This is new.
Chosen with care and time, and the specific knowledge of a person rather than the general knowledge of a jewelry store.
“I want to marry you again.” He goes on one knee like we’re in the movies. “I want to do the whole thing. With your family and your best friend and the dress you actually get to plan and the dinner wherever you want and all of it.” He looks at me. “I want to marry my wife. Properly. Like she deserved the first time.”
My mother lets out a sob, and my father has his arm around her. He’s smiling. They all are. As am I.
I look at the ring.
I look at Fox.
“You’re very sure of yourself,” I tease.
“I’m sure of you,” he counters, holding the ring and my gaze with equal steadiness. “Lucy Vidal Bennett, will you marry me? Again?”
I laugh out loud—in our house with my hand on my stomach and my family and best friend with me, and the man I love holding a ring and looking at me like I’m the most important person in his life.
“Okay.”
He slides the ring onto my finger.
Then everyone is talking over everyone.
There are hugs and kisses, and our home becomes a space of celebration with champagne and cake—because this was planned, because while I cried in his arms, he’d already set this up and let everyone know to show up.
How can I not love a man who knows me so well, who wants me so much, who gives me the space I need without pushing me to deal with things I need time to deal with?
Later—much later, when the family has gone, Dina has cried herself out and gone back to the restaurant, Percy has shaken Fox’s hand in the way that contains a whole conversation, and the house is quiet—and we are in bed, he talks to our baby.
I am on my back, and he’s leaning against his elbow, looking at me, his hand on my stomach. He leans closer to my stomach and kisses it.
“Hey,” he whispers. “I’m your dad. I don’t really know how to do this. I’ve never done it before.” He looks up at me for a moment, and his face is open and unguarded. Then he looks back down at my belly. “But I’m going to figure it out. I promise.” He pauses. “So just?—”
Stay, we both think.
Stay.
