Page 99 of Mister Mom
“Hey, that’s not the way you talk to me.” Layla’s attention shifts from the game to correcting Payne’s behavior.
We really don’t need a detour into parenting our child right now.
“Sorry.” Payne’s head dips down.
“Let’s win one for Via,” Layla says, searching the game.
“The blowing kiss one,” I suggest and she looks over her shoulder at me.
“One of my faves.” Then her attention goes back to the game.
I nudge Payne’s shoulder, having him come over to my side, trying to get the sour look off his face. This is a happy time.
“I’m not sure I can get that one. I think I should go for the heart eyes one.” Layla’s speaking while all her focus is on the pillows.
Oh, hell, no.
“Just try. You get to keep going until you win.”
Layla switches gears and moves the crane back, nodding her head in agreement. She presses the button and the crane lowers. My girl is good. First try and the pillow is up in the claw.
“Oh, yeah.” Layla does a running man and the three of us laugh. “I got it. Who is the master of this game?” She turns around, tickling Via.
“Cool your jets, Vanilla Ice.”
She laughs at me, grabbing the pillow from the slot and handing it over to Via.
“Don’t you think you should look it over before giving it to her?”
Her face crinkles, but she looks it over anyway. Her palm must land on the pocket I had sewn in.
Payne’s eyes light up as he stares up at her. I place Via down on the ground, linking her hand in Payne’s. Payne grips it tight like I told him to do.
“What is th—” She pulls out the ring and her face reddens. “Vance?”
I grab her hands, kneeling on the ground in front of her. I take her hand in mine.
“Layla, I knew after three weeks that I wanted to marry you, and I’ve sat back, waiting for all the pieces to fall into place.” I glance to the kids and then back to her. “I know you just got your maiden name back legally, but I’m asking you to change it again.”
She laughs. Her divorce was only final six months ago.
“To me, you’re my sprinkles on a sundae. You’re my frosting on a brownie. You’re my Splenda in my coffee. You’re my sugar on a cookie.”
She covers her mouth from laughing.
“You make everything better for me. I was cruising through life doing well, thought I was happy, but I wasn’t. After I met you, I realized how much sweeter life can be. Marry me?”
She squats down, holding her arm out so Payne and Via move closer.
“What do you say, guys? Should we marry him?” A tear slips from her eye.
Payne nods and Via tries to grab for the ring.
“Then it’s a yes,” she says.
Her eyes meet mine and for the first time in my life, my heart pitter-patters.
I place the ring on her finger.
“Close your eyes and cover Via’s,” I direct Payne and place a hand on each of Layla’s cheeks, pulling her down for a kiss.
A few morsels of Splenda sweeten my mouth and I kiss my fiancée, knowing life is only going to get sweeter from here because I have the real thing in my arms, not a fake, artificial substitute. Life is good.
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