Because the truth is, I’ve never had this much. Never had a table packed shoulder-to-shoulder, never had cousins fighting over dessert, never had a family so loud and alive it spills into every corner. And standing here, watching the sky fade toward evening, it hits me how much I’ve yearned for this. Not just the noise, but the belonging.
I exhale slowly, letting the crisp air fill my lungs, my heart aching in the best possible way.
The door creaks again. Ivy’s dad steps out, two mugs in hand.
“Figured you could use a drink,” he says, offering me one. “It’s decaf. Don’t worry, I’m not trying to sabotage your sleep.”
I laugh, accepting the cup. “Thanks, sir.”
He chuckles, joining me at the railing. “You can call me David, you know. Or whatever feels right.”
“David,” I repeat, nodding. “Thank you—for having me today. This…all of this…means more than I can say.”
He watches me for a second, like he’s seeing past the words. “Ivy called us the day she met you.”
That catches me off guard. “She did?”
He smiles, eyes softening. “Said she met someone different. Someone kind. She didn’t give a lot of details but I could tell something shifted in her. She sounded...hopeful.”
A lump catches in my throat. I stare down into my mug, blinking hard. “I didn’t know she told you that.”
“She’s told us a lot about you, son,” he says gently. “Before the break. During it.”
That undoing feeling returns—chest tight, vision blurry. I grip the railing a little harder. “I’ve never had a family like this,” I admit, my voice low and rough. “I never knew my dad. My mom…she tried, but she was battling demons of her own. It’s always just kind of been me.”
David nods slowly. “That’s a heavy load to carry.”
I nod. “And I know we haven’t known each other long, but…just being here today, seeing this—what family can look like—something in me…” I pause, trying to get the words right. “One day, I want to build something like this. Andwhen the time’s right, when God makes it clear…I hope it’s with Ivy.”
He studies me for a moment, not speaking right away. Then he sets his mug down and extends his hand. “You’ve got my blessing, Gray. Not because of what you’ve said, but because of the way you’ve waited. The way you’ve honored her. That tells me more than any speech ever could.”
My breath catches as I shake his hand, both of us gripping tight.
“I’m not asking yet, but soon.” I say, managing a shaky smile. “Not rushing anything. I just…wanted you to know my heart.”
He nods, but then his expression softens even more, eyes glistening in the low light of the porch. “And now I do. But I want you to know something too.”
I blink, caught off guard by the tenderness in his voice.
He clears his throat, glancing back toward the house where laughter drifts through the window. “After Ivy told us about what God was doing in her life—about how you pointed her to Him, her mom and I started going to the local church. At first, just out of curiosity. But…it changed us, Gray. It changed me. Our marriage, my heart—all of it’s different now. Because you came into her life.”
The weight of his words hits me like a wave. My throat tightens, emotion burning behind my eyes.
“I didn’t do that,” I finally manage, voice low, a little unsteady. “God did. I’m just…grateful He let me be part of it.”
He smiles, gripping my shoulder. “Well, I’m grateful too. More than you know.”
I nod, feeling the gravity of it all, the blessing, the impact, the promise I’ve made without even needing to say the words.
We stand there in quiet for a beat—two men from different worlds, joined by love for the same girl and the God who brought her home.
The door creaks open behind us, and Ivy steps onto the porch, arms wrapped around herself for warmth. Her eyes land on the two of us and she tilts her head, curious. “What are you two talking about?”
David glances at me, then back at her with a soft smile. “Just talking about how lucky Gray is,” he says, giving her a wink.
Ivy blushes, stepping closer as her dad pats me on the shoulder. “You’re a good man, Gray. We’re glad you’re here.”
“Thank you, sir,” I say, the words feeling heavier than they sound.
