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I couldn’t see her best friend, but from what I had gotten to know about her, I had a feeling she was just as shocked as Erin herself was. But I forced myself to shut out everyone else in the room for the moment. I didn’t want to think about anyone but Erin. While I had chosen to do this in front of everyone, I knew the moment itself was meant for just the two of us.
“Erin, not only do I not have the time to go through all the reasons why I love you, but I don’t even have the words to be able to tell you. I strive to show you how I feel each and every day I get to spend with you, and I hope you know just how much you mean to me. How much you mean to Libby. How much you have brought to our family with your joy, your love, and yourself. I love every second I get to be with you, and I want to make sure you know without a doubt that I want this for the rest of my life. So, with that being said, will you make me the happiest man in the world? Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” Erin squealed. She didn’t hold back, throwing her arms around me and kissing me deeply right in front of everyone. I returned the kiss, though I did keep it to a short, tasteful amount of time since we did have the audience we did. As I rose and put her back down on the floor, I realized that there were cheers going on around the room, and I smiled, beaming at our friends and family who were gathered around us.
As soon as I let go of Erin, Libby threw her arms around Erin’s neck, and Erin gave her a tight hug, too. I knew Libby was just as excited about me asking Erin to marry me, as I myself was. In fact, there was a part of me that was surprised my daughter had been able to keep the secret as long as she had.
She was now beaming as she told Erin she knew all about the proposal and how difficult it had been for her to keep the secret.
“I was hoping he was going to do it during dinner, I don’t know how much longer I could have held out with that,” she said as she shook her head.
“I’m so glad he did ask,” Erin replied. “I can’t believe that this is really happening. This is the best Christmas ever!”
Dessert was soon served, then the evening was spent talking and dancing with our loved ones. Tomorrow morning was Christmas morning, so we still had the whole holiday ahead of us. But that was also part of the reason I wanted to propose tonight. I wanted to wake up next to my fiancée Christmas morning. Perhaps next year I would be waking up to my wife on the same holiday.
And with everyone around us to share in the news, I felt that this was a very welcome progression in our relationship. Even her father walked over to me and shook my hand after dinner.
“Congratulations,” he said. “I hope you’re ready for all the responsibility. Taking care of my little girl isn’t an easy feat.”
“But it’s worth it,” I promised him. “And I will do everything in my power to make you proud.”
“I already am,” he said.
I saw him give Erin a hug later, and I could see with her smile that it was a good moment for the two of them. Rob was coming around, and I had a feeling it wouldn’t be too long before he fully supported the two of us. He’d given me permission to marry his daughter, after all, and I felt that was a really good step in the right direction for the two of us.
Later that night, as I lay in bed with Erin, we went over the events of the day. She said the same thing to me about her father, and I agreed with her.
“I told you it was going to take some time, but he’s getting used to the idea,” I said. “I’m sure there’s still going to be some moments when we have tension and whatever, but we’re making progress here.”
“All I have to say is that it’s a really good thing you asked me to marry you tonight,” Erin said. “Or I’m pretty sure I would have given my dad a heart attack when he found out the news.”
“The news?” I asked, confused over what she could be talking about.
With a smirk, she took my hand and put it over her stomach, her eyes never leaving my face as she did. I had a feeling I knew what she was getting at, but I wasn’t entirely sure.
“How do you think Libby would like to have a little brother?” she asked me.
“What’s wrong with having a little sister?” I asked her with a grin as I pulled her closer to me. Our lips met once more, and we shared a deep kiss there in bed together. I couldn’t believe it. I thought I was only getting a bride this Christmas, and I found out I was having another child too.
My life had done a complete one-eighty since last year, and I had to admit, I loved everything about it. I had never been this happy before.
And it wasn’t changing anytime soon.
THE END
