Okay, and the hits just kept on coming. “You know about the baby?”

“I know everything. Well, not everything. I didn’t know you were going to go on that date with Ryan instead of Todd. If so, I would have stepped in. Todd is the oldest and I did so want to see him married first.”

Julie’s head was spinning. She had just enough brain power left to invite Ruth to sit before she collapsed back on the sofa.

“How did you know about the baby?” Julie asked.

Ruth glanced at Todd, who still stood in front of the sofa. “Are you lurking, dear boy? Don’t lurk.”

He took a step back.

Ruth turned to Julie. “The young woman who comes to my house and does my nails has a sister who works in a law firm. It’s the same one where Ryan and Todd do business. I’ve used her from time to time, just to keep in touch with their business. Those boys tell me nothing. She told me about those papers. A little harsh, perhaps, but they get the job done.”

Julie didn’t know what to react to first. The fact that Ruth was spying on her own nephews—which really put the whole marry-Todd-for-a-million-dollars thing in perspective—or that a secretary in a law firm was giving out privileged information.

She looked at Todd who looked as angry as she felt.

“I’ll have her fired,” he said.

“Of course you will,” Ruth said breezily. “I’ve already arranged for her to have a wonderful new job, so run off and take care of things while I talk to Julie.”

Todd hesitated. Julie sensed that he was actually going to stay to make sure things were all right with her.

“I’m good,” she told him. “You can go.”

“If you’re sure?”

She nodded.

Todd left, closing the door behind him. Julie turned to her grandmother.

“You’ve been busy.”

“I need to stay involved with my family.”

Julie realized she’d had enough meddling and controlling and lies and subterfuge to last five lifetimes.

“Okay, Grandma, here’s the thing,” she said. “You can’t do this. You can’t spy and trick people. That isn’t how you treat family and it’s not any way to get family to want to be around you. I know you’re old and I should respect that, but I can’t forgive you for what you did to my mom. She was seventeen and you threw her out.”

Ruth stiffened. “Your mother chose to leave. It was her decision and she knew the consequences.”

“You made her choose. My father was the first man she ever loved—apparently the only man she’ll ever love—and you made her take sides. What did you expect her to do?”

“Her duty.”

“Isn’t it a mother’s duty to love her children no matter what? But apparently that’s not your way. I guess in your world, people get to mess up one time, and then you turn your back on them. Well, here’s a news flash. Don’t bother caring about me because I’m going to mess up big time. I’m going to disappoint you. It’s inevitable. I’d rather you knew that now and got out of my life. That would be easier. I don’t want to care about you only to find out there are strings and conditions on your affection.”

Ruth paled. “How dare you talk to me this way?”

“Someone has to. Why do you hold on so tight to Ryan and Todd, yet you let my mother go so easily? Are you…” Julie opened her mouth, then closed it. Of course, she thought as the truth dawned on her.

“You’re sorry about what happened,” she said slowly. “You have nothing but regrets where she’s concerned. But you never knew how to make it right with her—either because of your pride or your husband. You were afraid she’d reject you again, so you didn’t try. But you had Ryan and Todd and they almost made up for it. So you clung to them, torn between loving them and needing to control them so they wouldn’t disappear the way your daughter had.”

Tears filled Ruth’s eyes, but her expression remained stern and disapproving. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I can see your mother did a terrible job in raising you. You’re rude and unprofessional.”

“Unprofessional?” Julie actually smiled. “This is a personal conversation. I don’t have to be professional.”

“Fine. Be what you want, but know this, young lady. You’re having my great-grandchild and you will be marrying Ryan Bennett.”

“No, she won’t.”

Julie looked up and saw Ryan had stepped into her house. He ignored her and turned to Ruth.

“Julie isn’t going to do anything she doesn’t want. No one is going to make her. Not you, not me, not anyone. I want her happy—that’s all I want. If she can be happy with someone else, then I’ll step aside.”

Julie stared at him, not totally sure she believed him, although she was disgustingly thrilled to see him.

“You’re being ridiculous,” Ruth told him, her voice sharp. “I won’t stand for this.”

“Then take a seat, because it’s what’s going to happen.”

“But you love her,” Ruth said. “I can tell because you’ve never been this stupid about a woman before. It’s not like you to be a fool.”

He looked at Julie and gave her a rueful smile. “I don’t care. I just want you not to hurt anymore. I can’t seem to stop screwing up.”

She stood and took a step toward him. Seeing him felt so right. She could believe that Todd had made a mess of things, and now Ruth was here, butting in. Did any of that matter? Weren’t she and Ryan the ones who had to make the decision about what was right for them?

Then Ruth’s words really sank in. Love? Did Ryan love her? Her soul brightened at the thought. Her heart beat faster. Could he? Did he?

“Propose,” Ruth instructed. “Propose now and we’ll have this business done.”

“No,” Ryan told her. “I won’t marry Julie. It’s the only way I can make sure she’s happy.”

“What?” both women asked together.

He grabbed Julie’s hands and stared into her eyes. “I made you cry. I never want to do that again. I never want you to doubt me or us or my motives. I only know one way to do that. Not to marry you. Because that’s what I’ve wanted this whole time. Us, together. At first it was about the baby, but now it’s more. It’s about you.”

He drew in a breath. “I hate how we met. It was the best and worst night of my life. By the time I realized what I was doing and how great you were, it was too late to start over. Then you were hurt and angry and I knew I’d blown it. But the baby gave us a second chance. You had to deal with me and I thought maybe, with time, you’d start to like me. Only then I proposed and that set you off again and I was back where I’d started.”

The words were magic. They were warm and loving and everything about this moment was so perfect, except maybe for Ruth being there.

“I love you,” he said as he smiled at her. “I love you and I will never make you do anything you don’t want to do. We’ll co-parent, I’ll buy the house next door. You just tell me and I’ll be there. I swear, Julie. I had nothing to do with those papers. I would never, ever do that to you.”

“I know,” she said breathlessly. “I know. I just reacted and then I didn’t know how to un-react when Todd told me the truth.”

“Todd was here?”

“I haven’t had this many people through the house since my last Christmas party.” Her eyes burned with more tears, but these were happy ones. “I believe him and I believe you, Ryan. When I hurt so much, thinking you’d lied and tricked me, I realized I love you, too.”

Julie braced herself for Ruth’s instant criticism that if they loved each other and were having a baby together that getting married seemed the sensible solution. Only there wasn’t a sound.

She turned and saw the older woman had slipped away. The front door was closed and she and Ryan were alone.

“I wouldn’t have thought she was that sensitive,” she admitted.

“Me, either. Todd, Ruth and I are going to have a long talk about her way of keeping in touch.”

“She’s alone and holding on too tight,” Julie said, surprising herself and possibly him. “Be kind.”

“I will.” He kissed her fingers. “I do love you.”

“I love you, too.” She tilted her head and fought a smile. Suddenly she felt as if she were channeling Ruth. “Which does beg an interesting point. We are having that baby together.”

“Yes, we are.”

“Traditionally, couples prefer to be married.”

“I’ve heard that.” He released one of her hands to touch her face. “Are you saying you’d be willing to marry me? Despite everything?”

Julie smiled. “I’d actually be honored.”

He pulled her close and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him and hung on. He was the kind of man who would always be there for her, just as she would always be there for him.

“We’re going to make a great team,” she murmured.

“Go us,” he said as he nibbled his way down her neck.

“I’m serious. We’ll be one of those wildly efficient couples who has everything done on time. We’ll have to move, of course. This place is too small and your condo, well, I can’t even imagine living there. We’ll need a house.”

He raised his head and smiled at her. “My parents would give us theirs if you wanted.”

“Maybe just the attic. I had a good time there.”

“I always have a good time with you.” He kissed her again. “We actually owe Ruth for bringing us together. If we have a girl, we could name her after her great-grandmother.”

Julie winced. “Tell me you’re kidding.”

He drew her toward the bedroom.

“Ryan! Wait! We’re not naming our daughter Ruth. I won’t have it. Do you hear me? What happened to whatever I want? What happened to me being in charge?”

“I never said you were in charge.” He tugged her blouse out of her skirt.

“It was implied.”

“This is a partnership. Equal votes.”

“Fine. As long as mine counts just a little bit more.”

He laughed, then kissed her again and suddenly she didn’t care about being in charge or baby names or anything but the amazing man who had claimed her heart and changed her world forever.