Page 99 of Sun Rising
“What?” I ask, my heart almost beating out of my chest.
“We’re having misamya for dinner to celebrate!” The way this child’s entire world revolves around food will never not make me laugh, and ‘misamya’, or lasagna to you and me, is her absolute favourite.
“We are? That’s exciting!”
“Yes, it is. Now hurry up and say yes to Daddy as well so we can go and get pancakes!” She runs off to collect shells as she likes to do when we come to the beach. She picks up her coat and zips it back up, pulling a small torch from her pocket so she can see better in the slightly hazy, pre-dawn light.
I look up at Nash, standing above me. Tears fill my eyes as he takes my hands and pulls me up to stand in front of him. He kisses me soundly, then drops to one knee.
“Will you, baby?” he asks, indicating his stupid, incredible, sexy, life-changing, too-short fucking T-shirt. “Will you marry me?”
“Y-yes, of course I will.” I sputter around a fresh wave of tears, and he surges up and kisses me firmly, but quickly, so we don’t get distracted and can keep an eye on Nancy.
The prospect of a future with Nash, my partner – my fiancé – the love of my life, fills me with so much joy, I feel like I could float away. The thing tethering me to the ground?
Nancy.
This funny, sassy, smart, wonderful little girl stole my heart the first day I met her. I’ve lived most of my life alone, bouncing from one disaster to the next, never quite finding thehome I needed. I didn’t believe I could ever find happiness like this. A home. An incredible child, who I hope to one day call my daughter, when and if she’s ready for that. And the love of a man who fills every day with kindness, laughter, and lots of passion.
Moving over to where Nancy is now standing, watching the horizon, I take hold of her hand as Nash releases me from his grip and wraps his arm around my shoulders. We look out over the sea together. A family.
The sky starts to brighten, and we watch as the colours blend slowly from denim to pastel blue, and finally a pale golden hue. I’ve never been happier than I am at this moment. What more could I ever ask for?
The sun is rising.
The End.
