Page 105 of A Simple Regret

Linda offers her daughter a knowing smile. “I know, Charli, but she’s going to be perfectly fine. She’s going to sleep most of the time she’s away from you.”

Charli takes a deep breath and lets it out. “I know. You’re right. And we’re all meeting at the diner in the morning for breakfast.”

“Nine a.m. Then we need to come here and tear down.”

All four kids and their parents made the plan to meet up for breakfast before we have to dismantle this gorgeous rustic barn that the owners transformed into a venue.

I give Linda a hug. “Thank you, again, for this.”

“Are you kidding me? This is just as much of a treat for me and Ty as it is for you kids. Now, go…enjoy the rest of your night. And if you maybe announce more grandkids in a month or two, I won’t mind.”

I feel my cheeks blush and catch the way Quinn wiggles his eyebrows suggestively at Charli.

“Come on, I’ll help you get the kids into your car,” Camden states, helping Mom grab any of their belongings as they slowly make their way to the door. Charli and Quinn are hot on their heels, most likely needing to say goodbye to their sleeping daughter one last time for the night.

When Camden comes back, he’s smiling. “He woke up just as I was buckling him into his seat. He says he woves you, Mommy,” he says, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

“Aww, I feel bad I wasn’t there.”

“Don’t,” Camden assures me. “He told me the same and went right back to sleep after making sure Junie was secured in the seat next to him.”

“He loves her,” I confirm. He’s always doting on his little cousin, as he refers to her.

“Come on, Shortcake. Let’s take a quick walk.”

I nod, placing my hand in his. We walk outside the barn and toward the tree line. It’s cool for late April, but otherwise a perfect night. From this vantage point, you can see the entire barn and the lights glowing from within. There are several sets of string lights on the outside too that help light up the space in the most romantic way. Plus an inviting firepit area with cozy benches for an additional place to gather.

“You know, when I was little, I never thought I’d see this old barn transformed like this,” I say, taking it all in.

“Yeah, the Hansons spent a lot of time and money fixing it up and turning it into this venue. It’s pretty popular too. It’s always booked,” Camden says.

“It’s perfect,” I tell him, leaning my head on his shoulder as we slowly walk along the property.

“Maybe someday we can use it for us.”

His words make my heart kick up in beats as anticipation races through me. “And it would be as perfect then as it is now.”

Suddenly, he stops and looks at me. Camden lifts his hand and brushes hair off my forehead before slowly dropping to his knee. My eyes widen in shock as he smiles up at me with so much love and eagerness in his ocean-blue eyes. “Maren, you’ve owned my heart for longer than I can remember. When I think about my future, I only see you and Theo in it, and that’s what I’m determined to do. Keep looking forward. Keep reaching and pushing for the life we want together. Keep doing everything in my power to make you happy and give you both the lives you want and deserve, but because that’s all I know how to do. I want to give you everything, Shortcake, and by doing that, I’m getting everything I could ever want in return.”

He takes a deep breath and pulls a ring box from his suit pants pocket. “Have you had that in your pants the whole night? I mean, I felt something against my leg, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t that.”

He barks out a laugh. “No, I just grabbed it from my truck when I took Theo out to my mom’s SUV.” He inhales loudly and slowly releases it. “Maren Holm, will you marry me?”

I don’t even have to give it a thought. “Yes.”

He opens the box, revealing the most gorgeous princess-cut diamond ring. It’s on the smaller side, just the way I would want it, considering my job, and it’s surrounded by a small grouping of solitaire diamonds. Carefully, he pulls it from the velvet and slides it on my finger.

“Perfect fit,” I whisper, gazing down at the new piece of jewelry adorning my finger.

He stands up and presses his lips to mine. “Yes, you are.”

“And with your permission, I’d like to adopt Theo. Not today, but after we marry, when the time is right. I want him to have my last name too. I want him to be my son in every way that truly matters, because I already look at him that way. He’s already mine in my heart.”

Well, that triggers the tears. I start to cry, so eternally grateful for this man. Not only is he enriching my life but my son’s too. “I would be more than okay with that.”

He cups my face with his hands and kisses me soundly, with all the love he possesses in his heart and soul. “There’s just a few more details to discuss. I want us to find a house, Shortcake. A big one with a yard and a garage or barn. I want us to have lots of space to grow.”

I nod. “I think that’s a good idea. We’re definitely going to need another bedroom in about eight months.”