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“That wasn’t exactly it.”
“Well. I dressed in my best pirate gear because I have a question to ask you.”
“Okay,” Benny said.
“Ben, I would really like to marry your mom,” Brody said. “But I wanted to talk to you about it first. Because you’ve been with her, the two of you, for a lot of years. I love her, and I want to be with her. And I want you to understand that. That I want to be with her because I love her. Because I know you love your mom a lot. And I want you to be sure that my intentions are honorable. Even though I am a pirate.”
“What?” Benny asked, his eyes going wide. “You want to marry my mom?”
“Yeah. I think...a big part of that for you to think about is that it would make me your stepdad. I know you have a dad, and that he means a lot to you. That you love him. You just had Christmas with him. I’m not trying to take his place. I’m gonna make a lot of promises to your mom when I marry her. And I owe you promises too. I’ll be there for you. Answer your questions. Probably make you do chores you don’t like. I won’t make you call me dad, because you have one. But... Basically, what I want to do is fill in whatever needs filling in. And we both want to take care of your mom.”
“Yeah,” Benny said.
“Is that okay with you?”
“What if it’s not?” Benny asked.
“I’m going to marry your mom anyway. You heard the part about how I love her, right?”
“Yeah...”
“But I just want to know what I’m working with,” Brody said. “Because I’ll work as hard as I can to prove to you that I deserve to marry her. And to earn your respect. A man can’t just demand it. He’s got to show he’s worthy. Especially when he’s a pirate cowboy.”
“Yeah,” Benny said. “You can marry my mom. You’re a pretty cool guy.”
“Thanks, Ben,” Brody said. “That means a lot to me.”
Elizabeth couldn’t help it. She started to cry. Because he was perfect. He hadn’t asked an eight-year-old’s permission. Because a grown man shouldn’t. He’d been perfect. Authoritative, and respectful. And she just loved him. Plus, he was really hot in the pirate outfit.
“And now I suppose I have something to formally ask you,” he said, turning to Elizabeth.
Her heart leaped up into her throat.
“Brody...”
“I went to a little jewelry store in Gold Valley after I found the costume.” He pulled the ring box out of his pocket and got down on one knee. “Elizabeth... Lizzie... Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she said, flinging herself into his arms. “Yes.”
He took the ring out of the box, and pried open her grip so that he could take her hand in his and put the ring on her finger.
It was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. The most beautiful moment. This was her family. Her perfect, whole family. And there was nothing broken about it.
She kissed him, and then he groaned.
“What do you need from me, Lizzie? Just tell me, and I’ll give it to you.”
“I don’t need anything special, it turns out. All I really need is for you to love me.”
He smiled. That wicked smile that she loved so much. “As you wish.”
EPILOGUE
THEY MARRIED QUICKLY, and by the following Christmas, they had a brand-new house built and completed at McCloud’s Landing. By the next Christmas, they had added a girl to their family. And two Christmases later, another one.
Benny didn’t even complain about being surrounded by sisters.
He was the best big brother. Elizabeth was so happy to finally get to appreciate that. She had always felt disconnected from that when it came to Carter and Ashley’s kids.
