Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“I know it’s not easy for you.”
“It’s not. But it’s not impossible, either.”
We took several more steps in silence before I asked, “What does this mean for you and me?”
“It means we take it one step at a time. I still need you to be patient with me, but I want to work our way back to where we were before this happened.”
“That means the world to me, son.” I froze. “Can I call you that?”
He nodded.
“I waited a long time to regain a relationship with you once. I’ll wait as long as it takes to get it back again,” I said.
Taylor stopped walking and faced me. “How are you and Blair doing?”
I cocked my head. “You really want to know?”
He shrugged. “I’m trying here. Just go with it.”
“Okay.” I smiled. “We’re very happy.” I hesitated, but decided I was done keeping things from him. I cleared my throat. “Actually, I want you to be one of the first to know that I plan to ask her to marry me.”
He nodded. “Really…”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Are you okay with that?”
Taylor took a deep breath in and let it out. “You seem to make her happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for her. And if I can’t accept this, that’s my own problem. I won’t make things more complicated for you or feed her negative opinions. You seem to really love each other.”
Thank God. “I asked her father for his blessing,” I said. “But I’d feel remiss if I didn’t also ask for yours. I know how important she is to you, and you to her.” I paused. “Just to clarify… Do I have your blessing?”
He looked up at the sky a moment. “Yeah.”
Letting out a long breath, I nodded. “I’m so grateful, Taylor. Thank you.”
Taylor nodded and then checked his phone. “Listen, I’ve got to get going.” He scrolled through some photos. “But I want to show you something first.” He turned the screen toward me.
My eyes watered the instant I saw what it was: an ultrasound photo of his baby. My grandchild.
“Juliana’s five months along now.”
I shook my head. “I can’t believe you’re gonna make me a grandfather.”
“I want her to know you.”
It took a few seconds for it to register. Her. He wasn’t talking about Juliana. He was talking about…her.
My granddaughter.
I pried my eyes off the image to look up at him. “Her?”
His mouth curved into a smile. “Yeah.”
I hadn’t met this little girl yet, but I knew I’d always protect her.
It seemed the curse Blair’s father had placed on me was already coming true.
Chapter 39
* * *
BLAIR
“The petition is granted. The child’s last name is hereby changed to Delaney.”
Nicholas clapped upon hearing those words from the judge’s mouth.
This name change in family court had been a long time coming, as it had been on the back burner for several months between the move, school for me, and Tate balancing his construction business with family activities.
While I’d had a handle on raising Nicholas before Tate reentered the picture, I hadn’t realized how much better life could be with him as a partner. He’d left the name change up to me, but it had always been what I wanted. I knew it was especially important to Tate because Taylor had his mother’s last name, Shea. I think he’d always dreamed that Taylor would choose Delaney as well someday, but that hadn’t happened.
In other ways, though, things with Taylor had been slowly returning to the way they were before Tate and I reconnected. Taylor had come by a few times to visit Nicholas, and during the last visit, we all finally sat down and explained as best we could that Taylor was also Tate’s son. Nicholas was confused at first, but he seemed to be getting it now and was thrilled to have a big brother.
Taylor had reached out since then to ask Tate to teach him how to fix something on his car, and Tate had also given Taylor and Juliana some money he’d saved for them to put toward a down payment on a house. He was pleasantly surprised when Taylor actually accepted it. Maybe having a child on the way had helped him to put aside his pride and be practical. I’d done the same when I’d agreed to let Tate help me financially.
Tate, Nicholas, and I held hands as we walked outside and down the steps of the courthouse.
“You know what I was thinking, Nicholas?” Tate said.
“What?”
“I was thinking…it would be really cool if Mommy’s last name could be Delaney, too.” He stopped walking. “What do you think about that?”
“Yes!” our son shouted.
“Should I ask her if she’d change her name to match ours?” He winked.
Oh my God. What’s happening?
“Yes! Yes!” Nicholas jumped up and down.
Tate got down on one knee.
My heart began to race. While I’d suspected a proposal might be coming, this timing was a surprise.