With my mom here and being able to see her almost every day, I now have everything I've ever wanted in life.
Almost.
Long after River's gone, the nurse takes Kaylee, and I follow along, per Kaitlyn's instructions. After she read about babies getting swapped in hospitals, she demanded one of us always be with her.
It only takes twenty minutes before I bring Kaylee back into the room. She's asleep and swaddled in a warm blanket, but instead of setting her in the bassinet, I place her in Kaitlyn's arms.
"How'd she do?" she asks.
"Didn't even wake up," I confirm. "Oh, but that weird hospital band they had around her ankle is gone." It's actually an alarm monitor that'll go off if someone tries to take her.
"What?" she screeches. "They're not supposed to remove that until we leave."
She sets Kaylee between her legs and unwraps the blanket to look for herself.
"It's not miss—" The words die on her lips when she notices the diamond ring on Kaylee's toe. "Payton."
When she turns to face me, I'm already on one knee.
"You are not proposin’ when I look like I've been through a tornado," she exclaims.
Gently, I grab her hand and smirk.
"You're the most beautiful I've ever seen you, sweetheart."
"Don't lie to me." Tears well in her eyes.
Laughing with amusement, I reach over and take the ring. "You're my best friend and the love of my life. I'd never lie to you. But I do have a question to ask."
The dam breaks, spilling down her cheeks. I wipe them away before pressing my lips to hers.
"Marry me? And be mine forever."
Breathlessly, she furiously nods as she chokes back more tears. I cup her face and slide my tongue between her lips. Then I slip the ring on her finger.
"It's gorgeous, babe." She holds up her hand and admires it. "I can't believe you did this."
"I bought it a year ago," I admit.
She snaps her gaze to me. "I wasn't even pregnant a year ago..."
"I know."
"Was it for someone else?"
I scoff. "Hell no. I was checkin' out the jewelry store in town for a watch, and when I saw it, I just knew it was meant to be on your finger."
"What were you plannin' to do with it? Just randomly drop down to one knee and hope for the best?"
I chuckle, sitting next to her on the bed while she gets Kaylee situated back in her blanket.
"I was tryin’ to find the nerve to talk to you about the night of your brother's wedding and decide if risking our friendship would be worth it. I'd already had a battle goin' on in my head long before that, but it was right before you mentioned sperm donors. When I saw it, I knew you'd love it. It's stunning, just like you."
"So you bought it in case we started dating?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that. Or maybe I'd keep it for the guy you ended up with and let him give it to you. I just wanted you to have it. Even if I wasn't the one giving it to you."
"Dammit, Payton Jamison, don't do that." She squeezes her eyes closed, but tears stream down her face. "I can't control them today." She shrugs, aggressively wiping them away.