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I nod, looking at the diamond ring. “I've thought of a thousand ways to ask you for this,” I confess. “I thought of arranging a big dinner or taking you out of the country to Paris. I thought about taking you to the ballet and asking you...”
“What?” whispers Kristine.
“In the end, I realized I just wanted to do it in the most special way possible. With you and me at home, in the home we're making together. With the assurance that nothing and no one will ever break us.”
Kristine's eyes are filled with tears.
“Mommy?” Asher enters the room. He looks sleepy.
“What's wrong, sweetie?” Kristine stands up and takes him in her arms, holding him close.
The little boy yawns. “I couldn't sleep. And I was thinking about my bedroom. Ethan, can we paint the constellations on the ceiling?”
“Of course, buddy,” I affirm, ruffling his hair.
Kristine brings him up to the bed with us.
“Mommy, why are you crying?” Asher watches Kristine wiping away tears.
For a moment, he looks nervous, but I immediately calm him down.
“Nothing's wrong, champ,” I promise. “I was just asking your mother an important question.”
“What kind of question?” Asher's curious gaze bounces between us.
I look at Kristine and she lets out a giggle, but finally nods, so my attention turns back to Asher.
“I asked your mother to marry me. I want us to become a family forever.”
“Forever?” His nose bunches up.
“Yes, son. Meaning for a really long time,” I chuckle. I show him the ring.
He takes it in his hands and examines it carefully. “It's very pretty.”
Kristine leans against me, and I wrap an arm around her. “I agree, sweetie.”
“Does that mean you'll stay? And be my daddy?” Asher asks, and Kristine and I exchange a glance that holds an entire conversation.
“Only if you and your mom want me to be,” I state.
“What do you say, Asher? Do we want Ethan to join us?” asks Kristine with a smile, kissing the boy's forehead.
“Yes!” Asher raises his arms with his little fists in the air. He looks excited. “Does this mean I get to call you daddy?”
“Of course,” I respond, hugging him. “And you... What do you say, Kristine?”
She looks at me and then looks at Asher. He smiles.
“I say yes... that I love you for life,” Kristine answers.
Laughing, she reaches for me. Her lips find mine with ease as Asher hugs us both.
“We're going to be a family!” Asher jumps for joy, and then he continues. The boy loves jumping in beds, and I love to see the smile on his face when he does it.
“All right, all right. Time to lay down.” Kristine wrangles Asher, and he climbs in the bed between us, wiggling.
“You all right, buddy?” I chuckle.
