The kids were dead asleep when we got home. I changed out of the gown and showered before bed. Once Ronan finished his work, he came in too. Half an arm's length between us.
"Ivy."
"Mm?"
"You looked beautiful tonight."
I paused. "Thank you."
A quiet stretch, then he said my name again. "There's something else I want to tell you."
"Go ahead."
"I told you before I didn't marry you because you can't have children."
I turned my head toward him. "Then why did you?"
He rolled onto his side, his eyes settling on my face. "Because you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
For a long moment I had no answer for that.
He went on. "That day, you were reading by the window. It was loud as anything around you, and you never looked up. I remember thinking it'd be peaceful, being with so
