Page 64 of Recipes for Life
“Hello?”Where were they?
I heard banging from the workshop, and I grinned as I made my way down to that side of the yard.
“You ready?” I heard Murphy shout.
“Ready!!” I heard an excited voice call out.
“Okay! On three! One. Two. Three!”
Suddenly, tiny lights lit up the entire backyard. They hung from the fence, weaving in between the walkways and flowers. It was like being in a fairytale.
“It works, Daddy!” Lux screamed.
“I know, baby. I know.” Murphy chuckled at her, and I continued toward them, even though they had no idea I was home yet. I was early, but it was because I had some news I couldn’t wait to share with my family.
“What are you guys up to?” I asked, causing them to jump at the sound of my voice.
“Shit! I mean,shoot.Odette, what are you doing at home so early?”
A somewhat guilty but nervous expression crossed Murphy's face, and I raised my brow at him.
“I got off of work early, and now I’m wondering if that was a good thing.”
“You ruined your surprise, Mommy!” Lux pouted.
I walked up to her and tapped her nose. “Oh yeah? And what surprise was that?”
“Daddy’s going to ask you to marry him! We set up the backyard! But you can’t tell him I told you.” In her excitement, she must have forgotten that her dad was right behind her. At her news, my heart gave a jolt and a flip, and I found myself throwing myself into Murphy's arms without a second thought.
“Yes! One million times yes.”
He caught me mid-air, and I wrapped my legs around him while he kissed my neck, burying his nose into my hair and breathing deeply.
“I’m sorry your surprise was ruined.”
He put me down and took out a perfect velvet black box, which, when opened, held the most perfect solitaire ring that I positively swooned over.
“It’s perfect, Murphy. I love you, in this life and the next.”
“Always, forever,” he whispered as he slid the ring onto my left ring finger.
While he did that, I used my right hand to grab what I was holding in my back right pocket. The reason I'd come home early...
“Maybe not all surprises were ruined. Congratulations, Daddy.”
And I placed the positive test pregnancy in his hand.
The End.
