I kissed his sweet lips as a response. I wanted nothing more than for him to be involved in the twins’ life. I didn’t expect them to be calling him daddy within the week but it would have been nice for them to have one.
“I love you.” I placed small kisses all over his cheeks, his jaw, and then down his neck. Without saying it, he’d just made me unbelievably happy. And excited for this next chapter in our lives.
The arm wrapped around my waist held me close to his chest. His other hand cradled my face, pulling eyes up to meet his.
“I love you, and one day I’m going to marry you. Melody, I am all in.”
“One day I’m going to say ‘I do’ and call you my husband.”
“As long as we’re on the same page.” I couldn’t help but giggle at the wide, happy grin on his face. At that moment I couldn’t have been more overjoyed that things had finally worked out between Callum and I. I couldn’t wait to spend forever with this man.
“Come on, we’ve got somewhere to be.”
On the car ride over to the house, we held hands over the console. “This isn’t going to be easy.”
“I know.”
“It’ll take time for them to adjust,” I reasoned.
Just then he gave my hand a firm, reassuring squeeze. “I know.”
“They’re young, they won’t understand what’s going on. And I’m sorry about that.”
“I myself am still trying to adjust. They will in time.”
Iwas absolutely shitting myself when I heard the front door open. I sat patiently on Melody’s couch as Ava and Hallie were ushered into the house by their mother. I don’t think I’d ever felt so nervous.
“What’s he doing here?” Ava questioned as soon as she entered the living room.
“Ava,” Mel chastised her with a look. I had to chew on the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. This was bizarre. I’d never seen Melody this way, never once pictured her as a mom.
“His name is Callum,” Hallie said, trying discreetly to roll her eyes at her sister.
“Girls, come sit down.”
Both Ava and Hallie plopped onto the armchair across from me. Melody retook her seat next to me and I reached out to take her hand in mine. I wasn’t sure if I should but it was for my own selfish assurance more than anything else. Compared to my hand, hers was bone dry. I wondered how she was coping so well.
“Ava, do you remember at Christmas when you asked about your daddy?”
“I asked why we didn’t have one and all of my friends did.”
“But you do. Everyone has a daddy. Baby girls, I want you to meet yours.”
There was a dreaded silence where no one said anything. The girls just looked at me, staring, as if I had three heads.
“Wow. Really?” Ava asked, wide-eyed as she looked between Melody and I.
“Yes, really.”
“So, where have you been?” Ava spoke again. For a five-year-old, she was so bold and inquisitive. I froze. I hadn’t expected that question to come from either of their mouths. But how was I supposed to answer that in a way they understood.
Thankfully, Mel cut in for me. “It’s a long story, Ava. Maybe when you’re older you’ll get to hear it.”
Ava rolled her eyes, with her arms crossed she slouched back into the chair. She was going to be a handful. Hallie, on the other hand, still hadn’t said anything.
“My friend, Lily, her dad reads her bedtime stories. Can you read?”
“I can read,” I confirmed to my five-year-old daughter before smiling at the hopeful look on little Hallie’s face.
