Page 75 of From the Embers

I think she’s taught me more than I have her at this point. But now having an adopted daughter that I can open my heart and my life to just means we have many more adventures to go on.

“Oh, they really loved the fire engine.” She beams.

“Mr. Pickles had the time of his life.” Adi smiles. Fuck, I’m proud of her. She’s worked tirelessly to get her business off the ground, as well as co-parent Hope with me and make sure she has a safe, happy environment for the next stages of her life.

The more I learn about Adi, the more I love and cherish her. “That sounds pretty cool.”

“Well, I’ll get some more details and we can all discuss it before we give them an answer, okay?”

Hope nods and Adi leans in to give me a quick peck.

“What about the other surprise?” Hope says when she’s uncovered her eyes from us kissing each other. It makes me smile every time she does it. I lean over and ruffle her hair.

“Ah, yes, that,” I reply, tapping my nose as we both look over at Adi. “Remember, Hope, it’s a big secret until we get home.” I glance at Adi and raise my eyebrows suggestively.

“What are you two up to?” Adelaide asks, narrowing her eyes.

Hope’s eyes shine bright as she giddily jumps up and down in her seat giggling. “It’s a secret!” She taps her nose, just like I did.

“Well, I better hurry and eat my meal so we can get home for my surprise.” Adi pretends to shovel food into her mouth, which only makes Hope giggle all the more.

“I’ll hurry, too!” Hope actually stuffs a larger-than life-sized piece of pancake in her mouth and I can’t help but laugh. It’s times like these when I really appreciate everything I have in my life. My girls mean the world to me. The sound of their laughter is really the best thing in the world.

We thankfully never heard anything from Hannah ever again. That was put to bed after her last unceremonious visit and we got past that unwelcome hiccup. My life looks so different to how it did when I was with her, a stark contrast really. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

My heart is beating hard in my chest on the walk home. Hope is in the middle of us, holding our hands as she swings her legs as we walk. I’m carrying Duckie, since Mr. Pickles stayed home, and Adi has Una under her arm. Life couldn’t be more sweet… but tonight, maybe just maybe it could…

Hope and I shooed Adi off this morning to get her nails done, telling her to meet us at the bistro when she was done. That gave us a chance to prepare the house for what we had in mind. There’s flowers… lots of them… rose petals by the plenty. Hope sprinkled them all over the place from the front door, down the hall, all the way to the couch where we made a big sign decorated in all of Hope’s favorite colors and sparkly glitter glue which is partly still stuck to my fingers. It reads: WILL YOU MARRY ME?

The ring is in my back pocket, and everything is set.

I open the door with only slight trepidation. Daryl is totally on board, as is the rest of her family, because I did the old-fashioned thing and asked her father if I could marry his daughter. It was important I got his and Daryl’s blessings. Delaney helped me via satellite with the ring selection, she’s been over here a few times this past year, and we’re taking Hope over in the new year to visit. I had Ellie’s help too, to give me a second opinion. Ellie and Adelaide have become even more close since they met and spend a lot of time together.

Adi and I have discussed the future a fair bit, both of us want marriage one day and to have more kids. As soon as we heard that we could adopt Hope and make it all official, I knew it was the perfect time to ask Adi to be my wife. It only adds to how special today is for us as a family.

As soon as we step in the door, the aroma from the roses and the other flowers adorning different spots in the house wafts under our noses. Adi glances down at the petals by her feet and Hope giggles, running up the hallway, scattering through them.

“Come see!” she urges.

Adi turns to look at me, wonder in her eyes, her breath catching in her throat. “You better do what she says,” I laugh, biting the edge of my lip.

I need a few breaths as we follow Hope into the living room where, right on cue, she picks up the big sign and waves it up in the air.

I’ve got just enough time to get down on a bent knee behind her and pull the ring out of my pocket.

“Ohhhh!” Adelaide cries, her hands flying up to her face as she spins to look at me.

“Will you be my wife, Adelaide Wilder?”

Hope bounces up and down waving the sign around as Adelaide drops to her knees to join me and stares at the ring box I’m holding. It’s a beautiful yellow gold tear-drop emerald ring, uncrusted with diamonds. I know she’s always dreamed about having an emerald stone for her engagement ring. Her trusty friends confirmed it.

“Please marry him, Adelaide!” Hope insists.

Adi’s tears mix in with her giggles and her cries as she nods profusely. “Yes! Of course I’ll marry you.” She flings her arms around me while I hang onto the ring box and Hope squeals in delight, dancing around the living room. Bodhi has finally come out of his resting place to see what all the commotion is about. We scoop him up and Hope joins us for a family hug and kisses.

“I can’t believe this!” Adi’s face is a picture of a thousand words. And it’s only then I realize she still doesn’t have the ring on her finger.

“Shoot!” I quickly release Bodhi to the floor while I pull it out and slide it onto her hand.