Acts of Redemption: Chapter 32

Three months later…

I stare out into the garden, looking at the beautiful leaves turning orange and red. Fall is upon us and I’m excited to have some holiday cheer injected into our home.

I’ve officially moved in with Aiden and the twins. However, nanny Sylvie isn’t with us any longer since she decided to help her family with her own grandbaby.

A baby. My heart squeezes, remembering our loss. It’s been eight months since the tragic incident, but it feels as if it were just yesterday.

I don’t think the ache will ever go away, even despite Preston and Michaela each receiving a sixty-four-year sentence for their transgressions.

My hands fall to the new life growing within me, an unexpected blessing through the darkness of this year.

Aiden and I found out we were expecting last month, and we’ve yet to tell everyone, despite my friends’ suspicions. Those women can smell out a secret a mile away, but I’m still not ready to come clean. It doesn’t feel real yet. Like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop, tearing yet another life down before it’s had the chance to flourish.

“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” Aiden’s body wraps around me like a soothing blanket of warmth, his arms engulfing me from behind as his lips land gentle kisses on my neck.

“The same as always.” I turn my head, looking into his mesmerizing hazel eyes.

Our noses rub, letting me feel his breath on my lips. His scent has become a synonym to comfort and seduction. I count my blessings, thankful for this man who’s helped me hold it all together.

“The boys and I have a surprise for you.” His strong hands rub down either side of me, caressing my arms. “Why don’t you follow me?”

“Should I be concerned? The last time you all had a surprise for me, I had to replace my entire book collected.” I shake my head and laugh at the memory of the boys trying to make me a bookshelf for my classics, only to have painted over the books themselves.

“No paint was involved in the making of this surprise. Besides, I was there to oversee it.” He gives me a warm smile, his dimples coming out to play and melting away all remaining sadness in my disposition.

I love this man with all of my soul. I truly couldn’t be more blessed.

Aiden pushes open the door to the game room where Matt and Max stand in black shirts that say ‘BLING PATROL.’

Okay…

“Sit with us!” Matt runs up to me, tugging at my arm.

“We have a game for you to play.” Max shoves a controller into my lap as I sit in between both boys.

Pushing the little round start button on the controller, the television comes to life before me. There’s a beautiful princess with flowing dark brown hair, moving forward through a dark swamp. Suddenly, two little boys join her on her quest, fighting off ghosts and ghouls.

Coming into a massive clearing, a banner falls over the screen as a prince rides in on a horse.

Oh. My. God.

My eyes sting with the promise of tears as I read the message written just for me:

You are the hero to your story.

You are the strong knight your soul called on to survive.

You are the powerful woman we want by our side.

Charlotte Montgomery, will you do us the honor and join our tribe?

Dropping the controller, both hands fly up to my mouth as I gasp for air, my chest tightening and my vision blurring as tears flow freely down my face. This moment couldn’t be more perfect if I dreamed it up myself.

Looking down in front of me, Aiden is down on one knee with either boy to his side, his own eyes glossy with unshed emotion. “What do you say, Char, will you marry us?”

“Yes, yes. A million times yes!” Hurtling myself off the couch and onto Aiden, I extend both arms out, engulfing the boys in one massive hug.

From day one, this has been my family, only now it will be official.

Not ten minutes ago, I’d just said I couldn’t be more blessed. God, I was so wrong. This right here is far beyond any blessing I could have imagined.

As we continue to laugh and hug it out, I’m reminded that these moments in life are the ones worth holding on to. The ones I will cherish for all eternity.

Love. Family. Friendship.

The secrets to a life worth living.