He stood and extended his arm. I placed my hand inside of his and allowed him to lead me toward the rack where our cakes were. The instructor handed him his.
“I have to make one adjustment,” Kayne said, accepting the chocolate syrup. He leaned forward and decorated the plate. “There. Perfect.”
When he held it in my direction, I noticed he wasn’t just decorating the plate—he was writing on it. Tears filled my eyes at the sight of the question he’d written:Will you marry me?
“I know we’re doing this backwards,” he said before chuckling, “but there was no way I’d not honor you and give you everything you deserve, starting with a real proposal.” Kayne lowered to one knee as Brooke took the plate, freeing his hands so he could get the ring from his pocket while I stood there frozen. “Even though we are married already, I want to choose you again. And I want you to choose me. For no reason other than you love me and want to spend the rest of your life with me. So, Jayla Anderson-Mathis, will you marry me . . . again?”
Nodding, I cupped my cheek as I smiled. I didn’t care about a ring or a proposal three months ago. In that moment, I just wanted us married so we could start the process of adopting our babies. Now, the proposal was even more special, because he didn’t have to do it. He technically already had me. The fact that he went through all this trouble to make this moment real and special for us made me love him even more.
“Absolutely,” I agreed. “Yes.”
After Kayne slipped the ring onto my finger, he stood and wrapped me up in his arms as everyone around us cheered. Tears poured from my eyes as I held him close. Just when I thought life couldn’t get any better, Kayne gave me another reason to love him and be grateful for the wonderful life we were building together.
Ten Years Later
“God, I hope this works,” Jayla said, voice stronger than it had been all day.
She’d given birth to our third biological child last night, and he was our fifth in total. After Miley and Mateo, we had Kayne Jr., who was eight years old, Jaden, who was three years old, and now . . . Koa Mathis. Baby boy was going to be our last child, though I wanted to shoot for one more so we could even it up with another girl. Jayla wasn’t going for that, though, so I was grateful for the five we had.
Mateo was twenty two and had recently graduated with his bachelor’s degree in psychology. He said he admired how I was there for him as a guidance counselor and wanted to offerhimself to children in need but with his own family counseling clinic that would work alongside our city’s schools.
Miley was fifteen and enjoying the summer before her sophomore year of high school. She was my first princess and every bit as sweet and innocent as she was when she first came into our lives.
Kayne Jr. was slightly wild and hyperactive like my brother, and I was praying Koa had a calmer spirit like me. Jaden was the perfect mix of me and Jayla, and she was spoiled as hell, because we thought she was going to be our last baby. We were a little concerned about how she’d take to our new bundle, so Jayla had the idea to introduce her to her baby brother separately from everyone else. It was important to us that she understood this baby wasn’t replacing her or taking any love and attention away from her.
“I’m sure it will,” I promised her before placing a kiss on her forehead then nose. “You ready for me to get her?”
“Yes. Please bring me my baby girl.”
I went out to the waiting area to get Jaden.
“How they doing?” Mateo asked, quickly jumping to his feet. “Ma good?”
“She’s good. Koa is too.”
He smiled and nodded his relief. “Aight, cool. I’m going to take them to get something to eat. Text me what you and Ma want.”
“’Preciate that, Son.”
“Can you buy me these shoes for school, Daddy?” Miley asked, showing me her phone.
“Y’all can talk about that when we get back,” Mateo said, playfully shoving his sister away from me. “I’m hungry.”
“Shut up. You’re just mad because you gotta buy your own shoes now,” she teased, tossing her arm around KJ’s shoulders as he shook his head at his older siblings’ shenanigans.
“Now you know that ain’t true. Pops will buy me whatever I want,” Mateo countered.
“Big brother, can we get tacos from the food truck by the beach?” KJ asked, shifting their conversation as they walked down the hall.
“Of course, little one. Whatever you want,” Mateo agreed, palming the top of KJ’s head just like I used to do his when he was younger, filling my chest with even more pride.
“Daddy, is it time for me to meet him now?” Jaden asked sweetly, gaining my attention.
“It is, my love. You ready?”
“Yes!” she cheered, hopping down from her seat, but I quickly scooped her up and carried her down the hall.
I opened the door of Jayla’s room, and as soon as she saw Jaden, she reached for her. “Gimme my baby,” she hummed, and Jaden wasted no time making her way into her mother’s arms. “Hey, pretty girl. I missed you all day today.”
