I lean back and meet her eyes. “For your friendship, for your support, and for bringing me and your brother closer. I—I sort of feel like Lydia brought meyoutoo.”
Laney instantly starts to cry. “Sorry, these damn hormones.” She lunges for me again. “I’m so happy that you and Rhonan found each other, Vienna.”
“Me too.”
She lowers her voice to a whisper now. “And thank you for showing him that it is okay to love again.”
“He’s shown me the same thing. Now enjoy your trip tomorrow. Please.”
“I’m ready. A little bummed I can’t drink and celebrate my new husband,” she says with a wink in Fletcher’s direction. “But totally worth it.”
When we part, I spend a few more minutes saying goodbye to our friends—because these people have become so very important to me as well—and then Rhonan and Ellis lead me back to Rhonan’s room and help situate me in bed. Joanne stands in the doorway, watching our interaction.
“Can I show you my drawing now?” Ellis asks, reaching for a gold frame on the nightstand next to the bed and hiding it against her stomach.
Rhonan sits on the bed beside me, smiling at his daughter.
“Yes, I would love that.”
“Okay.” Ellis flips the picture around and I gasp as I see it.
“Oh my gosh, Ellis. This…”
Ellis looks at her dad, and he nods, as if she was seeking his encouragement. But instead of speaking, she tosses the picture at him and lunges for me, wrapping her arms around my waist as far as she can. “I love you,” she whispers against my stomach, making me instantly cry.
“I love you too, Ellis.” Rhonan swipes under his eyes too.
“I’m really happy that you’re okay.”
“Me too, sweetie.”
Her head pops up and our eyes meet. “Will you be my mommy, please?”
“I would love to be your mommy, Ellis.”
“Good. You’re the best mommy on earth I could ever ask for.”
Tears are streaming down my face as I make eye contact with Rhonan. “Just in case it’s not clear, I’m gonna marry you someday soon, Vienna Lewis.”
Ellis’s head pops up. “Does that mean I get to wear a princess dress?”
Rhonan and I both laugh. “Yes, sweetie.”
Ellis fist pumps the air. “Yes!” Then she reaches for the picture and holds it out to me again. “I drew you wearing a princess dress.”
“I can see that.” I’ve seen many of Ellis’s drawings at this point, but I’m having trouble deciphering everything that’s going on in this picture. “And what am I holding?”
“That’s your rainbow trophy for saving me,” she explains so matter-of-factly. “And Daddy is holding the cupcakes we made for you, and there’s a rainbow in the sky.”
“And what are you holding?”
“My baby sister,” she says, making me gasp.
“Really?”
Rhonan shakes his head at me, which I’m guessing means he didn’t tell her or doesn’t want to tell her about the baby just yet.
“Yes, because I need a baby sister.”
