I turn to him with a questioning stare.
“Seen it enough on Aidan’s face when he looks athisgirl,” he clarifies.
Aidan just shrugs, not denying it.
I chuckle, gesturing at Lucy. “I mean … can you blame me?”
“Nah, man. We’re all really happy for you,” Luke says, and I glance over at him with a murmured, “Thanks.”
He’s wearing a navy blue baseball cap that reads ‘Life is good.’
And isn’t that the truth?
Life is so good. It’s completely unpredictable, but if you’re willing to embrace the chaos it can lead to the most amazing things.
My relationship with Lucy is stronger than ever, and we’re totally kicking ass at parenting. Mostly. I’ll admit there are some hard days, but even those are rewarding. Somehow, we’ve managed to fall into a decent routine with Cece that leaves us completely exhausted but so fulfilled at the end of each day.
Things are looking up with my parents, too. We’d decided, after months of therapy together, that it was time to finally introduce them to their granddaughter. Our brunch today was unlike any meal I’d shared with them before; they were the most casual I could remember ever seeing them, and they’d served the mealfamily styleon the patioby the pool!
They’d even gone out of their way to make Lucy feel welcome and remained surprisingly engaged throughout the entire visit. They asked her about The Bean and mentioned wanting to try her famous cocadas, which they’d read about in a feature article from when she’d first opened the café. That’s right, they actually took the time before our visit to google her business. And as ifthatwasn’t shocking enough, I was completely floored when my mother produced a little stuffed bunny that I’d had as a kid. The sight of it had prompted a memory of her tucking me in at night; one that had me gasping for breath, at once overcome with sorrow for the rarity of such an occurrence yet also touched that she’d kept such a memento–anymemento–from those days.
I’d watched my father wistfully as he’d held my daughter, carrying her around the garden and murmuring to her in a fondly paternal way that I’d never myself experienced. I’m not going to lie, seeing them both like that with Cece had stung, and I’d had to fight my resentment for having missed out on this version of them when I was growing up. Still, I can acknowledge that it’s better late than never and I nonetheless came away from the visit feeling pleased with the effort they’ve been making and optimistic about the future of our relationship.
So yeah, life is good.
Honestly, there’s only one thing that could possibly make it better–
“Noah?” Lucy calls to me from the sand, and I glance up from where I’d been playing with Cece’s hair.
“Yeah?”
A pause, then … “I’m ready.”
“Ready for what, babe?”
Her eyes lock with mine, sparkling with love and joy.
“Ready,” she says meaningfully.
My heart skips a beat … is– is this it?
“Ready, ready?” I ask, already making my way toward her.
She just nods with a coy smile.
“What the hell are you two going on about?” Aidan asks, but Piper instantly shushes him, somehow recognizing that this moment is significant.
Silence falls over the beach, broken only by the sound of my feet splashing in the shallow water as I make my way back to shore. I’m dimly aware of the guys following behind me, but they keep their distance allowing me space as I lower gently to my knees–I’ve still got a baby strapped to me after all–before Lucy in the sand. Piper gasps and pops up from her towel, scurrying to Aidan’s side to allow us the semblance of privacy. Steph and Tessa similarly slink away.
Lucy’s eyes are wide when she notices me fumbling in the pocket of my shorts.
“I didn’t mean right this second,” she murmurs.
“I told you I was ready whenever you are,” I reply.
“I know, but … you already have a–”
Her voice cuts off as I produce the ring, holding it up between us. There’s murmuring from our friends and Lucy’s hand flies to her mouth in shock.
