Chapter 31

Anelise was taken aback by the sheer volume of paperwork involved in buying a house. They were only halfway through, and her hand was already starting to ache.

She was still in a bit of a daze when Michael mentioned that he’d put her name on the house too, so she had to sign all the papers as well. Once they were done, they shook hands with the previous owners, then with Renee and Tristan.

“So, how does it feel to be a homeowner?” Tristan asked Anelise.

“It’s the most terrifying thing I’ve ever done!” Anelise replied honestly.

They all shared a soft laugh, and Michael planted a kiss on her temple. “Well, it’s a good thing this is our forever home, and we won’t be moving again!”

She loved the sound of that and wrapped her arms around him. Renee handed Michael the keys. “It’s all yours! We’ll swing by tomorrow with a housewarming gift. Congratulations!”

They thanked her and headed to the car. Michael pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her. After their celebratory lunch, they climbed back into the car.

Anelise assumed they were heading back to the Rothschilds to pick up Ollie, but Michael steered the car in the opposite direction from the restaurant. “Where are we going? Aren’t we picking up Ollie and spending time with Craig, Ken, and Judy?” Anelise asked.

“We will, later. There’s something we need to do first,” he said, grinning and kissing her hand.

Anelise soon realized they were heading to their new home. She was a bit anxious since Christmas was only about ten days away, and she wanted to get the house ready for Ollie to ensure a memorable holiday for him.

They pulled into their driveway, and Anelise gasped, “Oh my gosh! What did you do?”

Michael switched off the car. “Let’s go see!”

Anelise stepped out of the car and stood on the front walkway, staring at their new home adorned with greenery swags on the eaves, twinkling white lights, and red bows connecting them.

Michael opened the front door, and they walked inside hand in hand. He led her to the living room area, and she gasped when she saw the room.

Michael watched her reaction with a smile. “Do you like it?”

“Oh my God, Michael! It’s incredible!” Anelise whispered, taking in the sight before her. There was a beautiful, overstuffed sectional couch in a warm caramel brown, with lamps and a perfectly matched rug underneath.

The fireplace and mantel were decked out with Christmas decorations, and stockings with their three names hung from it. Beside the fireplace, by the large back windows, stood a gorgeous Christmas tree, decorated to the nines.

“How did you do this?” she asked, walking up to the fireplace and touching the velvet ribbons and little nutcrackers.

“I had help. I won’t lie. Naomi and Renee helped me. Naomi and I picked everything out, and Renee was here to let the delivery people in and set it up. Do you like it?” he asked.

She turned to him. “Michael, it’s absolutely perfect! I can’t believe this is ours! Thank you for doing this!”

“You’re welcome! I know you were worried about getting everything ready and moving in for Christmas, so I wanted to help and take one less thing off our ‘to do’ list,” he said, rubbing her arms.

“Thank you.” She smiled and pulled him in for a kiss. They kissed for several seconds, and then Michael led her over to the fireplace so they could see everything from a different perspective.

She stood there, imagining the many magical holidays they would share and the memories they would create, laugh or cry over.

She could see it all with Michael and Ollie and smiled to herself, picturing Christmas mornings and the excitement that would fill the house.

“Ani?” She heard him ask, and she turned around to see him down on one knee, holding up a black velvet box.

She was speechless, and her hands flew to her mouth. She stood looking at him, her eyes welling up. “What are you doing, Michael?!”

“Anelise Morgan, you stole my heart and knocked me off my feet from the moment I saw you. You love me like no one else ever has. You make me feel like I’m invincible and can do anything.”

“You make me want to be a better man, and I’m in awe of the way your heart gives and gives. You love my son like he’s your own.”

His voice hitched at the end before he swallowed and started again, “So I’m asking if you would do me the greatest honor of my life and marry me and make a family with me and Ollie?”

When she heard his voice catch, she felt tears slide down her face and felt his love with each word he said deep inside her soul. She didn’t even need to think about her answer and nodded her head and said through her tears, “Yes.”

Michael grinned, stood up, pulled her to him, and kissed her passionately. He pulled back when they were both breathless, took her hand and gently slid the ring on her finger, and looked at how beautiful and perfect it was for her.

It was just her style, dainty and elegant. It was white gold with an oval-shaped stone with a small halo of criss-crossing bands around a large stone.

It looked like it was made for her hand, and she looked from the ring to his face and back again, trying to see if this was real or a dream.

“Is this a dream?” she asked, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

“No, my love, this is real! I love you, and I can’t wait until we’re married!” He grinned.

“I love you too, Michael! I just can’t believe this! We’re going to get married!” Anelise said, jumping into his arms and hugging him tightly.

“I have one more surprise for you. But, I do want to tell you that I talked with Naomi and Johnathan for their blessing since I couldn’t ask your parents. Naomi may have lost her mind when I called and Johnathan was a little choked up.”

“But they gave their blessing and wished us all the best and more grandchildren,” Michael said. “Is that ok, Ani? That I didn’t talk to your parents?”

She loved that he thought of asking the main people in her life for their blessing, but she still felt a sadness that her parents had shut her out.

Anelise reached out, her fingers brushing against his cheek. “Michael, I can’t thank you enough for thinking about my parents in all this. It means the world to me.”

She took a deep breath before continuing, “But they’ve made their choice. They’ve decided to set unrealistic expectations and refuse to accept that I’m an adult who can make her own decisions. And I’ve chosen you and Ollie.”

Michael’s eyes softened. “Anelise, hearing you say that means more than you know. But I need you to understand what you’re signing up for. I’m sixteen years older than you. I’ll be turning thirty-seven in April. So when you hit forty, I’ll be fifty-six.”

He looked at her seriously. “You’ll have a lot more life ahead of you than I will. I won’t blame you if you want to reconsider my proposal. And if the age gap isn’t enough, you’re going to become a parent overnight.”

He paused, letting his words sink in. “Right now, that might not seem like a big deal, but it’s something to think about. You’ll be a mom to a three-year-old at twenty-one. And he won’t be biologically yours. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you, Ani, and I’m nearly middle-aged.”

Anelise listened to his words, understanding that he was only trying to protect her. She loved him for it. But she knew what she wanted. “I appreciate that you’re making sure I understand what I’m getting into.”

“But I’ve tried living without you and Ollie, and it was awful. I felt like a part of me was missing. And that was just after two months! I love you, Michael, flaws and all.”

She went on, “I don’t care that Ollie isn’t my biological child. Blood doesn’t define family or determine how much I can love him. Look at the Rothschilds. They’re not my blood, but they treat me like their own.”

“And I love them dearly. Ollie means the world to me, and I can’t wait to be his mom and watch him grow into someone as amazing as his dad.”

“So, what I’m trying to say is, you’re stuck with me, Michael. For the rest of our lives. I’m head over heels in love with you and Ollie. You’re my family now.”

Michael’s heart swelled. He knew he’d found the perfect woman for him and his son. He kissed her again, feeling a sense of home, both physically and emotionally.

“You’re truly an incredible woman, Anelise. Now, are you ready for your final surprise? It’s your graduation gift.”

She nodded, and Michael took her hand, leading her upstairs.

He stopped in front of their bedroom doors. “Happy Graduation and welcome home.”

He opened the door, and she stepped inside, taking in the sight before her. She was in awe of what he’d done.

Their room was exactly as she’d described it the day they first saw the house. From the plush rug to the four-poster bed, the love seat, and bookshelves by the fireplace.

“Oh, Michael!” she whispered, fighting back tears.

“I thought we should have new furniture and our room exactly the way we wanted to start our life,” he said. “I thought we could celebrate our engagement here, just the two of us.”

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate us than here in our new home,” she said, pulling him towards the bed. “And I guess we don’t have to keep our voices down either!”

He grinned at her, and they began to undress each other, celebrating their love and engagement for several hours. They returned to the Rothschilds, and everyone went wild when Anelise showed them her ring.

“Ani, you have to get married at the church!” Leslie squealed, and the other ladies immediately agreed.

“What church?” Michael asked.

“Our church,” Naomi explained. “It’s one of the most beautiful places in all of Nashville. You’ll see it on Christmas Eve.”

Michael nodded, grabbed his drink, and went to sit with JJ, Ken, and Craig. “Whatever Ani wants is fine with me.”

“You say that now,” Ken warned. “I know Ani isn’t like most women, but this is her wedding day. Be prepared!”

“If you think ‘mother hen mode’ was intense with my mom, just wait until you see ‘party planner Naomi’!” JJ warned. “And the fact that Ani is the first of us to get married? Dude, anytime you want to come over to get away, just let me know!”

Michael wasn’t worried, as long as she didn’t break the bank. They enjoyed the rest of their evening and then returned to the apartment.

It was the last time Anelise would be there. While she was sad to leave the security of this place, she was excited for her future with Michael.

She was ready for whatever life had to offer. With Michael by her side, she knew her life would be everything she’d ever hoped and dreamed of.