“When can I call you Mommy like I call Jake Daddy? I think it’s cool to have two Daddies.”
Jules was silent, I’m sure as she tried to process what would be the right answer. What I knew was that my kid had just given me the moment I was looking for. I stepped over to the buffet in the dining room and slid the drawer open quietly, pulling out the ring box I had put in there weeks ago. I knew I wanted to marry Jules. We had already talked about it. But in the past six months we’d moved in together, I’d started a new job, she’d finished a book and edited it, and today she’d released it into the world. Our friends had wanted to have a release party. She explainedthat she just wanted to be home today, but this weekend we’d gather and celebrate.
And it looked like we could celebrate more than the release of her fifth book.
I stepped into the kitchen where Addie was facing me and Jules was kneeling in front of her, saying something. It was derailed because Addie let out a shriek.
“Daddy!”
I caught her as she ran around Jules and gave me an exuberant hug.
“Hey, peanut.” I gave her a smacking kiss. “Can you go grab the special picture you made for Jules that we put in the living room?”
Addie squirmed for me to let her run free. “On it,” she shouted, right hand up in the air as she charged off.
One of the things Margot had told me was the hardest about kids was that you missed the lasts. You remembered their first steps, first words, first experiences. But the last time they called you Daddy instead of Dad. The last time they wanted to hold your hand as they walked into school. The last time they greeted you as if they hadn’t seen you in weeks instead of a few hours. Those were missed because you didn’t know they were lasts until later. Once Margot told me that, I began trying to soak it all in even more.
In case it wasn’t obvious, Margot had appointed herself my surrogate mom. She was fighting for that title with Lou, Frannie, and Mary. Much like Addie felt about Jake and me as her dads, I was happy to report there was room for all my surrogate parents, and I felt their love deep in my soul. It was healing.
“Noah.” Jules was up and coming my way. She gave me a kiss, and her eyes twinkled. “Your daughter is a chatterbox tonight.”
“Is that any different than usual?” I gave her a wry smile.
She shook her head. “Nope.”
“How is release day going?” I moved around her to pour myself a glass of water, hoping she wouldn’t notice my shaking hands. I knew she’d say yes, but part of me felt like no moment would be perfect enough for this woman. I didn’t want to screw it up.
“Great so far. And thanks for the flowers, though you didn’t need to do that.”
“Got it,” Addie said when she returned. The drawing was rolled up, string tied around it like a little diploma.
“Why don’t you give that to Jules, peanut.” I said, my heart hammering.
Jules gave me a curious look.
“Here you go,” Addie said in a singsong voice.
“Thanks, babe.” Jules gave her a hug in return and slid the string off and unrolled it. She bent down by Addie and let her lean against her chest while she surrounded her with her arms, the drawing unfurled in front of them. “Tell me about your picture.”
Addie studied it and pointed to each person and the word above them on the picture. “There’s Momma, Daddy Two, baby Lorelai, and Chief. Then over here there’s Daddy, you, O’Malley, and me in the middle of everyone.”
Jules looked up at me with watery eyes, then back to Addie. “What’s written above my drawing, sweetheart?”
“Momma Two. I mean, I don’t call Jake Daddy Two anymore, just when I draw sometimes it helps. I thought I could do that for you too, which is why I asked.” Addie was shimmying, which meant she was feeling happy.
“And what’s it say at the top, Ads,” I prodded.
“My family.”
Then I saw a tear make its way over Jules’s cheek and knew I was up. They were already kneeling, so I joined them, coming to my knees in front of them both.
“Jules, this wasn’t how I planned your release day to go, but I know an opening when I see it. And to be honest, I’ve been ready for this for a while.” I pulled the box out of my pocket and opened it.
“Ooohhh, pretty,” Addie said, running her finger over the ring set with an opal and pink spinel.
“I’m guessing most of your heroes don’t propose with a six-year-old in attendance, but it seems pretty on par for us, so I’m going for it.” I slid the ring out of the box and held it out to her. “Jules, I’d like nothing more than to make you Addie’s second mom, but most importantly, my wife. I love you for everything you are and everything you stand for. Will you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife?”
Addie had clocked what was happening, and her precious little face was frozen in anowhile she made her surprised expression, compliments of reruns of the movieHome Alone.
Jules laughed when she realized what Addie was doing and pulled me to the two of them, making Addie sandwich herself between the two of us. “You bet your butt I will,” she said before she pressed her mouth to mine in a quick kiss.
Pulling back after a moment, I slid the ring on her finger. “I heard you comment about this one at Melinda’s shop, so I called and had them hold it for me. It’s not your traditional engagement ring?—”
“No, it’s perfect and I love it,” she said, holding up her hand.
“Dance party!” Addie shouted, squirming out from between us. We stood up and joined Addie in dancing around the kitchen. O’Malley even came in and wound his way through our legs. Our home was filled with love, light, and laughter. And it was perfect. Against all odds, I’d found what I’d been looking for.
