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“I think so. We were talking about getting married.”
Dad’s eyes go wide with surprise and delight. “Is that right? Well, that’s excellent news, son. She’s a lovely young woman.”
“Yes, she is, but she’s been through some tough shit, you know?”
“Having seen what her ex-husband is capable of, I can only imagine what she’s been through,” Dad says, sipping from a cocktail glass of rum as he ponders his next move with the dominoes.
“It was probably far worse than we think.”
“I have no doubt.”
“I need to give her some sort of assurance that it’ll never be like that with me. I mean, I’ve told her I have no desire to control her or keep her from pursuing her dreams, but those are just words.”
“You need a grand gesture.”
“I know, and I was thinking… What would it take to make her a co-owner of my house?”
Dad looks at me, unblinking, for several seconds. “Are you sure about that, Nico? That’s a risky move.”
“Not if it would give her the security she needs to feel comfortable.”
“I want you to think long and hard about this, son. She’d own half your house.”
“I know, and that’s the point.” The more I think about this idea, the more I like it. “Could Mom help me with the paperwork?”
“She could, but I’m not sure about this, Nico.”
“Why not? Didn’t Austin and Maria buy this place together even though he paid for it?”
“Yes, I suppose they did, but—”
“No buts, Dad. If Sofia and I had been married when I bought the house, we would’ve bought it together. This is just adding her after the fact.”
Dad gives me a small, satisfied smile.
“What?”
“You. That’s what. I wondered if I’d ever see the day.”
“What day?” I ask, exasperated.
“The day when you’d lose your heart to someone. And now that it’s happened, I couldn’t be happier about who you’ve chosen or how you’re trying to make her comfortable in your life. Even though it’s a risky move, I appreciate the reasons you want to do it.”
“The house means nothing to me compared to her and Mateo.”
“Then you’re doing it for all the right reasons. Talk to your mother. She can draft it up for you. And while we’re talking about this stuff, you should know that I have my grandmother’s engagement ring if you’d like to give it to Sofia.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’ve been saving it for you but figured it would probably go to Milo when it didn’t seem like you wanted to get married.”
“Wow. I had no idea.”
“Because you’ve never come close to getting married, so why would you need to know about the ring? You should come by and look at it and make sure you like it for her.”
“I’ll do that. Thank you, Dad.”
“You’re welcome.” He takes another sip of his drink and places another tile. “This week has shown us that we never know what’s coming, and we need to live for the moment. This moment, right now, it’s all there is, and if she’s the one for you, then you’re a lucky man.”
