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I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe it is time to take that chance.”
Cam clapped me on the back. “That’s the spirit. You won’t regret it, man. Dee’s amazing.”
I nodded, my mind already racing with ideas for how to propose. Maybe a romantic dinner at our favorite restaurant, or a surprise weekend getaway. I wanted it to be perfect.
“I think I’ve been ambushed.” I chuckled. “How long have you and Izzy been cooking this up?”
He laughed. “We just want you to be as happy as we are.”
“I am. We all are. We like our life together. I think Dee will want a nice wedding. The last thing I’m going to add to her plate is wedding-planning.”
“You assume she’ll say yes,” he joked.
“I know she will,” I said. As I spoke those words, I felt a sudden rush of nerves. What if she said no? What if I was misreading our relationship? But deep down, I knew that wasn’t the case. Dee and I had been through so much together, and our love had only grown stronger with time. It was time to take that next step.
The rest of the day was a blur as I tried to focus on work while also brainstorming proposal ideas. I wanted it to be unique and special, something that would truly surprise Dee. As I left the office, I made a mental note to start planning right away.
I was going to propose, but I felt like I was pretty perceptive. I could read Dee very well. I would buy the ring and wait until it felt right. I was certain she would appreciate me timing it just right.
Epilogue
18 Months Later
Deanna
Isat in the midst of our living room, surrounded by warmth and love. Today was a momentous day—it marked the culmination of my hard work and dedication. I had just graduated with my associate’s degree in teaching, a milestone that filled me with a sense of accomplishment and excitement for the future. It was something I never imagined I would have.
Lily and Ramsey had disappeared into the kitchen to get my surprise, which I suspected was a cake. I looked around the living room and smiled. For some reason, I thought about one of the foster homes I was in for a few months. The older woman who lived in the home had been one of the best homes I lived in. Her living room had been littered with framed pictures of kids she fostered in their graduation gowns. I remembered her telling me about some of the kids going on to college. She told me I could do it, too. I didn’t believe her, but she was always telling me I needed to buckle down and make it happen.
I talked with the school counselor and he gave me some information for the community college. I went home excited to tell her I did it. I couldn’t wait to see how proud she was going to be of me. But she wasn’t there when I got home. Instead, it was my caseworker. My foster mom had a heart attack and was in the hospital. She was no longer going to be able to take care of me.
I was put into another home that was not at all supportive. For the next two years I lived in six different homes. I never thought I was a bad person, but I was always moved. I thought I was doing something wrong. I busted my ass to get good grades, but it was never good enough. I couldn’t seem to make people see me. I was an invisible kid carrying everything she owned in a black garbage bag as I was moved around.
It was another in a long line of events in my life that convinced me I was never going to be anything. Ramsey showed me I could be anything I damn well pleased. The man was my hero. He was always right behind me, gently pushing me forward. Lily was always there as well. I thought back to the week of finals when I was certain I was going to fail. The two of them rallied. They took care of all the household chores and left little notes all over the house to encourage me.
I couldn’t believe I had found people who truly cared about me. Ramsey and Lily had become my family, and I was grateful for them every day. It was because of them that I was able to chase my dreams. I hoped I could be an inspiration to a kid walking in my shoes. I knew I wasn’t the only kid in the system who felt lost. My associate’s degree was just the first stop on my education journey. I was going to go back and get my bachelor’s.
Ramsey and Lily returned with a cake as I expected. “Oh, look at that,” I exclaimed. “It looks delicious.”
“It’s triple chocolate,” Lily said.
“My favorite!”
Lily, always the thoughtful one, approached me with a stack of papers in her hands. She looked so serious as she stood in front of me. “I want to give you something.”
It wasn’t the typical graduation gift. She handed me the paperwork with Ramsey standing right behind her, his hands on her shoulders. Confusion flickered across my face as I glanced at the documents. They were adoption papers that were partially filled out. Lily wanted me to adopt her.
My heart skipped a beat as I tried to process what Lily was offering me. How could I adopt her when I wasn’t married to Ramsey? Questions swirled in my mind, tinged with both uncertainty and love for this incredible girl who had captured my heart.
“I am so honored,” I said, doing my best not to cry. “I would sign these papers right this second, but I don’t think I can legally adopt you. Typically, a new parent would need to be married to your other parent.”
I tried to explain it in terms she would understand. Obviously, Ramsey filled out the paperwork. I didn’t understand why he went through the process knowing I couldn’t actually adopt her. I was a little irritated with him for setting me up. I didn’t want to be the one to break her heart. It wasn’t fair because I would adopt her in a heartbeat given the chance.
Ramsey, ever perceptive, gently took my hand in his, his eyes filled with tenderness. “Dee,” he began, his voice steady and filled with determination, “I know we aren’t married yet, but that doesn’t change how we feel about each other. Lily and I, we want you to be a permanent part of our lives.”
His words hung in the air, and my heart swelled with a mix of emotions—love, gratitude, and a touch of fear. I watched as Lily pulled a ring from her pocket and gave it to her dad. My heart pounded in my chest. This was it. We talked about this moment, but it never occurred to me it would actually happen.
“Ramsey,” I whispered his name.
