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“For being you. I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you for that. I swear I wouldn’t trade a day with you for anything in the world. And, no, that’s not the after sex talking,” he replied with a chuckle. But then he grew serious.
“There’s something I have to confess.”
“Okay.”
He let out a sigh, “Remember how I told you that I fell in love with you when I saw that picture of you holding Liam and hugging Stella?”
I nodded.
“Well, before that, your parents were telling us about your condition and I… I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to go to their house, and I didn’t want to even try to be your friend. I had never had a friend in your situation, and I was worried I was either going to say something stupid or hurt your feelings in some way. I think Aaron could see it as it settled on my face; the refusal. That’s why he pulled out the pictures. To show me that just because you were in a wheelchair, you weren’t any less normal.
“So when he took out his wallet and the cascade of pictures came flying out, I was intrigued. I took his wallet and went through the pictures like I told you before, but my mind hadn’t changed until I saw that picture.
“Your big, proud, awkward smile and the way you were holding a newborn Liam and still making Stella feel loved… I had to meet the beautiful girl with the big heart,” he finished wistfully.
I didn’t say anything. Partly because there was nothing to say and partly because I didn’t know what to say.
Nolan had seen me as everyone else had at first. A girl in a wheelchair who probably needed around-the-clock care.
“Please tell me that you didn’t feel bad for me,” I finally said.
“No. I didn’t.”
“Good. Thank you.”
We were silent for a few moments when he turned on his side.
He brushed my hair off of my face and behind my ear. I smiled as he looked into my eyes and ran his finger down the side of my face.
“Can I tell you what I want for my birthday now?”
I raised my eyebrows and waited.
“What I want is for you to be my wife. On my birthday. When our family is here, I want to make it official.”
I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to scream yes, I really did, but I couldn’t get over the fact that he really didn’t want to have anything to do with me at first.
“Well? Do you want to go from Ms. East to Mrs. Ransom on Friday? Or Mrs. East-Ransom?” he asked, making a goofy face.
“Mrs. Ransom will do just fine,” I answered softly.
“Good. I was hoping so,” he said happily as he climbed out of the bed.
The rest of the day followed The Routine. I waited in bed while he showered. When he was done he came to get me and help me into the bath chair. As per usual, he sat down next to the tub and began to flip through magazines.
He sighed when the phone rang and got to his feet.
“I’ll be right back. Just holler if you need anything,” he said through the shower curtain.
“I’m just showering. I doubt anything earth-shattering will happen while you’re gone,” I teased.
Nolan laughed as he walked out of the bathroom.
As I shampooed my hair, I started to feel warm again, followed by a pain flare-up. I put a hand to my side and winced as the pain slowly started to become more prominent.
I took labored breaths and tried to ignore it as I started to desperately wash the shampoo out of my hair.
“Nolan?” I asked through clenched teeth.
