Page 67 of Every Little Thing

“And you to me, Amelia. I’m so grateful that you let me love your mom but I’m even more grateful that you are letting me be a part of your family.”

“You’ll always be part of our family.” Amelia came to me, wrapping her arms around my neck and then pulling back, whipping away a tear I hadn’t known was there.

“Amelia, I want to know if you’ll be a part of my family? I promise to make sure that you nor your mom will ever forget the family you had before but what I want to do is make us a new family. A new family where we still talk about your dad and celebrate him. One where we make new memories to go along with the old ones, rather than replace them.” I took Amelia’s hand and asked her the final question I needed to.

“So, Amelia, will you let me be your dad?”

Melanie fell to her knees at my question, pulling us both into her arms.

“Mommy, I can’t breathe.” Amelia pushed away and then looked back to me. It was like waiting for winter in Florida for her answer.

“Yes.”

The one syllable word was all I could have ever wished to hear. I wanted the same answer from Melanie but I needed it from Amelia first. I pulled out the second box I had in my pocket, taking out a rose gold chain with a single pearl on it. It matched perfectly to her mom’s ring that was still sitting in the box in my hand.

“Oooo!” Amelia grabbed for the necklace and Melanie helped her put it on. She held it in her hand, staring at it like it was the best thing in the world. Melanie turned back to me once she was done with Amelia.

I grabbed for her left hand and rubbed circles along the top of it.

“Melanie-”

“Yes!” she shouted.

“Let the man ask first!” Max yelled at Melanie from the side and we both laughed.

“Melanie,” I started again, “will you marry me?”

“Yes!” She plucked the ring out of the box and slipped in on her finger. It fit perfectly as she lifted it and showed the crowd that quickly swarmed us. Melanie wrapped her arms around my neck again and Amelia followed suit.

The music turned up again and the party continued as we three sat on the roof top, like the party didn’t matter any longer. I held onto both girls tightly, loving every single second of affection they were giving.

“I love you both so much,” I said into Melanie’s hair.

“I love you more.”

“Love you too, daddy.”

I looked down to Amelia who said it so nonchalantly before pulling away and running over to her friends to show off her new necklace.

“Did you hear that?” I turned to Melanie.

“I did,” she laughed and placed a kiss on my cheek.

I moved in, placing a kiss to her lips, thinking about how lucky I was to have an amazing woman in my life with an amazing little girl. It was hard to believe that just six years ago I’d walked into an office, first meeting her. Then six months ago Melanie walked back into my life.

Now I was on the roof of The Ink Well with an engagement ring on her finger. We’d said a lot that we meant and a lot that we regretted at the beginning but if there was anything about my time with Melanie, it was that I was going to cherish our relationship.

When it came to Melanie and Amelia, their love meant every little thing to me.