. I’m glad to see it. He’s too thin for his wide shoulders and tall frame. Oh heck, maybe I should have just told him later, at home. Alone.
Trying to ignore the small crowd, I turn to Blake. He’s the only one who matters right now anyway. “I took a test this morning.” I blurt awkwardly. Ana and Faye giggle. Mama hushes them, but all I can see is Blake. He’s my present and my future. He’s my forever. “It said that you’re a daddy now.” We’ve talked about having a family, giving Auggie a brother or a sister, we just didn’t know that it would happen so soon.
“Daddy?” he chokes, his eyes filling with tears. “Me?”
I nod silently as his hand engulfs mine. It’s shaking. “Wow,” he breathes, his voice hushed. “Wow. A dad, Elinor? Me! That means you’re a mommy. Oh sweet Jesus,” a sob breaks past his throat. I’m in his arms before I know it. I smile and laugh over his shoulder, waving at our family as he carries me across the yard and through the house. He doesn’t say a word until we cross the street and enter the small house he bought and moved us into just last week. My back hits the mattress in our bedroom and he falls over me, his mouth slashing against mine in a kiss wet with the tears streaming from both our eyes.
“Thank you, angel,” he mumbles between kisses, his hands carefully undoing the zipper on my dress and working it down my body until I’m bare beneath him. He drops to my side, his lips pressing against my flat belly. “I love you so much Ells. I can’t wait to be a dad, but as much as I want that I want you to be my wife even more.”
He lets me go and digs around in his pocket, producing and Art Deco style ring with tiny diamonds surrounding a much larger one and even more of them set into the delicate, rose gold band. It’s unique and beautiful and more perfect than anything I could have ever dreamed of.
“I was waiting for the perfect moment, and there will never be a better one. Will you be my wife and baby mama, Ellie?” he whispers huskily, already sliding the finger onto my left hand.
I nod, an excited smile on my lips. “Yes, but how am I supposed to tell everyone,” I wave toward Mama’s house across the street, “that I got engaged naked on our bed?” I can’t stop the burst of amused laughter that is building in my chest at the idea.
“Don’t care. Tell them anything you want. You said yes. That’s the only thing that matters.” He pulls me to him again and I wind my fingers in his hair, pulling his face to mine for a kiss full promises for our future.
He’s right. Nothing else matters. Only this right here.
Forever.
The End