“Me, for sure!” Ollie gave her one more squeeze then threw his arms around the dog’s furry neck. “I finally have a dog.”
Cody’s warm chuckle covered her like a soft blanket. “I hope it’s not just the dog you’re excited about.”
“Are you kidding?” Ollie asked. “My new room is so cool.” In a flash, he was back down the hall, disappearing into his room with his dog at his side.
Katherine leaned against Cody and sighed. “You sure you can handle us?”
“I have no doubt.” He kissed the top of her head. “You sure you’re okay with selling your house? I know it means a lot to you. You have a lot of memories wrapped up in that place.”
She turned to face him, circling her arms around his waist and resting her head on his chest. “Memories stay with us no matter where we are. Ollie and I needed a fresh start, and your place feels like home.”
He held her tight. “You feel like home.”
She grinned up at him. “Right back at ya.”
“I just hope this space is big enough. I didn’t realize how much stuff you two had.”
She laughed. “We’ll find a place for it. It just might take a while.”
“We have all the time in the world.” He stepped back and whistled. “Ollie, you ready?”
“If you think he’s going to help put all this stuff away, you’re in for a big surprise. I’ll be impressed if he can figure out how to put his own clothes in the closet.”
Ollie and Bailey bounded back down the hall. Ollie’s ear-to-ear grin had her on high alert.
“What’s going on?”
Ollie stopped in front of her and took hold of one of her hands then grabbed one of Cody’s. “Ready.”
Cody captured Katherine’s free hand, creating a little circle amidst the chaos around them. “Ollie and I had a very important talk last night.”
Ollie nodded his head up and down in an exaggerated motion. “We sure did.”
“I wanted to make sure he was comfortable moving in here. That he knew this was his home in every way and that his being here made me happier than I ever thought possible.”
Katherine’s heart stuttered. She hadn’t taken this step lightly, and there’d been many conversations with her, Ollie, and Cody about what was best for all of them. But the fact that Cody had spoken with Ollie on his own solidified that she’d made the right decision.
“I told him I was happy,” Ollie said, as if it wasn’t obvious.
“We also talked about being a family,” Cody continued.
The air left Katherine’s lungs and she squeezed Cody’s hand.
“I made it clear that I’ll never take the place of his father, but that I’d like to be there for him if he needs anything. Ever. That Ican be whoever he wants, as long he knows I love him and want the best for him.”
Ollie’s chest puffed out.
“And,” Cody continued. “I asked him if he would be okay if we made this little family official.”
“I said yes.” Ollie rolled his eyes. “Why wouldn’t I want that?”
A sob caught in Katherine’s throat. She didn’t know if she wanted to cry at the sweetness of Cody’s words or laugh at her child’s reaction to it all.
“You’re supposed to wait to tell her that,” Cody stage whispered then let go of her hand to reach into his pocket. He pulled out a black velvet box and dropped to one knee. “I have Ollie’s permission to ask you this. Katherine Milton, you’ve been one hell of a surprise that I’ll forever be grateful for. You brought love and hope and happiness into my life.”
“And me!” Ollie chimed in.
Cody laugh. “Yes, and Ollie. Would you make me the happiest man on the planet and be my wife?”
