Mia? I can watch her. Take her back to my place if you want the house to yourself.”
“No, I’m pretty sure Ella will want her around.”
“Okay, so what do you have in mind?”
“I have a few deliveries coming in later; you’ll see,” I tell her and walk back into the house with Mia in my arms.
She is only fourteen months old now, but I can’t believe how big she’s gotten already. Sometimes, I just want time to stop so I can watch her for a moment. Freeze our lives somehow because this is the happiest I’ve been. Waking up to Ella every morning, watching Mia learn and grow and be filled with wonder every day, having a brother who I’m getting to know better every day, and having a mother whom I’m learning to forgive and love.
This last year or so has been a rollercoaster, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
Mia and I stand greedily in front of the fridge. I find a box of strawberries that I hold out to her, and she picks one. By the time mom joins us in the kitchen, there’s red strawberry juice smeared all over our fingers and around our mouths. Mia is giggling while I make funny faces.
“I am so glad it’s finally happening,” she says, beaming at Mia and me.
“She might say no.”
“Why would she? The two of you are crazy about each other. You have a daughter together.”
“We have only been together for a year, and we have been through a lot of complications and hurdles to get here. Things are finally starting to settle and calm down; maybe she wants time. Time to think and make the right choice. She’s still in her early-twenties, Mom. I don’t want to force a life of being tied-down to me on her.”
She is shaking her head.
“I think you underestimate the way Ella feels for you.”
Mia reaches for the box of strawberries again and picks another one. I love watching her eat—how joyous she looks. I kiss the top of her head because I can’t resist. She has her mother’s bronze curls. I know she’s going to grow up with unparalleled beauty. The thought of boys having their heart broken over her fills me with both terror and pride.
“I’m a lucky guy, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” I reply.
I have spent the past four hours setting up the house to resemble an old-school arcade the best I can with the help of Missy, Kirk, and my mother. Mia is in love with the colors, sounds, and lights. She is her mother’s daughter, after all. I even ordered a slushy machine that got delivered at the last moment. We’ve managed to install it right in the foyer.
I finally have time to take a shower and change into the sweater and pants I was wearing that night in London. I don’t think Ella even has that dress anymore, but honestly, I don’t care what she’s wearing.
Mom and Kirk declare that they’re going to take Mia out for dinner and bring her back before bedtime.
It’s nearly six. Ella is usually home by five but I’m glad she’s going to be late so I have extra time to put on the finishing touches.
Mom and Kirk have left with Mia already when I hear Ella’s car out in the driveway.
I know the house looks ridiculous right now. There are arcade machines everywhere, with the pinball machine taking center stage. The lights are too bright, the music may be too loud, but I want her to remember. Remember every moment of the night we first met. We had no idea how much our lives were going to change after that.
I walk to the end of the foyer and stand there while I wait for her to open the door. Ella steps in, and even over the music, I hear her gasp. She looks up and around. The lights. The slushy machine.
“Reed?” she calls for me over all the music. She’s running to me. Right into my arms.
“What have you done?” she says in my ear.
“I thought you deserved a strawberry slushy after all the hard work you’re putting into that new project at work.”
I pull her close to me, pinning her to my chest as I take her mouth with mine. She sways in my arms, smiling and kissing me back.
“I can’t believe this!” she squeals and breaks away from me, rushing over to the slushy machine. I watch, beginning to