Page 111 of Protected from Torment

“You just looked… sad.”

I take a moment to think. “Not sad. At all. I’m just… Sometimes it just hits me.”

Her brow scrunches up. “What hits you?”

“How happy I am.” I press a soft kiss to her lips. “I know I’ve said it before. But now? Having you? And the little flibbertigibbet? And Oscar? Sometimes there’s so much happiness inside me, I’m not sure I have room for all of it.”

A few seconds pass as Mel regards me solemnly. Then she nods. “I feel the same way sometimes.” A beat, and then, “For a long time, I thought my chance at being happy was over. I thought… I didn’t deserve it.”

“Mel.” I hug her closer. “Of course you do.”

Her gaze holds mine. “I know that now. Thanks to you. And everyone here at B and A. The way you accepted me, believed in me… it made me think maybe I wasn’t as bad as I thought I was.”

My heart twists. “Never, Mel. You’ve never been a bad person. Ever.”

She goes quiet, thinking again. “I don’t think I am either. Not anymore. I think I made a mistake that I won’t make again. Now… I just want to be the best mom I can be.”

“You will be,” I tell her firmly. “You’re going to be an amazing mom. And Oscar”—I pat his head—“is going to be a great big brother.”

“You’re going to be an amazing dad,” Mel replies. “The best dad.”

I don’t know about the best, since I’ve never done it before. But I’m going to try my hardest to do a good job. I’ve already started preparing—researching the best diets for Mom and baby, the best sleep techniques, how soon we can teach him to read, and I’ve been playing classical music near Mel’s belly because it’s supposed to be developmentally stimulating. Plus, I’m working on installing even more security at the cabin, so my little family will always be safe.

The ring I have sitting in my dresser drawer comes to mind. I’ve had it for a couple of weeks now, but haven’t proposed yet. I don’t want Mel to think I’m proposing just because she’s carrying my baby. I want her to know it’s separate from that. I want to marry her because I can’t imagine a life without her.

So I won’t do it yet. But it’s going to happen. And I really hope Mel will say yes.

I think she will.

I’m almost certain.

“You know,” Mel muses, “I was just thinking about something.”

“What?”

Her expression turns pensive. “When I first thought about dating again, I worried I’d feel guilty. Like I was betraying what I had with Vince. But I didn’t. Feel guilty, I mean. Being with you just felt right. And I knew Vince would approve.”

“Mel.”

“He would.” Mel strokes my cheek. “Vince would want me with a good man. A man he trusts to take care of me. A man who loves me and would do anything to make me happy. That’s you, Tyler. You’re all that and more. And I love you so much.”

Emotion hits me with such force, I’m breathless from it. In the time it takes me to compose myself, I can almost hear Kaia’s response.

Be happy, Ty. You deserve it. Love your family as hard as you can. And I promise, I’ll be looking out for all of you.

My eyes burn again.

Not many people are lucky enough to find not just one, but two great loves in their lives.

But I have.

And I’ll never take it for granted.

“Kaia would love you,” I tell Mel once I trust myself to speak. “And I know she’s happy I’m with you.”

Mel’s eyes shine as she looks at me. “They’re both happy, I think.” Then she kisses me. “And so am I.”

“I love you,” I start.