Tears spring to her eyes, and she swipes them away.
“Will you be my ol’ lady?”
She sinks to her knees and hugs me around the neck. “A thousand times yes!”
I fall backward with her on top of me and then Charlie climbs on top of her. “I want to dog pile, too!” she yells.
Once we get done roughhousing on the ground. Everyone stands up, but I stay down on one knee and grab Charlie’s hand next. “I am not done yet, ladies.”
Charlie jumps up and down with excitement.
I lean down and kiss the top of her hand like a princess. “Charlie. Taking your mother as my ol’ lady, means that you are a part of the package, too. You get to become my daughter. If your mother will allow it, I would like for you to have my same last name as well." She looks at her mother, who nods her head.
“I want to make a promise to you here and now. No matter what happens in our lives or what life wants to throw at us. I will always cherish your love. I will respect you, and love you, and take care of you as if you were my own flesh and blood. I promise to love your mother with my entire being and protect you both from what lies ahead. You both will be my number one priority in life.” I pull another ring box from my other side of my vest and hold it open for her to see. “This ring symbolizes my promise to you, little one. You can wear it as often or as little as you like, but I want you to grow up knowing that from this day forward, you will be my little girl.”
Blake sobs behind me, and Charlie starts to tear up as well. But I mean every word. I love both of these women with everything that I am. How I have ever lived without them is a wonder to me.
Charlie lets me slip the ring on her finger and holds it up to the light and to show her mother. “It’s beautiful, baby.”
“I’m like a princess!” She turns to me and jumps into my arms. “Thank you, Daddy!”
