Page 49 of Wait for the Dream

“So good, but you know all this. We chat all the time.” I laugh at him. Because Bash had to spend the summer in Alpine he has checked in everyday asking for pictures and checking to make sure we are all doing okay. The man may be the world’s biggest grump, but he has a huge heart, and deeply cares about his people. I feel so lucky to be considered one of his people. He really is an amazing friend, “Tell me how you are, we always talk about me and this one right here.”

“My life is so boring right now. It’s work, Luca, and coming down the mountain to visit you guys wherever I can. That’s it. I don’t have time for anything else really. I’m excited we only have a few more weeks before all of you will be up there with me. I miss you guys.”

“Don’t go getting all sappy on me, Bash. It’s unbecoming of a grump like yourself,” I tease.

“Shut the fuck up, Bee,” He chuckles and rolls his eyes at me.

“We miss you too.” I tell him. The subject changes, and we talk for a bit before Rowan starts to fuss indicating that she might be hungry. He hands her to me and I grab a cover up so I can nurse her in the living room. People come up and talk to me while she eats and I chat with them all.

Aiden comes into the living room with a plate of snacks and sets it on the table next to me. I munch on it while Rowan eats. When she’s done I hand her to Aiden for him to burp her while I put myself back together. We have gotten really good at working together with feeds when we are both awake. I know that it really should be considered the bare minimum for a dad to help with their kids at any stage, but it’s not the norm in our society today.

Aiden has been such an amazing partner in all of this that sometimes I forget that Rowan isn’t biologically his. I forget that our relationship started because I thought he was offended when people assumed the baby growing in my belly was his. Aiden is everything I have ever wanted in a partner and more. I will forever be grateful that he chose me. .

Sitting on the porch swing on the back porch talking to the people I love most in the world a while later, Luca is running around kicking a soccer ball with Pop, I just think about how this truly was the perfect day.

“Hey Bee,” Momma pokes her head into Aiden and I’s room later that night, “I’ve come to steal Little Bear for a little grandma time. Aiden asked me to send you out to the back yard.” I give her a questioning look and she just shrugs before stealing my baby from me.

“She just finished eating, and she needs a diaper change.” I tell her before heading toward the back yard. I have no idea what this man might be up to.

When I step through the back door I look around trying to figure out where the heck Aiden might be, when my eyes catch on the trampoline. There are lights on the inside. when did he have time to do that? My heart begins to race as I take a step toward the trampoline. Aiden’s head pops out of the gap in the net, “What are you doing in there?” I giggle.

“Come in and see.” Is all he responds before his head disappears again.

I climb into the trampoline and am amazed at how he’s transformed it. It’s like when we were kids and would bring all our pillows and blankets out here, but so much better. He has strung string lights around the edges of the net to light up the space, padded the floor of the trampoline with blue and green fluffy pillows, and added a bunch of blue and green blankets.

“What’s all of this?” I ask when I’ve finished taking in the space.

Bear pats the space next to him, and I crawl over to him and snuggle into his chest. Once I’ve gotten comfortable, he says, “I thought we could recreate our trampoline sleepovers. We can’t sleep out here all night, we have a daughter to take care of, but Momma and Pop are going to take care of Ro for a few hours. “

“That’s sweet.” I say, once again, feeling grateful for the family that we have. A family that is so willing to help whenever we need it. “So, what are you most excited about with the upcoming school year?”

“Getting to spend all of my free time with you and Little Bear, graduation, Charlotte joining us at Alpine.” He says running hand up and down my back, “What about you?”

“Watching Rowan grow, change, and develop over the next year, graduation and getting a job, I’m excited for our group to finally feel complete with Charly being there with us finally. I’m excited for us to grow as a couple, and see what the future holds there.” I peek up at him and give him a soft kiss on his lips.

“Anything you want to accomplish or do before the school year starts?” He asks me, and I sit there in silence for a minute while I think about my answer.

“I just want to be more confident in my role as a mom before the summer is over. Momma isn’t going to be right down the hall anymore, and she won’t be able to rescue me anymore.” I absentmindedly trace a pattern on his chest with my finger. His heart is pounding under my hand, “I know you’ll be there too, and we work so well as a team, but in the week and a half Rowan has been home she has been such a big help.” I take a deep breath, settling deeper into the comfort of Aiden’s hold. “I also want to get as much sleep as I can before school starts because I know once we get there it will be full steam ahead, and sleep won’t be as easy to get.” I chuckle.

“Sleep is good.” He laughs, “We will sleep when we are dead. We just need to communicate with each other about what we need. If you’re feeling extra worn out, I can take all the nighttime feeds for a night, and I know you’d do the same. If you need alone time, just let me know. It will be a lot of work, but that little girl is worth it, and we make a great team, Blue.”

“What about you? Anything you want to accomplish before school starts?” I ask.

“One thing. This summer has been amazing. I have done everything I set out to this summer, except one thing.” He says, pushing me into a sitting position. He reaches under the pillow to his right and pulls out a black ring box exactly like the one at the hospital.

I gasp, and tears start forming in my eyes, “Yes.” I whisper.

“I haven’t even asked you yet.” He laughs and shakes his head.

“Fine, ask your question.” I tease.

“I have a whole speech planned. Bear with me.” He says, takes a deep breath, then begins his speech, “Eighteen years ago I looked out my window and saw a little girl sitting on her driveway. I walked my four year old ass right out of the house, ran over to that little girl and declared us best friends before I ran into my house and told my momma that I was going to marry that girl someday. It took much longer than I would have liked to convince you to get to this point with me, but I wouldn’t change a single second of it. In those eighteen years, we have seen ups and downs, laughs and cries, made friends and lost some. We have welcomed our daughter into the world, and grown closer with each passing day. Eighteen years ago, you became a Baker whether we knew that’s what was happening or not, and I think it’s about time we make it official. Don’t you?” I nod my head giving him a beaming smile, “Bailey Nicole, will you marry me?” He opens the ring box and the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen is nestled in the pillow. It’s a rose gold band with an oval diamond with a halo of smaller diamonds around it.

“Aiden Matthew Baker, of course I will marry you!” I say before launching myself at him. Kissing and hugging him like my life depended on it.

“She said, ‘yes!’ He yells and I hear cheers coming from outside the trampoline and the porch lights are flipped on. We sit up and he pulls the ring from the box that somehow stayed in his hand during my attack. He slips the ring on my finger before grabbing my hand and leading me out of the trampoline.

The moment both of us are fully planted on the ground we are surrounded. Momma hugs me tight tears streaming down her face, whispering how much she loves me in my ear, the girls surround me wanting to get a good look at the ring. I get quick hugs from all the guys before Pop is pulling me into a hug.