“I mean, we can’t, can we?”
Derek is sitting on the bench, looking me up and down like this is the craziest idea he’s ever heard. A crazy idea that he’s on board with.
“I mean, why can’t we? We’re already here. Our parents are here. Who else do we need?”
“Elvis thinks it’s a good idea,” Gunnar says.
“Listen to the man,” Elvis tells us.
Both of the kids giggle as my mom stands and walks over to me. “Do it, Sutton. Here’s your something old, borrowed,andblue.”
She takes off her sapphire necklace and clasps it around my neck. “Well, if we’re going to do this, I need something new.”
“I think I have that covered.” Derek beams at me as he stands and drops to one knee, pulling a small box out of his suit pocket.
“Wait, have you been planning this?” I ask. Shock laces my voice.
“This? No. But I’ve had this”—Derek pops open a velvet box—“with me for a few weeks trying to find the best time to ask the question.”
A simple, white gold band with a princess cut diamond sits on the cushion. “Oh my God.” I cover my mouth with my hand as tears wet my eyes.
“I love you, Sutton. I love Lydia. I love the family we’ve built together. You’re the person I turn to for everything. The one that has gotten me through these last few months. Without you, I don’t know where I would be. I want to be the guy that gives you everything.”
“You already have.” I lean down and give him a chaste kiss, mindful of our audience.
“I think you’re missing a few steps,” Jameson tells us.
I laugh as Derek stands. “Will you marry me, Sutton?”
“Yes! Of course I’ll marry you.” My voice is thick with emotion.
“Does this mean we can get our puppy now?” Lydia asks Derek.
“Now? What do you mean now?”
“I might have told the kids my plans.” Derek smiles sheepishly. “I had to make sure Lydia wanted me to be her stepdad.”
My heart grows three sizes at how caring and wonderful this man is. “And a dog was somehow in these plans?”
“Yes!” Troy is jumping up and down at his dad’s side. “So we wouldn’t tell you.”
“You managed to keep this AND a dog a secret?”
“Our lips were sealed!” Lydia mimes zipping her lips.
“So are we doing this?” Elvis asks.
“Yes!” I cry through my tears.
“Yay!” both kids shout.
“Then let’s get this show on the road so we can get these two their puppy,” Elvis announces.
I laugh as the two of us step up to the altar. Jameson and Gunnar take the seats next to our parents. Both kids are standing at our sides.
Exactly the way it should be.
I listen as Elvis repeats everything he just said for Jameson and Gunnar. Except when we get to the vows, he nods at Derek. “Would you like to say your own vows, or go the traditional route?”
