I lift onto my toes as his lips meet mine. This kiss sends a spark of warmth through my body that I have never felt before. Kissing the man that I love.
He pushes back to look at me.
“I knew you would come around,” he says.
“Did you now?”
“Yes and you know what else?”
I cock my head in question.
“You are going to make an amazing mom. It does come natural to you. I wish you could see what I see. The way to talk to Arthur, you don’t treat him like he’s just some kid, and how you always get down on his level when he talks to you. You respect him as a child, and not all adults know how to do that.”
“I had no idea. I just did what I thought I would have wanted at that age.”
“You’ve done perfectly.”
He kisses me again but this time, we have an audience.
“She’s staying?” Arthur says, hope and excitement in his voice.
“I think she might be, buddy. What do you say, Lily?”
Arthur looks at me, bouncing on his toes.
I nod my head. “I’m staying.”
Arthur runs to us, wrapping his arms the best he can around the both of us. Ethan and I each put a hand on Arthur’s back.
“Alright, back to bed with you,” Ethan says.
“Darn, okay. Miss Lily, will you tuck me in?”
Emotion gets caught in my throat as I try not to cry. I nod my head and follow him.
I sit next to him after he gets under the covers. I sweep his hair across his forehead. Then I hum the “good night” song that my mom used to hum to me. His eyes flutter shut.
“Sleep good, Arthur,” I whisper, then stand.
“Good night, Mommy.”
The End