Chapter 33

Chapter Thirty-Three

Noah

Ella and her mother talked for a long time, until the doctor eventually came in and said we needed to go. I wasn't surprised that my whole family was in the waiting room, and I also wasn't surprised that they were waiting with food.

After we went back to her house, I held her until she fell asleep, and then I got into my makeshift bed. I was still trying to process everything that had happened today. It was overwhelming, but everything fit together. Her mother had never been great at parenting, and then she'd lost a child and never dealt with it.

I was so thankful I had been able to help her off that mountain today. I was so grateful that I was back in Ella's life. I couldn't help but think about all the tender mercies and how God truly had His hand in all of this.

God's timing. Warm chills rushed through me.

I wasn't sure how long I spent just thinking about the day. Eventually, I fell asleep listening to Ella's soft breathing and imagining a future with her.

The next morning, I woke to a kiss on my cheek and Ella next to me. "I know you need sleep, but it's almost ten in the morning and I have to tell you that I love you. Thank you for being here for me."

Instantly, I was awake, and I wrapped my arms around her, relishing the fact that she was here, beside me.

She snuggled into me. "You know how I told you I wanted to wait to get married?"

I sat up, putting my elbow beneath me. "Yes."

She grinned up at me. "What if we speed things up? Noah, will you …"

I cut her off and jumped to my feet. "Oh no, you don't. You don't say those words. No, no, no."

She got on her knees and giggled. "What is wrong with you?"

I shook my head, pacing in and out of the room. "You don't get to do that. No way. I get to propose."

I reached out to her, pulling her to her feet. She took my hand, still giggling, and followed me out of the room and into the kitchen. I was starving, so I grabbed two slices from a box of leftover pizza and offered her one.

"I get to propose," I said through mouthfuls of pizza. "Not you. I have a plan."

She took a bite of her piece, chewing slowly. After some time, she said, "I'll wait, then. Of course I will."

I brushed my lips against hers. She dropped her pizza and laced her arms around my neck, deepening the kiss.

I kissed her for a long time, then pulled back. "It won't be long. But you do have to wait. That's only fair. I mean, I waited eight years. You can wait a couple days."

She shoved me, giggling. "I don't know why I'm so happy. Just yesterday, you pulled my mom from the place where my brother died, and I found out my parents are divorced, and …"

I filled in for her. "You forgave her. That's why you're happy."

"Yeah. I did."

"That was the best thing to do." I grinned. "For her and for you."

Her eyes welled up with tears. "I know. I felt the spirit of God. I know He wanted me to forgive her. I'm grateful."

I kissed her head and held her. "He did want that. I'm grateful too."