“What?!” my mother calls out. “I’m going to be a Grammy?”
“Veronica, let Joel have his moment.” My father wraps an arm around her as he quiets her.
“As I was saying,” I clear my throat, “You’re having our baby and I want us to be a family. Will you marry me, and I’ll spend my life making you more and more happy.” I flick my eyebrows.
Her smile lights the room. “Yes. I will marry you.”
I slip the ring on her finger and lift her into the air. “I love you.”
Her lips crash to mine to seal the deal. “I love you…more.”
“I knew it. I knew you were the one,” my mother’s voice is heard over her sobs.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, and then it hits me.
She set me up for Grammy’s roses.
“Did Grammy have a part in this too?” I ask.
Grammy looks around the corner. “You bet your ass I did. Sometimes men just need a little poke to get them on the right path. We knew Delia would be the one, so we set it in motion. You did all the hard work.”
I tip my head. “Still want to marry me with this coming along?” I motion my head to Mom and Grammy.
Delia sighs. “Even more.”
I told myself that I’d never give up on a dream ever again. Little did I know that the dream wouldn’t give up on me, either.
Epilogue
DELIA
“Happy birthday!”
One year ago, we had our babies. Yes, plural. When Joel and I do something right, we do righter—more right—whatever. We do it. Two babies. That’s why I was so sick and on bedrest for almost six months, but both came out and went home from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit within five days. They’re hearty like their father.
Hayden and Hunter Yager came into the world raring to go and they haven’t stopped yet.
Each dig into their smash cake—shaped like tiny footballs. Go figure. Joel took care of the food for the gathering, and I took care of the place, Sip Happens Neighborhood Pub, and the decorations. We’re a team. You have to be when there’s two against two. Babies can really gang up on you. We play man-to-man most days with Hunter being my love bug and Hayden being Joel’s laughing machine.
Twenty months ago I met a man who put me back together. I mean, I did the hard work—like telling off my ex and making my father get his shit together, but I did it. And I haven’t looked back. I took over Charlie’s spot at the company and I became the best salesperson they have while lying on bedrest. Zoom calls are an amazing thing and no one likes to meet face to face anymore anyway. It’s all about selling the sizzle, not the steak.
And then there was the wedding…two months ago. I’ll admit, I drug my feet a little on saying “I do.” I was waiting for something to happen.For him to change, decide he didn’t want me, to back out?Something bad to happen.
But it never did.
Joel’s been by my side the whole time. He brought me soup and spoon fed me when I could only keep down a sip. And now we’re celebrating a milestone birthday. One.
His strong arms wrap around me from behind and his chin rests on my shoulder. “Amazing that this all started with you thinking that I was talking about your boobs.”
I elbow him and he harrumphs. “Youwerelooking at my boobs.”
“Okay, maybe a little, but I didn’t say boobs.”
I turn to face him. “Thank you.”
“For what?” He moves in close, and his hands drop low on my back, almost cupping my ass, but no one here will care.
“For not giving up on me. For remembering me. And for being you.”