Page 132 of Love You Madly

Suzanne takes a look around the living room, clearly clocking the toy explosion that’s taken over half the floor. I brace myself for a comment, but she just smiles, her gaze lingering on the framed photos we’ve put up of the little family we’re building together. “Your home is lovely,” she says, settling onto the couch and patting the spot beside her.

We start chatting, and to my surprise, the conversation flows easily. We cover everything from my job at the coffee shop to Sara’s current obsession with only eating foods that are orange. She’s genuinely interested, asking about my day-to-day and nodding along like every detail is fascinating. I almost forget that this is our first meeting; it feels like catching up with someone who’s been in my life for much longer, just like her son.

Suzanne’s questions are thoughtful, not invasive. She asks about my plans for Sara and how I’m feeling about the baby, clearly aiming to connect rather than pry. As our conversation flows, I decide to show her the cherry blossom tree tattoo on my arm, its delicate branches etched beautifully along my skin. Suzanne’s eyes brighten as she leans in to get a closer look.

“That’s lovely, Callie,” she says, genuinely impressed. She gently touches the long necklace she wears daily—a Tree of Life with stones intricately wire-wrapped among the branches. “I wear this all the time—it reminds me of how everything is connected. The roots, the branches, all reaching out, just like us.”

I grin, feeling an unexpected bond forming. “It’s like we’re all part of something bigger, even when things feel chaotic.”

Suzanne nods, her smile warm and knowing. “Exactly. It’s about seeing the beauty in the journey, even when it’s not easy.”

Owen’s hovering near the kitchen, watching us with this half-smile that’s somewhere between relief and awe like he can’t quite believe how well this is going. And honestly, same.

When she casually mentions she’d love to babysit Sara sometime, I nearly choke on my water. Babysitting already? That’s… unexpected. She says it with such sincerity, and it makes me feel like maybe, just maybe, things will be alright. God, she really is the sweetest woman, even though I can tell she definitely also has a sassy side.

The whole time, there’s no judgment, no weird vibes—just acceptance and understanding. I catch Owen’s eye again, and he gives me this look that says he’s just as relieved as I am. Suzanne’s presence has a calming effect on me, quietly unraveling the nerves still tangled inside me.

Sara climbs into my lap with her octopus, clutching it tightly. Suzanne reaches out to gently ruffle her hair. “She’s beautiful, Callie,” she says softly, her eyes warm. “You’re doing an amazing job.”

Those words hit me like a freight train. I blink rapidly, trying to keep the sudden tears from spilling over. “Thank you,” I manage to choke out as tears fill my eyes. It’s been so long since anyone other than Owen has told me I’m doing a good job, and Suzanne’s words wrap around my heart like an embrace.

As we wrap up, Suzanne pulls Owen into a hug first, whispering something in his ear that makes him smile. She turns to me, giving me another warm hug that feels like it lingers just a bit longer than the first.

“She’s a keeper, Owen,” Suzanne says, not bothering to whisper this time, and it sends a rush of warmth through my chest. I want to bottle this moment, this feeling of acceptance and ease, and keep it with me for when my doubt and dark thoughts creep back in. My heart swells as I realize the only person who has accepted me quite so quickly before Suzanne is her son.

After his mom leaves, Owen wraps an arm around me, pulling me close, and I lean into him, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest. I’m so grateful that today went better than the meeting with his dad and stepmom. I worry that his Dad’s opinion of our situation might impact our relationship. A part of me is afraid that once the baby arrives, it will all be too much for him.

I’ve never had someone willing to endure the hard times with me. And even though Owen hasn’t given me any reason to doubt him, I can’t help the doubt that creeps in.

I just hope I’m wrong.

Curiosity gets the best of me, and as we sit down to watch a movie with the kids, I ask him what his mom whispered to her before she left. I know it’s not really my business, and if Suzanne had wanted me to be aware, she would have just said whatever it was aloud.

He smiles, and it’s almost shy, like he’s not sure how I will react. For a moment, I think he’s not going to tell me. But then he finally does, and it makes every worry that started to creep in fade away:

“Marry her.”

fifty-eight

I WANNA BE YOURS - ARCTIC MONKEYS

OWEN - SEPTEMBER 27, 2013

I stand at the end of a tree-lined path just as the sun breaks through the canopy above. There’s an overwhelming sense of peace in the air.

Then I see her.

Callie.

Walking toward me, her steps slow and deliberate. It’s like she’s always known where to find me. Her smile spreads across her face and I swear it lights up the world around us. She’s radiant in white, her dress flowing around her as she smiles and as she gets closer, I can see the familiar amethyst glint in her eyes.

She is stunning. Absolutely stunning.

I feel my breath catch in my throat from the weight of the moment. I’m not nervous, not anymore. Callie is the direction that I’ve been looking for, my true north.

We don’t speak. We don’t need to. Everything we’ve been through, every risk we took to be together, every laugh, every tear,every moment of doubt–it all led us here. The clearing feels like it stretches on forever, endless and open, but I don’t feel lost. I feel found.

The light filtering through the window is soft as I slowly stir awake. Callie’s steady breath is the first thing I notice, her back nestled against my chest, the curve of her body fitting perfectly with mine. I take a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her coconut shampoo.

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