“I love you, Sydney Burch. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and…” I thought back to my brother’s earlier words and smiled bigger. “I want to see you standing in my parents’ backyard rocking our babies.”
“M-mike,” she gasped out.
I opened the ring box and took Sydney’s l
eft hand in mine. “Life being married to a cop isn’t always fun, but if you asked me right now to walk away from it, I would in a heartbeat. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. I love you, Sydney. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Sydney dropped her hands and gave me the most breathtaking smile I’d ever seen. Tears slipped down her face, and she nodded as she said, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
We stood, and Maggie Maye and Princess started barking as I took Sydney in my arms and kissed her.
Then the cheers of my entire family filled the air.
My mother was the first to come up and congratulate us. She pried Sydney from my arms and hugged her tightly, whispering something into her ear that made Sydney turn a bright shade of red. I watched as each person hugged and welcomed her to the family. My heart had never felt so full.
As we walked back down to the house, I looked down at the princess-cut diamond solitaire and then back up to Sydney. She and Karen were already making plans to meet for lunch to discuss prewedding details.
Mom and Dad were in the lead, walking hand in hand back down to the house. Darrin and his wife, Lynn, held onto the hands of their kids as they skipped down the path and sang some silly song, and Joe, Karen’s husband, carefully walked while carrying his precious cargo, Penelope.
When Sydney glanced back at me, her face was lit up with happiness, and I could see the love in her eyes.
Yes, I had given my heart to Sydney Burch one late night not too long ago, and I had no intention of asking for it back.
Sydney
Three years later
I lay on the picnic blanket, listening to our son squeal in delight as Mike pushed him in the swing. “More! More! More! Daddy, more!”
Axel was two and had changed our lives forever when he came into this world. He was his father’s mini-me in every way. I loved being a mother and the life we had built together.
I smiled, thinking about Paula. She’d been ecstatic, thinking I’d gotten pregnant because of the fertility crystals she’d added, and we’d let her believe that was the case. I loved the craziness she brought to our lives. Dex was still Dex, hoping someday for the return of the Pony Express. And I snuck him cheesecake from time to time after Paula had restricted his diet. It was our little secret.
“Are you ready to go real high, buddy?” Mike asked.
“Yeah, Daddy! High!”
There was another round of squeals, and my heart was so full of love it was ready to burst.
After Grandpa died, I thought I would be alone, but my life was the exact opposite. I was surrounded by family and love. The only missing piece was Wesley. After he left Salem, he never made contact again. I kept faith that someday he might be able to. Margaret said she’d try to pass along my messages if he reached out. But every time I asked, she said she hadn’t heard from him.
I suspected she was part of the Alchemists, too. I touched the bracelet that I wore all the time as a reminder of my friendship with Wesley. It didn’t matter how much time passed; nothing would change how much I cared about him.
“Sand! Daddy! Sand! Play!”
“Okay, buddy, let me get you out of the swing so you can play in the sand.”
Mike picked up Axel and kissed him on the cheek. He placed him in the sand with his bucket and shovel. “Stay right here where Mommy and Daddy can see you.”