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“You soppy sod.” Holly giggles, pressing a kiss to my jaw.
“Look at this, Daddy!” Beau runs over and holds up a picture of us with a unicorn on a lead. My heart thuds with a painfully ecstatic squeeze. Jeremy murmurs something, but I catch Emily elbowing him and swallow a laugh.
“Wow, baby girl, I love it. You’re so clever. Go and stick it on the fridge.”
“That's me and Mummy and you.” She points at the stick thin me with eyes too big in my wobbly head.
“I know what big eyes I have.” I smile down at her artwork. “Do you want me to help you put it on the fridge?”
“Yes.”
“Did you call me Daddy?” I ask, sucking in a deep breath. I want to hear her say it again.
“When I was sick, you said you were my daddy.” She looks from me to Holly, trying to gauge a response.
“I am your daddy, boo,” I tell her. “Do you know when I first saw you at the fete, I knew I was going to be your daddy.” I smile, recalling seeing her toddling about.
She nods, and I suppress a smile at her eagerness to please. “Give me kiss.” Giggling, she smacks a kiss on my cheek and takes my hand. Grace runs over and jumps on me. I lift her up and walk them to put the picture on display.
My heart is full for the first time in a long damn time. It feels better than good. Euphoric. I help Beau display her picture on the fridge. I stand back, appreciating her work and scruff her hair as Grace wriggles free. “Ready to give Mummy her cake?” I whisper. Beau covers her mouth and giggles. Getting her to keep this a surprise has sent me into a mild panic today, but hats off to her because she hasn’t said a word. I pull out the ring box in my pocket, and with shaky hands, gently slide it onto the wonky horn that looks ready to drop on the floor. “Don't you dare,” I whisper to the cake. “Remember the words to sing?” I look at Beau, who is shoving her finger in the buttercream. “Greedy guts.” I laugh, scooping some up and dolloping it on her tiny nose.
“I'm a unicorn!” She laughs.
“That's right, and I’ve chosen you to sing the special words. Can you remember them?” I ask, but she frowns, confused. I whisper them in her ear and, thankfully, she nods enthusiastically. “Good, get ready.”
I lift the cake and Beau breaks into song. “Happy home day to you!” The room joins in, and a few gasps erupt, but Holly is too busy smiling at me to notice the ring hanging precariously on the piece of shit horn.
“Happy home day, dear Holly!” We sing.
“And Beau.” I wink down at Beau, who points to the cake.
“Look at the ring, Mummy!” she squeals with excitement. I was so fucking close to being the one to surprise her. I groan, laughing. Holly’s eyes widen and glisten as I drop down on one knee, gripping the cake at my front.
She presses her fingers to her mouth and begins to cry. “A decade ago, I caught sight of a gorgeous nerd fumbling with her stack of books in the library,” I whisper. “Her blonde hair and big blue eyes made my gut hurt. They still do.”
“Like mine!” Beau exclaims, blinking her blue eyes at me and the room bursts into laughter.
“Yes, just like yours.” I nod to her mum. “Focus.” She gets serious and nods, looking at Holly. “But fate wasn’t so kind to us and for all your love for books, someone wrote us a different story. Words can be erased and rewritten. And that's what we’re going to do. Write out our own version.” Holly sniffles quietly, nodding. “Marry me, Miss Matthews?”
“Yes.” Her voice catches, but her eyes say it all. She’s ready to dive into creating our own story. I flick a look to Emily, who jumps into action. She takes the cake, and I slip the ring off the horn. It drops with a splat, and Beau grabs it off the floor and shoves it in her mouth, grinning at us. I laugh and wink at Holly, pulling her the short way to me and lifting her hand to slide the ring on her finger.
“And for the record, I'm going to be Matthews.” My lip threatens to wobble, but she recognises my struggle and pulls me in for a kiss.
“You always were.”
I rest my forehead on hers and close my eyes.
Holly and Cameron Matthews. I was so determined to have my name plastered after hers. I thought it meant something. Ownership on paper and in name—at the time it seemed like the most important thing, but I can’t wait to shed my Stone heart and live again. Maybe we’ll stay here in Richmond, perhaps we’ll move a few towns away. I couldn’t care less. As long as I have my girls, the rest is inconsequential.
Holly’s mother strides over and pulls her into a hug. “Congratulations, darling.”
“Oh, Mum. Thank you. Did you know about this?” She sniffs, picking Beau up, who is yanking at Holly’s ring finger.
“I didn’t.” She keeps her face tight with feigned happiness.
“You don't agree?” Holly deflates before her mother, and I pull her to me, giving her the strength she needs.
“I don't know, Holly, it’s just very sud?—”
