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“The cards are sitting on the kitchen counter. There’s no way my mom will resist reading our cards before the party.” She gives me a quick thumbs-up before scurrying back inside.
I now have a better understanding of what the tarot cards mean to Audrey. Shortly after she and Love moved in with us at our old house, Audrey explained to me about reading tarot cards and has even started doing readings for Jade and some of our friends. It’s no longer about using the cards to avoid making decisions, but as a way of helping the people she loves have a better understanding of why they make the decisions they do. I still don’t understand everything, but if a card helped her discoverwe were meant to be together, maybe the card could help me find the right moment to propose.
As if on cue, Jade and Audrey come barreling out the door and take a seat at the table. “Mom, you need to read Dad’s cards,” Jade whines, causing Audrey to smile softly.
Jade calling AudreyMomhas been happening almost since we officially got together. Audrey was worried the first time that it happened, fearing that I’d somehow view it as her trying to make Jade forget about her mother, but that was never the case. Jade told her that she would always love and care for the woman who gave her life, but she believed Lydia wouldn’t mind allowing Audrey to have the title of Mom, and I wholeheartedly agreed.
“I need to know if I should warn Mason. He might kill him.” Jade winks at me over Audrey’s shoulder.
I try to cover my growl with a cough at the mention of Mason’s name. The last thing any father wants to hear about is the punk-nose kid who has his sights set on his daughters.
“He wouldn’t kill him. None of us want him to go to jail.” Selina steps onto the patio with her and Vance’s three-month-old daughter, Brittany, strapped to her chest. Vance finally convinced her to marry him shortly after they got back together, but we all suspect it had something to do with them announcing she was pregnant shortly after.
“Who are we killing?” Vance asks before slapping me on the back. “It’s only murder if we get caught.” We both laugh loudly right as the door bursts open again as Sethand Bristol’s almost one-year-old daughter, Rebekah, comes waddling out the door, followed closely by her parents.
Bristol is hunched over, waddling along like a duck with both of her hands outstretched on either side of Rebekah. Every time the little one starts to lean one way or the other, Bristol is right there to catch her, holding her tightly as Rebekah regains her balance before she takes off again.
“I’m off duty. If you get arrested, I can’t help you,” Seth says as he wraps his arms tightly around Rebekah’s waist, lifting her into the air. “Sorry, little one, but Mommy’s back needs a break.”
“Thank you.” Bristol groans as she stands up straight, gripping her lower back in her hands. “Does it get any easier?” Bristol questions as Seth kisses her forehead gently. She rests her head on his shoulder, her eyes drifting shut as he begins rubbing her lower back.
I have to admit I was a little worried about these two when Seth came back into town, but everything worked out in the end. They had a rough start, but I’ve never seen either of my friends happier.
“Nope. You just stop worrying so much about them falling and hurting themselves. It’s a fact of life and is bound to happen.”
“Says the guy that fastened pillows to the front and back of Jade’s body when she was learning to walk because you were afraid of her getting hurt.”
“Shut up. No one asked you,” I retort, causing everyone to laugh loudly.
I leave Vance to man the grill and head over to all the ladies sitting at the table. Stepping up behind Audrey, I lean down and plant a kiss on her cheek. “What do the cards say is in store for us today?”
Audrey gives me a quizzical look before pointing down at the cards. “Since you weren’t available, I told Jade I would read my own. I asked what my future holds, but the cards’ response is puzzling.”
I look at Love, and she smiles brightly, wrapping her arms around Jade. Tears fill both their eyes as they jump up and down slightly. “Tell him what they say, Mom,” Love whispers.
Audrey points at the top card and begins explaining. “This card is the Hierophant card. It represents tradition. The next card is the Justice card, which makes sense if I have to bail you out of jail tonight, but this last card confuses me.” Her hand moves over to the third card, pointing to what seems to be a man and woman holding cups and facing each other. There is a face with wings drawn above them, as if it’s presiding over a ceremony. “This card is the Two of Cups, which symbolizes commitment.”
I chuckle in response, understanding the meaning of the cards quickly. “Well, if the cards say it’s time…” I stride around the table toward Love, her eyebrows pull down in confusion, trying to make sense of what is happening.
“Aren’t you supposed to be proposing to my mom?” Love says as Jade unwraps her arms from around her.
“I’ll get to that, but I need to ask you a question first,” I respond with a smile as I reach into my pocket.
“Couldn’t this have waited, Daddy?” Jade replies, crossing her arms over her chest.
“No. I’ve waited long enough to tell the world that Love is my daughter just as much as you. Looking for the perfect time to bring it up, and now seems like as good of a time as any.”
“What?” Love whispers as she pushes back from the table and stands in front of me, her entire body shaking with emotion.
“I want to adopt you, Love. I don’t need a piece of paper to know you’re my little girl, but I figured it was time to make it official.”
Everyone gasps in shock as Love throws her arms around me, squeezing me tightly. “Yes.” She croaks, burying her nose in my chest as I lock eyes with Audrey over her head. Tears are streaming down her cheeks as she pushes back from the table and runs toward us. I open my arms and pull Jade into our embrace as Audrey hugs me from behind. The four of us stay like that for a few moments before we break apart with a laugh.
“Is it my turn now?” Audrey sniffles as she wipes the tears from her cheeks, a blinding smile on her face.
“It sure is,” I respond before turning around and dropping to one knee, pulling the black box from my pocket. “Fate has brought us together, whether it be yourdeck of tarot cards or a higher power. I will love you and our daughters for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?”
Audrey’s hands fly to her mouth as tears fall from her eyes. “Yes!” she screeches so loudly that my ears ring before she throws herself at me, toppling us both down onto the deck. Cheers erupt from around us as I bring her in for a passionate kiss.
Audrey always believed the stars were against us, but if this moment proves anything, it’s that our love was written in the stars.
