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At Isla’s shout, I release Leia and step back.
“Baby girl,” Leia begins. “Kissing isn’t gross.”
Isla feigns retching. “It is when it’s your mom and your dad.”
Dad? She considers me her dad? My heart hammers in my chest as I kneel in front of her. “You called me your dad, cutie pie.”
“Is that okay?”
“Do you want me to be your dad?” I hold my breath as I wait for her to answer.
Leia moves to stand next to her daughter. Isla glances up at her and she nods. “Go ahead.”
“Fender, will you adopt me?”
My chest warms as happiness pierces through me before spreading to the rest of my body. My entire body is alight with euphoria. My hands tremble as I reach for her.
“You want me to be your dad? Forever?”
“Yes. I love you, Fender.”
I squeeze her hands. “And I love you.” I pause before risking it all. “But I think I should marry your mom before I adopt you.”
I hold my breath as I wait for Isla’s response. I hope she doesn’t think I’m rejecting her.
“Then, ask her already. What are you waiting for?”
I chuckle as I release her hands. I should have known Isla would use the moment to get what she wants. Like mother, like daughter. I dig into my pocket and pull out the ring. When I hold it up, Leia gasps.
“Leia Wilson, will you marry me?”
She raises her eyebrows. Naturally, she’s not making this easy for me. Not my firecracker. And I love her all the more for it.
“I wasn’t looking for love. I didn’t think I deserved it. I never thought I’d find it. But here I am kneeling before my girls asking you to say yes and make us a family.”
She drops to her knees and throws her arms around me. “Oh, Fender, we’re already a family.”
Isla pushes her way in between us. “Does this mean you’re going to adopt me?”
“Your mom hasn’t said yes yet.”
“Mom,” she whines. “Say yes already. You love him.”
“How do you know I love him?” Leia asks.
“You get googly eyes whenever you talk about him.”
Leia giggles. “Googly eyes?”
Isla widens her eyes and bats her eyelashes. “Googly eyes.”
Leia tickles her ribs and the two fall to the floor laughing. It’s a sight I want to watch for the rest of my life. Preferably with more children. But I can be a patient man. I’ve waited thirty-two years to find a family. I can wait a little longer to grow it.
There’s just one thing missing. I snatch Leia’s left hand and slide the ring on her finger.
She stops goofing around with her daughter to smile up at me. “I guess I said yes.”
I grunt. “You were always going to say yes.”
