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The next morning, Landon and I find Mom and Joseph in the living room drinking coffee and eating bagels.
“Morning,” I say, taking a seat on the couch.
“We went out for bagels,” Mom says. “They’re in the kitchen.”
“I’ll get it.” Landon leans down, kisses my forehead, and disappears into his kitchen.
“Have you been up all night?”
“We have.” Mom smiles at Joseph, and her face lights up. Something I’ve never seen from her before. Not like this.
Landon comes back offering me a cup of coffee but with no bagel in sight. I love how well he knows me. I’m not going to be able to eat until I talk to Mom. “Thank you.” He nods and takes a seat next to me.
“I’m sorry,” Mom starts. “I should have told you when you got older, but I didn’t know how. It hurt too much to think about never seeing him again.”
“Is that why you never dated?”
“I dated,” she counters.
“You did here and there, but never anyone serious. Never anyone you introduced me to. It’s always just been us.”
“I would have been there,” Joseph’s deep voice promises, filled with conviction. “If I had known where she was, I would have been there.”
“Why didn’t you look for her sooner?”
“I don’t know. For fear of what I would find I guess.”
“So, why now?”
“Seeing you. You’re the spitting image of your mother and it made her real again. All these years, that week has been in my mind, almost like a dream, but seeing you… that brought it all right back to reality. One I wanted more of. I knew if I found her and she was happy, I would walk away. I knew my heart would break all over again, but I did it anyway. I was tired of living with what could have been. I needed to know. I never could have imagined I’d find her and you. My d-daughter,” he says, choking up.
Landon places his hand on my thigh, giving me the courage I need. “I get it,” I tell them. “I understand, but it’s going to take me some time. I don’t have this… connection that the two of you have. You’re a stranger to me,” I say, looking at Joseph.
“I want to get to know you, Emma. I want to be a part of your life. You take all the time that you need. When you’re ready, I’d like to add my name to your birth certificate. I know you’re an adult, but it’s important to me.”
“I’m not changing my name.” I don’t know why I say it. He didn’t ask me to. I guess I just need to get that out in the open. Who knows, maybe one day I might change my mind.
“Not to Stamper,” Landon speaks up. He sets his coffee down on the table and drops to his knees in front of me. He takes my coffee and places it on the table as well, before taking my hands in his. “This isn’t how I planned to do this, and I don’t have a ring.” He grins, giving me a flash of his dimples. I stare down at him, my heart. My breath stalls in my chest when the reality of what’s about to happen settles.
“When I thought I might lose you, I felt like my world was spinning out of control. I don’t ever want to face that again. I want to know that it’s always going to be you that I come home to. You who’s sleeping next to me, and you who has my last name. Emma Deaton, freckles…” He smirks. “Will you do me the incredible honor, and make me the happiest man alive and be my wife? Will you marry me?”
Tears are flowing down my cheeks and emotion clogs my throat. I nod and he chuckles. “I need your words, baby.”
“Y-Yes,” I manage to croak out.
He lets out a whoop of excitement and lifts me off the couch and into his arms. His lips press to mine and suddenly, everything is right in my world. I know it’s going to be tough with his career, but we have a great support system that surrounds us, and most of all, we have love. Landon Barker is everything I never knew I wanted and everything that I need. He’s the love of my life.
“I love you,” I say as he sets me back on my feet.
“I love you too.”
“Congratulations, you two.” Mom comes to us and wraps her arms around us in a giant hug. “I’m so happy for you both,” she says, wiping tears.
“Landon,” Joseph says from beside us. It’s going to take some time for me to call him dad. I’m sure I’ll get to that point eventually, but right now, first names are the best that I can do. “Take care of her.”
