Chapter 83

The house lacked space for the clothes and gifts Gabriel’s parents and grandparents brought for the twins. Leila cried, and Alister held them both with trembling hands. He’d lost so much weight, and I avoided talking to him; it reminded me of my grandfather’s decline. They were wonderful great-grandparents, though. Ralph devoted himself to finding the perfect names for the twins to use for them, as "Grandpa" seemed too boring. Flise, however, stayed close, making me promise I wouldn’t leave them again. She then declared that if I didn’t plan to move to the city, the whole family would buy houses nearby and move here for the children.

I laughed it off, but I wasn’t sure she was joking.

Two weeks later, I found Gabriel in the garden again. He spent considerable time there each morning, claiming to be working, so I never disturbed him. Today, however, curiosity won, and I went to the garden, if only to watch.

He wasn’t working. He was gardening.

I cleared my throat to get his attention. “What in the world are you doing?”

“Gardening,” he replied with a grin, as if it were obvious. “Care to join?”

“No!” I responded. He playfully sprayed me with water, then laughed. I flinched and glared at him.

“Gabriel, what?”

“A little birdie told me this garden used to be filled with flowers before Jim got cancer.” He rose and walked toward me.

Warmth spread through me as I smiled. “Alice told you?”

“Mhm.” He nodded, standing before me with his hands crossed, his gaze intensely focused.

He looked unbelievably handsome in his neatly folded cotton pants and knitted vest. I suddenly felt self-conscious in my baggy sweats and messy bun, but he still looked at me as if I were the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.

I blushed. “I didn’t have time to tend the garden after taking two jobs, so everything died.”

He laughed, his laughter making my heart race. “I’m replanting them for you.”

“I didn’t grow flowers; I grew peppers, tomatoes, and even limes. There were a few flowers, but mostly vegetables.”

“Now that I didn’t know.” He looked disappointed. “And I’m working on the soil quality, adding fertilizer.”

I smiled. “Why are you doing it yourself? The Gabriel I knew would have hired someone.”

“Maybe I’m not the Gabriel you knew anymore,” he teased. He chirped, “For example, six weeks with you, and I haven’t even tried to kiss you once.”

Chapter 83 (Continued)

“That’s quite a change,” I mumbled, my voice barely audible across the distance.

If I don’t step back, he’ll kiss me. (This line is repeated; I have removed the duplicate.)

He didn’t kiss me. He stepped back.

“I’ve dreamt of this since I was little,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t notice my blush. “A small house. Four or five rooms. A wraparound porch. A garden where I grow flowers and vegetables, overlooking a children’s play area. Maybe a roof terrace where we could all watch the stars wouldn't hurt either.”

One corner of his lips turned upwards. “And what about a husband who comes home to you every day?”

I beamed. “Work reminds me—what about your work? You’ve been here six weeks. How much longer before you return to the office? They need you.”

“Not more than I need my kids. I’ll be here for their first crawls, their first words. I’ll be here, every step of the way, as long as you’re here.”

“What if I stay here for the rest of my life?”

“Then I’m here for the rest of my life.”

“And what happens when either of us wants to move on?”

“Huh?” Gabriel’s gaze snapped to me. “Move on?”

“I mean, the twins are small now, but once they’re older, we can move around. We’ll eventually move on.” I ignored the pang of pain at the thought of being with someone else.

“I’m not moving on,” he said, his jaw tightening. “And I’m certainly not letting you.”

“Bold of you to assume I didn’t shred those divorce papers when I found them,” he said, staring at me intently. “And even if we were divorced, bold of you to assume I’d let you move on to another man.”

He took a step toward me. I stepped back.

“You think I’d watch another man take you on a first date?” (He takes another step, and the pattern repeats.)

“You think I’d watch another man kiss you?”

“You think I’d watch another man marry you?” My back hit the wall.

I gasped.

“You think you’ll ever carry another man’s children?”

I shook my head.

“The ring you wear will always be mine. The bed you sleep in will always be mine. The name you carry will always be mine,” he growled. “Mine.”

I gasped, my breath coming in uneven, hot bursts. “Do you want another man to touch what’s mine, Freckles?” he asked, his hands on either side of me, trapping me between him and the wall.

I shook my head.

“Centuries ago, sailors used a certain star to find their way home at sea. It always pointed toward the North Pole,” he said softly.

“The Polaris,” I replied, my eyebrows furrowed.

“You’re my Polaris, Sophia,” he murmured. “You’re that star in my dark sky that I’ll always use to find my way home. You’re my compass, my home. Wherever you want.”

“Gabriel,” I gasped, a warning in my tone. My heart pounded.

“I know. I know you’re not ready. I messed up, and you’re not ready to fully commit yet,” he breathed, resting his forehead against mine. “But whenever you are, I’ll be right here. Waiting.”