ll face this problem together. How about it?”

                Her lips trembled, and more tears filled her eyes. “Are you sure?”

                “More than I’ve ever been about anything in my life. Please marry me, Callie.”

                “Nothing would make me happier.”

                His heart soared as he pulled her to him and pressed his lips against hers. She put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer as if to seal the commitment they’d just made to each other.

                A discreet cough behind them brought him back to the present, and he pulled away to look over his shoulder. A smiling nurse stood just inside the door. “It seems you’re feeling better than the last time I checked.”

                Callie laughed. “It’s the best I’ve felt in years.”

                “That’s good to hear,” she said. “I came to tell you that your uncle has regained consciousness and is asking for you. Would you like to go see him?”

                She clasped Seth’s hand and smiled. “Oh, Seth, this is the best day of my life.”

                He squeezed her hand. “Mine, too.”

                “I’ll get a wheelchair and be right back,” the nurse said as she scooted out the door.

                Callie reached up and trailed the tip of her finger down his cheek. “I never dreamed we could get back together. Are you sure you want to do this?”