BLAIR
“The petition is granted. The child’s last name is hereby changed to Delaney.”
Nicholas clapped upon hearing those words from the judge’s mouth.
This name change in family court had been a long time coming, as it had been on the back burner for several months between the move, school for me, and Tate balancing his construction business with family activities.
While I’d had a handle on raising Nicholas before Tate reentered the picture, I hadn’t realized how much better life could be with him as a partner. He’d left the name change up to me, but it had always been what I wanted. I knew it was especially important to Tate because Taylor had his mother’s last name, Shea. I think he’d always dreamed that Taylor would choose Delaney as well someday, but that hadn’t happened.
In other ways, though, things with Taylor had been slowly returning to the way they were before Tate and I reconnected. Taylor had come by a few times to visitNicholas, and during the last visit, we all finally sat down and explained as best we could that Taylor was also Tate’s son. Nicholas was confused at first, but he seemed to be getting it now and was thrilled to have a big brother.
Taylor had reached out since then to ask Tate to teach him how to fix something on his car, and Tate had also given Taylor and Juliana some money he’d saved for them to put toward a down payment on a house. He was pleasantly surprised when Taylor actually accepted it. Maybe having a child on the way had helped him to put aside his pride and be practical. I’d done the same when I’d agreed to let Tate help me financially.
Tate, Nicholas, and I held hands as we walked outside and down the steps of the courthouse.
“You know what I was thinking, Nicholas?” Tate said.
“What?”
“I was thinking…it would be really cool if Mommy’s last name could be Delaney, too.” He stopped walking. “What do you think about that?”
“Yes!” our son shouted.
“Should I ask her if she’d change her name to match ours?” He winked.
Oh my God.What’s happening?
“Yes! Yes!” Nicholas jumped up and down.
Tate got down on one knee.
My heart began to race. While I’d suspected a proposal might be coming, this timing was a surprise.
Tate looked up at me. “I was wondering if you’d like to be a Delaney, too?”
Tears sprang to my eyes. “I want nothing more than to be a Delaney.”
His eyes sparkled. “From the moment I saw you at that kiddie pool, I knew you were…” He paused. “I wanna saythe one, but I didn’t know that then. I knew you were special, but I don’t think I realizedyou were the one until your absence. Being separated from you left me incomplete. I didn’t feel whole again until after I found you, four years later. I will thank God every day that Taylor brought you to me. I’m too old for you, and I’ll never feel like I deserve you, but I love you, Blair Moynihan.” He reached into his pocket and took out a small box. When he opened it, the sun reflected on the most perfect oval solitaire. “Will you be mine always?”
“Will you marry Daddy?” Nicholas added, right on cue. He was in on this, too!
“Yes!” I bounced as Tate stood to place the ring on my finger. I wrapped my arms around him as our son hugged my legs.
Tate and I fell into a long kiss, as Nicholas expressed his distaste.
After we pulled away from each other, Tate said, “I asked your dad for permission, and he cursed me. He told me he hoped we have a daughter someday, and though he didn’t say it, I think he also wished that she’ll run off with some old dude.”
“That sounds like my dad.” I laughed.
“I also asked Taylor for his blessing.”
My heart fluttered. “You did?”
“Yeah. Like four months ago, when he surprised us in the yard that day. Remember?”
“I do. And he gave it to you?”
Tate smiled. “He did.”
