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“Done.”
“Can we do the full cheesy package?”
“Whatever you want.”
She runs her hands down her jeans, lost in thought for a moment. “I’d like to call my dad and tell him.”
I take her in my arms. “He’s going to be there waiting for us. When I snuck by the house to ask him for your hand in marriage, I also told him about my plan and invited him to be our witness. I thought you’d like him there.”
She cups my face in her hands and gazes at me with such unconditional faith and love that I know without a doubt our marriage will be both fantastic and incredible. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“That’s not really fair to your parents, though.”
“All I care about in this moment is you.” I cover her hands and bring them to my chest, where my heart is still beating more pronounced than usual. “Besides, I’m pretty sure once they find out the good news, my mom will want to throw us a reception. Will you be okay with that? I’m cool to skip it.”
She rises onto her tiptoes and kisses me. “I know you are. But if your family wants to celebrate with us, then I’ll go along with whatever your mom wants.” A flash of sadness pulls her head down, making me think she misses her own mom especially hard right now.
“Hey.” I take her chin between my thumb and index finger, bringing her eyes back to me. “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Always,” she says softly.
“My mom is beyond excited to have you for a daughter. I hinted at some big news coming her way soon, and her face lit up with happiness. Having three sons, she’s eager to even the playing field, so to speak.”
“Daughter-in-law,” she corrects.
“Daughter,” I respond firmly. “She’ll never replace your mom, but she will treat you like one of her own and love you just as fiercely as she loves my brothers and me.”
“Stop making me cry!” She wraps her arms around my waist and tucks her head under my neck.
I keep us rooted to our spot, rub her back. I’ve thrown a lot at her in the past twenty minutes.
“I love you,” she says. “And I’m going to cherish you and cheer for you and—” she looks up at me with narrowed eyes “—you want kids, right?”
“I do. I always thought I’d have them after I retired from baseball, but if you want to start now, I won’t say no.”
“That’s good because I’d like a big family.”
“How big we talking?”
“Four?”
I brush a stray hair off her forehead. “Done.”
“Wow, are all our discussions going to be this easy?” she teases.
“Doubtful, but that’s a good thing because then we can have make-up sex.”
She shakes her head. “You think sex will settle our fights?”
“Have you seen what I’m packing? I know it will.”
“Oh my God.” She swats me in the arm with a grin before her expression turns serious. “You’re the love of my life, too, you know. You’ve given my heart a home. And I will cherish your dreams and your strengths, and make you green smoothies without scrunching up my nose, and give you babies I hope are miniature versions of you. Because, Finn, you are everything I thought I’d never have.”
“Every day,” I say. “I will love you every single day more than I did the day before.”
“Every day,” she mimics. “I will love you every single day more than I did the day before.”
