by Emelia Blair
“Just a bit further.” He coaxes me.
I begin to wonder if he’ll sulk for too long if, I smacked him.
At some point, he lets go of me and says, “Stay still. Don’t move.”
I don’t hear him move about but I do hear Sophie’s voice getting further away.
Then a heartbeat later, a pair of strong hands undo the silk blindfold and I blink, half blinded by the sunlight.
It takes me a few seconds to take in the scene and I gape in amazement.
We’re standing in the middle of a clearing, which opens into a small lake. The sunlight is reflecting on the water, making it shimmer majestically. Although it’s a clearing, there are wild flowers blooming everywhere, making this whole scene look like it’s been taken from a fairytale book. One could expect small faeries to come fluttering out with their shimmering wings.
There’s a huge blanket on the soft grass, surrounded by daisies. On the blanket is a bucket that holds a chilling bottle of what looks like champagne, two wine glasses, a basket, and written with scattered rose petals on it, are the words, ‘Marry me’.
It’s not a question, just a statement.
I see Sophie on the blanket, rushing to mess up the petals, and I just clasp my hands on my mouth, “This is—you did this for me?”
Lucas looks over my shoulder. “No, it’s for my other girlfriend,” he quips. “She’s on her way.”
Half laughing and crying, I smack him on the arm and then throw my arms around him. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes!”
He grins at me. “So, that’s a yes, then?”
I hit him again, laughing. “Kiss me.”
And he does.
He holds me close to him, kissing me so thoroughly that my heart nearly stops, our emotions wild and carefree. When we pull apart, I’m flushed and out of breath.
Lucas is no different as he brings out a box and opens it to reveal a diamond ring with a small ruby in the center. This time, when he looks at me there is a quiet intensity burning in his eyes as he asks, “May I?”
My heart is pounding so loudly, I bite my lower lip and nod fervently.
The ring is a perfect fit and I stare at it, stunned, but it’s not the jewels that have me dazzled, it’s the fact that Lucas had this ring designed for me. “It’s lovely,” I whisper.
He beams at me. “Not as lovely as you.”
Normally, I would have cringed at another corny statement from him, but I just kiss him again, lightly on the cheek.
He accepts it and then announces, “This isn’t all.”
“There’s more?” I ask, startled.
Lucas is no longer smiling.
I still and it has me wondering what this is about.
“I want to legally adopt Sophie. I want her to have my last name. I know it doesn’t have the same clout as your family name, but I still want her to feel like she’s my daughter.”
His request has me stunned. Why hadn’t I expected this? Lucas has always loved Sophie.
He acts like he’s her father, buying her things, bringing over store bought diapers as if he knows like clockwork that we need more, bringing over the sweet cereal that I feed her. He sometimes gets up at night when she’s being fussy and rocks her to sleep. He and I have a schedule of when to change her.
It’s the small things, but they’re the ones that matter.
I glance at where Sophie is doing her best to push over the bucket holding the champagne and my lips curve. “I’d like that.” I pause as I let out a loose breath. “I always wished that Sophie had been yours. Even before you asked me out.”
Lucas just pulls me close, whispering hoarsely, “In every sense of the word, she is my daughter. She will never lack for my love.”
My heart is flipping inside my chest and I close my eyes.
Of course, the beautiful moment is destroyed when Sophie manages to pull down the bucket. The bottle inside goes rolling down the small hillside and with a splash, plops into the water.
Our cute little monster just sits there, looking satisfied as she says, “Mama, poop!”
I sigh and tell Lucas, “How do we get her to unlearn that word?”
I watch Lucas grin as he makes his way to her. “No, Soph, let me teach you another word. You have to promise to use it on your Uncle Caleb.”
The small tender scene before me tugs at my heartstrings and I just stand there, foolishly smiling at my fiancé and my daughter.
It’s been a long road but the love in my heart burns fiercely. When Lucas looks over and his eyes crinkle as he smiles at me, I consider myself the luckiest woman in the world that he waited for me.
THE END
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