I let out a giggle. “An unlocked door is an open invitation.” I gently kissed my husband on the lips and whispered, “I love you, Garrett.”
He moved his hand behind my neck as he smiled that smile that would forever be my undoing. He whispered back to me, “I love you more, Emma.”
Present Day
I couldn’t help but smile as I watched all the girls sitting there with tears in their eyes—well, all of them but one. Ari was sitting with her arms crossed over her chest, and her mouth was dropped open.
“I knew it! I knew there had to be some reason you always walk in on us, old man,” Ari said as she shook her head.
Emma let out a chuckle. Ellie glanced over at Ari and hit her on the arm before turning back and wiping away her tears.
Ellie took in a deep breath. “That was the most beautiful story I’ve ever heard, Garrett. I had no idea you were behind all the letters.”
Emma reached for my hand. “It seems like it was all just a moment ago.”
“Grams, Gramps…that was the most amazing story I’ve ever heard. Thank you for sharing it with us.”
Jeff nodded. “I always knew that quilt was a good-luck charm.”
Everyone began laughing as Emma and I looked at each other and smiled.
“It seems like it was just yesterday when Emma was handing me that quilt and we were going on that picnic. My bride is just as beautiful today, if not more beautiful than that day.”
Heather cleared her throat. “I think it is pretty clear where Gunner got his romance from, but I have to say, I think you blow them all out of the water, Garrett. Oh my goodness…the charm when the boys were born.”
Amanda blew her nose. “So beautiful.”
Ari smiled. “The honeymoon and Nat King Cole’s song. Swoon the hell out of me!”
Ellie nodded her head. “The honeymoon night!”
Amanda said, “Yes…in the back of the truck.”
Josh started laughing. “Garrett, I’m pretty sure we learned from the best when it comes to the romance department.”
I glanced over to Gunner, and he smiled and winked at me.
Jessie cleared her throat. “Garrett, I never knew about your father. That just breaks my heart.” She broke down crying again.
Emma reached across and took Jessie’s hand in hers. “The only way to truly appreciate the happy times in your life is to go through the bad times.” She looked back at me and grinned. “Garrett and I learned that very early on.”
She glanced back at the kids. “Kids, not everything in your life is going to be wonderful. You’re going to get upset and fight with each other. We tend to make it much harder than we should. We question our love, and we place doubt in our minds, but you have to believe in the very thing that got you this far—love. It breaks down the walls we have built and shows us the light we’ve always known is there. Nothing is stronger than love.”
Emma looked over to me.
I smiled. “Especially when it is a forever love.”
The End
The following section includes letters written from Gunner, Jeff, Josh, Brad, and Scott after the birth of each one’s first child.
Gunner
Dear Ellie,
I’ll never forget the day you told me we were expecting our first child. I can close my eyes and still feel the excitement I felt at that very moment. I think the months of trying so hard made it all the sweeter.
Watching your stomach grow with our child, Ells, I’ve never in my life experienced such emotions. Each morning, waking up next to the one person I loved more than life itself, knowing you would give me one of the most amazing gifts ever, filled my heart with so much love that it felt as if it would burst each day.