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“Lee’s been cooking,” said Lola. “He made all your faves.”
Izzy spotted her parents, who’d flown in from Orlando. She went running to hug them, and I felt my heart swell. They’d been promising to drive out since Stella was born, but with her dad’s bad leg, they hadn’t quite made it. A couple of plane tickets had solved that problem, and they’d arrived just in time for the big surprise.
“Where’s Stella?” said Izzy, when I made it to her.
“Sleeping like an angel. I hoped she’d wake up so she’d be in on this too, but you know how she gets when I go in and wake her.”
“Yeah, don’t do that.” Izzy pulled a face. “I’m sure she’ll wake up soon, with everyone here.”
She woke up in time to meet her grandparents, and for everyone to coo over her while Izzy ate. After that, a few guests had got confused, thinking I said “baby shower” when I said “anniversary.” They’d brought presents for Stella, so Izzy opened those, and we dressed Stella up in her new rainbow onesie. The party flew by, full of warmth and laughter, and the guests drifted outside to watch the sunset. Izzy went to go with them, but I held her back.
“I’ll clean all this up,” I said. “In case you were worried.”
“I wasn’t.” She kissed me. “This has been great.”
“And there’s one other thing. I wanted to ask you a question.”
“You can ask me anything.” Izzy leaned up against me, Stella dozing in her arms. I pulled them both close and basked in their warmth.
“I’ve been asking myself all year how I got so lucky. How I wound up with the both of you, this home, this life. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for you two. You make me so happy to wake up every day. I guess what I’m saying is, Izzy, Stella—” I paused to kiss them both in turn, Izzy on her lips, Stella on her forehead. “You’re not just my family. You’re my whole world. Izzy, will you marry me and make my world complete?” I fumbled in my pocket for the ring I’d picked out, but my hand was shaking and I dropped the box. I knelt down to get it and popped it open. Izzy gasped, then she laughed, and Stella woke up. She saw Izzy laughing and gurgled along.
“Of course I will,” said Izzy. “But my hands are both full.”
I saw she was right, her arms full of Stella. “But we’re getting married?”
“I’d have popped the question myself if you didn’t hurry.”
I slipped the ring in her pocket, still in its box, and took her in my arms, Stella nestled between us. “I’ve never been happier than right now, today.”
“We’re getting married.”
“Guys! Guys! He asked her!” Dan yelled out our news and a huge cheer went up, guests streaming back in to see Izzy’s ring. I took Stella from her so she could slip it on. Doing that might’ve saved me from death by back-slapping, all my teammates crowding in wanting to congratulate me at once. They went gentle when they saw I had the baby, but I still got a few slaps and thumps on my arm.
“You’re gonna love it,” said Dan.
“Congrats,” said Enrique.
I stood grinning wide, watching Izzy glow. I couldn’t have wiped the smile off my face if I’d tried. I could see it all, our lives stretched out before us, birthdays and Christmases, a hundred big firsts. Stella’s first step, then her first word. Her first day of school. Her first hockey game. Or maybe she’d like soccer, or playing guitar, and that first game would be a recital instead. But whatever it was, I’d be there cheering, and Izzy would be with me, right by my side.
“My family,” I said, and I couldn’t wait.
The End
