Page 58 of Van

“He’s perfect,” I tell her.

“He’s pretty great.”

“We’re goin’ to my mom’s tomorrow,” I inform her.

“Are you sure about all this?” she asks once more.

“Oh, I’m sure. This is my boy, Chy.”

Epilogue

Van

My mom sits with baby Nate in her arms as my sisters gush over him. Chy sits next to me, not sure how to take all of this. I know it’s a lot for her, but she has to get used to it. This is my family, and she and Nate are a part of that now.

“He’s so damn cute,” Mom says as she squeezes his cheeks between her fingers.

“He’s a good boy. Sleeps good, too,” I tell her.

“Does he? You were a brat. You never slept for shit,” she retorts, causing Chy to laugh along with her.

“He has been amazing with Nate. He gets up every time he does,” she tells her.

“I think that’s great. You need the extra help. I know when I had the kids, my husband was a great help,” Mom tells her as she looks over at dad. I see the love between them. I always have and that’s something I want with Chy. I want her to look at me the way mom looks at dad. I want her to need me, to love me. And I know just how I’m going to get that, too.

“I was the good one,” I declare as mom begins to laugh.

“You were no angel. You were a little devil just like you are now. You were the bad one,” she challenges me as we all laugh.

“I can see that side of him,” Chy says, and I know what she’s talking about. I don’t have to say anything or look her way to know she’s thinking about what I did. Nevertheless, she laughs with the rest of us, and the sound is fucking beautiful.

“So, how are you two doing? New baby and all?” Mom asks, this time changing the subject. She’s always known when something becomes too heavy and changes to something lighter. It’s like a gift.

“Chyanne is an amazin’ mom. I don’t think anyone could do better,” I blurt. Chy squeezes my hand where it connects with hers, and when I look over I see the smile on her perfect face.

“Thank you, Van.”

“Don’t thank me. Everyone can see it. The girls comment on it all the time,” I tell her. “Which reminds me. I need to ask you somethin’.”

“What is it?”

“Chy. I’m the best version of me when I’m with you and Nate. I never thought I’d want this. I never thought I’d be where I am today. If you had told me this years ago, I would have laughed in your face, but here we are. I can’t see livin’ my life without the two of you in it. I already filled out the birth certificate for Nate, but I need more. I want more. Will you marry me?” I hear the gasp of everyone in the room. I see the tears as they spring into Chyanne’s eyes. She shakes her head like she’s unsure she even heard me right.

“What?”

“I mean it. I know it’s a lot and it’s soon. I know we haven’t been together that long, but I know what I want now, Chy. I know what I need in life.”

“This is so wonderful,” I hear my mom say, but I’m focused on Chy and what she has to say. I need her to say yes. I need her to be by my side no matter what.

“You’re serious?” she asks as she looks into my eyes.

“I’m serious. I never want to live another day without knowin’ I have all of you. I want this, Chyanne.”

She sits in silence for a long second, and at first, I think she’s going to tell me no. She covers her mouth with her hand as tears roll down her cheeks. I want to kiss them away. I want to take them all and make them my own.

“Yes.”

“What? You will?” I ask her, unsure if I heard her right.

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