Chapter Twelve
The next morning the sheriff came to congratulate the family. They chatted a lot. The sheriff wasn't keeping well. He wanted to retire next year only if his son would take over from him. His son, Chase was a US Marshal serving the country for the last nine years.
Brooklyn was still unwell. She hadn't come down for dinner. Aunt Olivia gave her a chicken and ginger soup last night. She had been sleeping since then. Blade wanted to summon doctor Wilson but she declined. She just wanted to sleep off the mental exhaustion. So everyone left her to rest.
Blade went about with his work. Briar and Alexia were back from their honeymoon. They had gone to visit her father at Bear's Creek for two days. Returning home, they were updated about the family's traumatic ordeal.
Two weeks later, Ivory was hospitalised for two days due to acute anaemia. Aunt Daisy and aunt Olivia went to Bryce's home. They decided to shift Ivory and Bryce to the ranch house till the baby was born.
Brooklyn still didn't improve. She shifted to Blade's room and Bryce and Ivory shifted to his old room. Alexia also came to help during the day. Ivory was much better after shifting in. Her pregnancy was more stable now and she could move around the house. Briella too came over often. They tried to cheer up Brooklyn.
When nothing worked they summoned doctor Wilson against Brooklyn's wishes. The doctor came in an hour. He was stuck at the hospital and couldn't come earlier.
Brittany also came over. She was heavily pregnant and rounded. The twins were super excited for the baby.
After a thorough check up, the doctor smiled at the family, "Congratulations, she's expecting," he said. He prescribed some folic acid and calcium supplements and a pill to help with her nausea. "Eat well, small frequent meals, only fresh home cooked meals, no greasy stuff. Drink lots of water and complete bed rest. I'll send my assistant for the blood samples. She's nearly 2 weeks pregnant. At 7 weeks, get an ultrasound done. I've written down everything here, take care." The doctor left as aunt Daisy grinned happily.
Blade was the happiest. Everyone congratulated them. "You might be expecting twins. I had the same symptoms when I was pregnant with the twins," said Brittany.
"Yeah, even I fell extremely sick with Bryce and Briar," said aunt Olivia, grinning.
"I knew it," said grandma, chuckling. "You just don't fall sick with pregnancy symptoms and not be pregnant," she said as everyone giggled.
They all went down to inform the men. Blade stayed back as Brody came up to congratulate them,"When will I ever get this lucky, bro," he said unhappily.
"Thanks, you will. Did you try what I told you to?" Asked Blade.
"Yeah, I've tried everything. She just doesn't want me around her," he said, his eyes cast downwards.
"Then leave her alone. Let her miss you Brody." He advised.
"But I can't live without her," Brody said, his dull eyes staring at Blade.
"I know dude, but let her miss you. She should feel that you're genuinely interested in her. She has to learn to trust you. Help her when she needs it but just nothing more than that," Blade said as Brody nodded.
"I'll try that too. Brooks congrats dear. Now you two get married already," he said and left with a wink.
The moment he left, Blade locked the door of their room. He went and pulled Brooklyn into his arms, his head resting in the crook of her neck.
Brooklyn held him silently. It was an emotional moment for both of them. They loved each other. They were safe and free from the problem that they were facing. They were expecting their first child. Life was kind to them, more than they had ever imagined.
Blade silently thanked God. He went to his closet and coming back he knelt on one knee in front of her.
Taking her hand in his, he said,"Brooklyn, the day we made love for the first time, I knew I had fallen in love with you. That day, I and Brody had gone to Austin to buy a ring for you. A ring to promise each other everlasting love, togetherness, marriage to seal our fates together, forever. The circumstances did not allow me to go the right way with this. I know I should have taken you out on dates, asked you to be my girlfriend and then ultimately proposed marriage to you and then after marriage have children. But since everything is going the other way round, let's have children, then marry and then you could be my girl and then go on dates carrying the babies too. So darlin will you marry me?"
Brooklyn laughed as well as cried with happiness. She was a bundle of nerves. She knew that they would ultimately get married but she didn't know it would happen so fast and in this manner. Still she was ready to marry him. She wanted to marry him.
"Yes Blade," she said as he put the ring that he was holding, onto her finger. It was a beautiful ruby ring with diamonds.
They hugged each other for a long time. "Thank you for everything Blade," she said emotionally.
"No, thank you for everything," he said smiling.
Blade carried her downstairs to announce their plans to the family.
Everyone was happy with their announcement. Grandma said,"The day Blade brought the girl home, I knew they were destined to be together. I'm glad that everything has fallen into place. Let the Lord Almighty bless you so that you lead a happily married life."
"Thank you grandma," said Brooklyn.
"Let us complete the formalities and then Brooklyn can claim her inheritance," said grandpa.
"We could contact attorney Jayson Meyers. He's the son of Christopher, my classmate at school," said uncle Rob.
"Ok. Call him here as Brooklyn cannot travel," said grandpa.
Blade took her upstairs to rest. They would have a simple wedding in the ranch itself. Once Brooklyn felt a little better they would start planning for the wedding.
