“Yeah, sure.” Callie tried not to let her mind wander as they walked into the dining room. “What’s up?”
“There’s something I wanted to tell you,” he said. “And since Sia and I leave for Argentina first thing in the morning, I figured this is probably the last chance I’d get to talk to you in person. I meant to call you earlier in the week, but I kind of chickened out.”
Callie gave him a wary look. “You’re making me nervous, David.”
“No, no, don’t be nervous.” He laughed and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m nervous enough for the both of us.”
“Okay, then how about we stop with the preamble, and you just tell me what’s going on?”
He nodded, took a few more seconds and then blurted out, “I want to ask Sia to marry me.”
“Oh.” Callie stepped back. She hadn’t expected David to say this, and the surprise was a lot to take in. After a few seconds, however, she smiled. “That’s amazing.”
“Really?” David sighed with relief. “You think so?”
“Of course!” She hugged him tightly. “I’m so happy for you! Sia is a wonderful woman, and you seem to be really in love with each other. I think it’s fantastic.”
He laughed. “Wow. Okay. I’m so glad you feel that way. I figured you would be supportive, but there was a part of me that just didn’t know what to expect.” He took his phone out. “I’m going to ask her while we’re on the trip. Can I show you the ring I got? I want to make sure it’s a good one.”
Callie eagerly agreed to see a photo of the ring, and the two of them spent the next few minutes talking about David’s proposal plans. When she asked if he told the kids yet, he told her he had and that they all took it well.
“I didn’t even hesitate,” he added. “The second I decided I was going to ask her; I told the kids. I never want them to think I’m keeping secrets from them ever again.”
“Understandable.” She lovingly patted his shoulder. “I hope everything goes well, and I hope she says yes.”
“God, me too,” he said with a chuckle.
Taylor’s voice then resounded from the kitchen. “Really?! Oh my god, yes! That’s amazing.”
Callie and David shared a look. “Do you know what that’s about?” he asked.
“I think I might,” Callie said. “I’m assuming Erica is now off the phone with the social worker and she had good news to share.”
David beamed. “That’s what I was thinking as well. I’m so happy for them, and I can’t wait to have another grandchild running around.”
“They’re just fostering, you know,” Callie reminded him. “So, we have to make sure we keep that in mind before getting too attached. The kid might not end up staying with them forever. Or for very long, depending on the situation.”
“Then we’ll give them all the love we have while theyarewith our family and go from there.”
Callie smiled. “You know what, you’re right. It’s not like we don’t have enough to share.”
“Exactly. As far as I’m concerned, any kid who comes to stay with Taylor and Erica is considered a Ward child and will be treated as such. Which is to say, they’ll be spoiled rotten by their grandfather.”
Becca and Micah ran through the room right then, chasing each other with nerf guns and squealing at the top of their lungs. “Is that an example of you spoiling them?”
“Huh?
“The guns. Did you give them those?” Callie said, shaking her head. “Because I thought Ariel didn’t allow them to have violent toys.”
“Don’t look at me,” David said. “I’ve been yelled at by Ariel one too many times for letting the kids watch ‘violent movies’ and have learned my lesson. Although, when didBambistart being considered a violent movie?”
“The mama deer dies right away,” Callie said. “No, not just dies! She gets shot. That’s pretty violent if you ask me.”
“I guess. But that’s just classic kids' movies for you. A parent always has to die. Or both.” He made a face. “Geez, now that I’m thinking about it, that is kind of messed up. I see Ariel’s point. But anyway, I think it was Mallory who got those toys. Shewanted the kiddos to have fun while they were staying here with her and James.”
“Ah, I see. Well, if she wanted Hannah to have fun, she should’ve bought her some makeup.”
“Huh?”
