by Claire Adams
“Wow,” I said, nodding in approval. “You look better than I do.”
“You look like James Bond,” Noah said.
I gave him a wink. “That was the idea,” I nodded. “I have to make sure she can’t say no.”
“No?” he repeated, with a frown. “No to what?”
“You’ll see,” I said cryptically. “What’s the time?”
“Daddy,” he said, sounding annoyed at me. “I can’t tell time.”
“What?” I teased. “You’re off to college next month; you should be able to tell time.”
“Daddy,” Noah said again, giggling slightly. “I’m not going to college.”
“No?” I asked. “You sure?”
“Uh-huh,” he nodded. “I don’t want to go to college.”
I raised my eyebrows and turned to him. “You don’t?”
“I want to stay with you forever,” he said.
I felt my heart expand tenfold at the sound of those words. It was proof that I wasn’t doing such a terrible job at this single parent thing. Even as I thought it, however, it didn’t feel authentic. Maybe because in the last few months, I hadn’t really felt like a single parent anymore. Kristen was always around, and Noah had slowly gotten used to having her spend the night, too. Most weekends, Kristen would stay with us. We would plan our weekends with Noah and end up going someplace or the other, either to the planetarium, the zoo, the museums, or the park.
Sundays were lazy, stay-at-home kind of days. Kristen and Noah would spend half of it in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes they found online. Then we would eat together and play games or tell stories for the rest of the evening.
There were a few odd weekdays when Kristen would come over. She would cook something healthy and hearty and then she’d help Noah with homework before she put him to bed.
Our lives had taken on the comforting ease of routine, and I loved feeling as though my family was complete. I had never really experienced that before. Daphne had been so depressed and sad after Noah had been born that the focus had been taken off our new baby. Right afterward, she had enlisted and left overseas, and my journey into single parenthood had begun.
It felt like another lifetime ago now. It was funny how when you were going through something it felt both hopeless and endless. But then something happened that changed your perspective and made the hard times dissolve into distant memories that didn’t hurt at all.
I still thought about Daphne a lot, but it was no longer painful for me to remember her. Kristen never minded talking about Daphne; in fact, she encouraged it for Noah’s sake, and I was deeply grateful for that.
“Daddy?” Noah said, cutting into my thoughts. “Come on, let’s go. We’ll be late.”
“Right,” I nodded, spraying myself with a little aftershave before heading out.
Noah was practically bouncing around in the backseat. He was so excited at the thought of sitting and eating in a proper grown-up restaurant.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah, bud?”
“Can I order anything I want?” Noah asked.
I smiled. “Sure, bud, you can order anything you want.”
“Even a grown-up meal?”
My smile grew wider. “Actually, I think this particular restaurant doesn’t even have a kid’s menu. So everything on it is grown up.”
“Wow,” Noah said, drawing out the word.
Kristen appeared at the door two minutes after we pulled up. She looked spectacular in a lilac dress made of wispy chiffon. She wore simple heels, and her hair hung loosely around her shoulders. Her makeup was, as always, understated, but she had chosen a dark lipstick that got me a little hot and bothered.
“You look amazing,” I said when I greeted her outside the car. “Like some hot seductress from my dreams.”
Kristen laughed and gave me a kiss. “Where’s Noah?”
“I’m here!” Noah yelled, having rolled down his window.
Laughing, Kristen rushed to him and leaned in for a kiss. “My, don’t you look handsome.”
“This is the first time I’m wearing this jacket.”
“It’s fabulous,” she said. “No question, you’re going to be the handsomest gent at the restaurant tonight.”
“Come on you two,” I said, breaking up their little catch-up. “We’d better head out.”
The moment Kristen got into the front seat, Noah started jabbering away. “Daddy says I can order anything on the menu.”
“Sounds like quite the decision you have to make,” Kristen said, sounding impressed.
As the two of them spoke, my mind wandered slightly. It was nice to hear their conversation, even if I wasn’t listening. It gave me strength and comfort to know that Noah had Kristen now, as well as me. The closer we got to the restaurant, however, the more nervous we became. And when I got nervous, I also tended to get quieter. I tried to keep my cool and remain suave and in control, but my mind was reeling. I had never really done this before. My first proposal had been so different.
Instantly, the memory jumped into my head, and I could see it play out as though I were watching a movie of my life. I hadn’t thought about this particular moment in ages, and so it surprised me how vivid it was.
Daphne approached me while I was attempting my tenth suicide. I was drenched with sweat and slightly cranky because I was hungry and tired and completely over my work out.
“Hi there.”
“Hi,” I replied back grumpily.
“Someone’s in a mood.”
“I’ve been doing suicides all day.”
“What number are you on?”
“Ten.”
Daphne rolled her eyes and sat down opposite me. “Please, I did twenty today.”
“Good for you,” I replied sarcastically.
Instead of getting annoyed, she just laughed. “Man, you’re in a bad mood. Is there anything I can do to help?”
I sighed and just like that her laughter broke my bad mood. “Sorry,” I said. “I’m being an ass; it’s just been a long day.”
“You’re probably going to have lots more,” she pointed out.
“Well, as long as you’re around, my moods won’t last.”
“Is that a promise?”
“It may be.”
Daphne smiled. “Hmm, well, I wouldn’t want the world to suffer on account of your moods,” she said. “And because I am a good Samaritan, I have the perfect solution.”
“Oh?” I asked. “Do tell.”
“You’ll just have to marry me.”
I looked at her in shock, wondering if she was serious or not. “What?”
“You heard me,” she said. “If you marry me, then I’ll always be around to counter your bad moods.”
“I… Did you just propose to me?” I asked.
Daphne laughed. “I think so,” she said. “So what do you say?”
“I say yes,” I said, still slightly shocked. “I will marry you.”
I smiled to myself at the memory and then put it away. That was my past, and while it would always be with me, now there was something bigger and brighter in my future that I needed to focus on. Kristen and Noah were still jabbering away, and my smile grew wider. I hoped that my life would always be like this.
We got to the restaurant, and as the valet drove off the car, I turned to Kristen and Noah. Their hands were already linked, so I walked behind them into the restaurant, willing to surrender Kristen to Noah for the time being. We were shown to the table I had requested three weeks ago when I had made the reservation. It was nestled into a little nook that overlooked the entirety of the restaurant. The table was set against glass that overlooked a pond that held swans.
Noah went crazy for the swans, and immediately he ran up to the glass to take a closer look. Kristen turned to me and slipped her hand into mine.
“I was under the impression that this restaurant needed to be booked weeks in advance.”
“It does,” I nodded.
“W
ow, you’ve been planning this for a while,” Kristen said. “What’s the occasion?”
“I just wanted to give both of you a treat,” I said evasively.
We sat down as the waiter came forward with menus. Noah needed help deciding what he wanted, so Kristen leaned over to help him. In the end, we just ordered a bunch of different things to share. I also ordered a bottle of champagne for Kristen and myself, and a mocktail for Noah. Once the waiter had left, Kristen tried to engage me in conversation, but my nerves were getting in the way of my composure.
Thankfully Noah’s presence helped take the focus off me, but every now and again I saw Kristen looking at me curiously, as though she didn’t know what was going on. The waiter had just cleared away our dinner plates, and Noah was by the glass partition admiring the swans when Kristen turned to me and placed her hand over mine.
“Hey,” she said. “Is everything alright with you?”
“Yeah… Of course.”
Kristen raised her eyebrows, not convinced at all. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“You seem distant tonight.”
“Do I?”
“And, you’re giving me the shortest answers possible.”
“Am I?”
“Stop that.”
“Sorry,” I said, trying to suppress my smile.
“You know, if Noah hadn’t been here and if this restaurant had been less fancy, I would have assumed you wanted to break up with me.”
“That’s not it.”
Kristen smiled. “Well, that’s good to know.”
We were interrupted as Noah came back to the table, but instead of sitting on his own chair, he slipped onto Kristen’s lap and leaned against her shoulder. The sight of them together brought a lump to my throat, and I knew the moment had arrived.
“Kristen,” I said, reaching out for her. “You’ve made my life so much better.”
“Mine, too,” Noah piped up.
I laughed. “You’ve made a difference in both our lives, and I’m so grateful that we met.”
Kristen’s eyes were soft with tenderness, and I could tell she was getting emotional, too.
“I know neither one of us expected this, but we found each other, and it makes sense. We make sense together. I’m a lucky guy. I didn’t always think that, but now I’ve realized that I had the privilege of having not one, but two soul mates. But you’re not just my soul mate, Kristen; you’re my best friend, too. And I know I’m going to be okay as long as you’re by my side.”
With that, I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out the small jewelry box that I’d been hiding for the last month. Kristen’s eyes went wide, and a little gasp escaped her. Noah sat up straight, looking excited and impatient.
“Kristen, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes!” Noah screamed before Kristen could say a word.
We laughed, and I shook my head at him. “Sorry, bud, but Kristen needs to be the one to accept my proposal.”
“Say yes, Krissy,” Noah prompted, looking back at her pleadingly. “Please say yes.”
I saw tears sparkle in Kristen’s eyes as she nodded. “Of course, I’ll marry you,” she said.
Noah screamed in excitement, and I rose from my chair to embrace Kristen. As we were kissing, I heard applause go up in the restaurant, and when we broke apart, I realized that everyone was cheering for us. Noah was wedged in between us, joining in our embrace and clapping along with everyone else.
I looked at Kristen and kissed her softly on the lips. “Yes?” I asked again, just to check.
“Yes,” she said firmly.
Three Years Later
Epilogue
Kristen
I stared at myself in the mirror, running my hands over my gigantic stomach. I had on an ivory dress with lace details along the bell sleeves and the hemline. It was a beautiful dress, and it made me feel strong and confident: something I had been struggling with in my last trimester.
“You look fantastic,” Melody said, from behind me.
I whirled around and smiled. “You’re here! I didn’t even hear you come in.”
“You were too busy admiring yourself in the mirror.”
I rolled my eyes. “More like lamenting the state of my body.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “You’re glowing.”
“Am I?” I asked. “I think I’m just sweating.”
She shook her head at me. “I can’t believe you’re going to have a baby.”
“Neither can I,” I admitted. “I’m excited, though.”
“So…what are you having?” Melody asked, with raised eyebrows.
I laughed. “I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to,” I said. “We don’t know.”
Melody frowned at me. “What?”
“We told the doctor that we didn’t want to know,” I explained. “But we were going to have a gender reveal party that doubled as a baby shower. So Doctor Mitchell wrote down the baby’s gender in a sealed envelope and then I dropped off the envelope at this amazing little bakery down Corey Street. They’ve baked us a special cake for the occasion, and the moment we cut into it, we’ll know if we’re having a boy or a girl.”
“Oh nice,” Melody nodded. “I’ve heard of people doing this. Very interesting. So what are you hoping for?”
I smiled. “I don’t care.”
“Bullshit,” she said immediately. “Everyone has a preference.”
“I don’t,” I said honestly. “As long as this baby’s healthy and happy, I’m happy. And so is Jake.”
“Okay, okay,” she said. “I’ll buy that.”
I laughed. “Did you bring your plus one?”
“He’s outside,” she nodded.
“And, how’s it going so far?”
“Only time will tell,” Melody said. “We can’t all be as lucky as you.”
I smiled. “You know, I might actually believe in soul mates now.”
“Really?” she said. “Well, I’m glad, although I can’t take credit for converting you. It was Jake who did the trick, wasn’t it?”
“It was,” I had to admit.
“Well, I may have to go through a few more men before finding my own soul mate.”
“Don’t lose hope,” I laughed.
“Never,” Melody said, giving me a wink. “In any case, I like the search.”
“I’ll bet,” I smirked. “Did you leave your new beau outside by himself?”
“Don’t worry; he’s fine,” Melody said. “He’s talking to this impressive bald man out front; I think his name was Larry?”
“Luis?” I checked.
“That’s it,” Melody nodded. “He got in a couple of minutes ago when we did.”
“That’s Jake’s old military buddy,” I said. “I must go out and say hello.”
At that moment, the door opened, and Jake walked in. “Hey, ladies,” he greeted, giving Melody a hug. “Sorry to break up the heart to heart, but a few more guests have arrived, and they want to see you, Kris.”
“I have an important question, Jake,” Melody said, turning to him.
“Shoot.”
“Is there booze?”
Jake laughed. “There’s a bar set up just before the balcony. Go crazy.”
“Oh, I intend to,” Melody nodded. “Excuse me.”
The moment she left, Jake turned to me and wrapped his arms around me. “Hi,” he said, kissing me gently on the lips.
“Hi,” I said, melting into him like I always did. Only now there was a slight barrier between us created by my ever-expanding belly.
“Did I mention how beautiful you look today?” Jake asked.
I waved away the compliment. “You’re just saying that.”
“I’m saying it because I mean it,” he said. “You look like an auburn-haired mermaid.”
“Wow, that’s quite a description.”
“I can’t take all the credit,” he said. “That was how Noah described you.�
�
“Where is our son?” I asked, enjoying the way ‘our son’ sounded.
“He’s outside, showing his drawings to his grandmother,” Jake replied.
“Good.”
“Also, the cake just got here,” Jake told me.
I clapped my hands together. “Oh, wow…we’re finally going to find out. Boy or girl.”
“My money’s on girl,” Jake said, with a smile.
I laughed. “Is that instinct or hope?”
“A little bit of both,” he smiled. “It doesn’t really matter, though. We’ll have tons of kids, so we’re bound to end up with boys and girls.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Tons of kids?” I repeated.
“I’m thinking like ten,” he teased.
I laughed. “I think that’s up for discussion.”
“Fair enough,” he nodded.
“Come on, we better get out there,” I said, moving towards the door.
Jake held my hand, and I looked towards him. “What?”
“You should know that your mother just got here, too.”
I tensed a little, but then I reminded myself that our relationship had made strides in the last two years. Mom had finally accepted my decision not to have a relationship with Ted, and she had also stopped butting into my life and allowed me to make my own decisions.
“Okay,” I nodded. “Has she seen Isabelle yet?”
Jake smiled. “I was standing in between them when they met,” he nodded.
“And?”
“It went surprisingly well,” he said. “They didn’t talk about anything other than you. Your mother mentioned Daphne once, and then they moved on.”
“Well…that’s good.”
“Don’t be worried,” Jake said, taking my hand. “I’ll be right beside you.”
After sharing one last kiss, we walked out together. The crowd mostly comprised of our friends and colleagues from work and a few other people who had made a difference in our lives. Luis came up to me and gave me a hug.
“Kristen, you look wonderful.”
“Thanks, Luis,” I said. “It’s great to see you. Where’s your new bride?”
Luis scanned the crowd. “Cathy?” he called.
