“Oh Jack,” she whispers, delicately bringing her fingers to her mouth.
“I know there's still a lot to work out here. I know this is still relatively new. I don't know what the future holds, but I know I want to grow old with you. You don’t just have my heart, Abby, you have everything. You and Erin both. And if you’ll let me, I’ll keep giving you everything I have for as long as you want. For forever, if you’ll have me.”
She gasps softly as I slip out of my seat and kneel in front of her, taking her hand back in mine.
“Will you marry me, Abigail Wheeler Thompson?”
Instead of answering, she leans forward, close enough for our noses to touch.
“I think you’re right,” she murmurs, the wetness of her eyelashes mingling with mine. “I think that if we’re lucky, we do have more than one love in a lifetime.”
She brings her hands to my jaw, staring fiercely into my eyes before she presses her mouth to mine. “And I think I might be the luckiest girl in the world.”
I laugh shakily, covering her hand where it still rests on my cheek. “Is that a yes, then?”
“Of course it’s a yes,” she says in the exasperated tone I love so much. “But no amount of beautiful, heartfelt declarations in the world will make me change your nickname.”
“I can live with that, pretty girl,” I say, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her in close, until there’s no gap between us. “You can call me whatever you want, as long as I get to call you mine.”
Epilogue
Abby - Three Years Later
The front door clicks open, immediately followed by the sweetest voice I’ve ever heard.
“MOMMY, WE’RE HOME!” Erin yells at the top of her lungs, and I hear Jack laugh loudly.
“I don’t think she heard you,” I hear him say. “You might try a little louder next time.”
“Daddy, you’re so silly,” she yells over her shoulder as she sprints into the kitchen, colliding with my knees at top speed. Luckily, this is an almost daily occurrence, and I’ve become an expert at bracing for impact.
“Hi, Little One,” I say with a groan, hoisting her up onto my hip. “You’re almost too big for this now, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be strong enough to lift you up.”
“Don’t say that,” she gasps in horror. “I’m ‘Little One,’ mommy, not ‘Big One.’ You just need stronger muscles.” Jack snorts, lips pressed together and trying to hold back his laughter.
“You’re right, angel,” I say, rapidly kissing her cheek until she’s giggling and squirming out of my arms. “I’ll get right on that.”
She wiggles her way to the ground, straightening her dress out before demanding to know where her brother is.
“He’s in the playroom doing puzzles,” I say. “Why don’t you go help him while I make you a snack?”
She doesn’t need telling twice, bolting from the kitchen and squealing, “Bubba, I’m home! Did you miss me?”
“Hi, pretty girl,” Jack says, stepping up behind me and wrapping his arms around my middle while I slice an apple for Erin. “Did you have a good day?”
“Yes,” I reply, leaning my head back against his. “But it’s better now. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but I miss you both every second that you’re gone.”
“Do you want to hear something that’ll brighten your day?”
“Of course I do,” I say, spinning around to face him and locking my fingers behind his neck. “Please enlighten me.”
“Well, today at pickup,” he begins, pausing to kiss me gently. “Our darling girl’s new classroom aide wished me a happy pride month.”
“What?” I ask with a shocked laugh. “Where did she get that impression?”
“Apparently,” he says, shaking his head with a grin. “Erin loves to share, to anyone who will listen, that she has ‘two dads who love her sooooo much’.”
“Oh my god,” I wheeze. “Did you correct them?”
