Page 72 of All of Me

“Yes!” Sara beams, launching into an explanation about every crayon line on the page.

I glance at Owen, catching his eye from across the room. His expression is a mix of relief and lingering nerves. I move closer, brushing my hand against his. “See?” I whisper. “You’re doing great.”

He exhales softly, the corners of his lips lifting into a small smile. “One step at a time,” he murmurs back.

My own anxiety eases as I see him settle into the moment. My dad’s warmth toward Ruby and Sara is exactly what I hoped for, and seeing Owen slowly relax makes my chest ache with a quiet kind of joy.

The tension in the room fades as the evening unfolds. Dad cracks a few of his signature gruff jokes, half-test and half-tease, and Owen takes them in stride, responding with his usual confidence. By the time dessert rolls around, Dad leans back in his chair with a satisfied sigh.

“Well, Owen, you seem like a decent guy,” he says, his voice carrying that familiar blend of kindness and protective authority I’ve grown up with.

“Thank you, sir,” Owen replies, his tone respectful.

“But I’ll tell you this now—” Dad pauses, clearly enjoying the moment as a teasing glint lights up his eyes. “I’ve got a bullet with your name on it if you hurt my daughter. I’m still waiting for Callie to give me the green light for the one with Adam’s name on it. It’s locked and loaded as we speak.”

Owen grins, the weight of tension lifting entirely. “I wouldn’t expect anything less, sir.”

Dad’s booming laughter fills the room, warm and unguarded, like a burst of light breaking through a cloudy sky. The knot in my chest unravels and everything in this moment feels right.

As the laughter fades, I catch Owen’s eye, his gaze soft and steady.. My dad’s approval might have eased the tension, but it’s Owen’s unwavering presence that truly grounds me. I’m not bracing for something to go wrong anymore. Instead, I’m allowing myself to lean into the hope that’s been growing between us. The future we’re building feels real, solid, and within reach.

twenty-six

MARRY ME - TRAIN

OWEN - APRIL 18, 2014

The Louisiana sun has started to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across Edward’s backyard. It’s been a good day, better than I expected, honestly. Watching Callie reconnect with her dad, seeing Sara dart around the yard with her usual boundless energy, and having Ruby nestled against my chest for most of the afternoon has made the long drive here worth every second.

Now, the girls are inside with Shelly, and Callie is sitting on the patio, flipping through the stack of Polaroid pictures we took today. She looks so damn happy, her soft laugh carrying across the yard as she shows Shelly one of the pictures.

Edward and I finish tidying up the backyard, stacking the last of the folding chairs against the wall of the garage. I glance over at him, my heart pounding as I prepare to say the thing I’ve been rehearsing in my head for weeks.

“You want a beer?” Edward asks, breaking the silence. His voice is casual, but there’s always an edge to it, like he’s gauging my every move.

“Sure,” I say, grateful for the chance to steady my nerves.

We step into the kitchen, where Edward grabs two beers from the fridge. He twists the caps off with practiced ease and hands one to me. “Let’s sit,” he says, motioning toward the patio.

The chairs on the patio are still warm from the sun, and I sink into one, my bottle cool against my palm. Edward sits beside me, taking a long sip before finally speaking.

“You’ve been good to Callie and the girls,” he says, his tone even. “Shelly says they’re happier than she’s seen them in years. That’s no small thing, Owen.”

“Thank you,” I say, my voice steady despite the lump forming in my throat. “It means a lot to hear that.”

Edward nods, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “But I’ll tell you this—I don’t take lightly to people walking into my daughter’s life and making promises they can’t keep. Callie’s been through enough, and those girls? They don’t need anyone playing house if it’s not the real deal. You understand me?”

“Yes, sir,” I reply, meeting his gaze head-on. “And that’s why I wanted to talk to you.”

His eyebrows raise slightly, but he doesn’t interrupt.

“I love Callie,” I say, the words coming out stronger than I expected. “And I love Sara and Ruby. They’re my family. I want to spend the rest of my life with them, and I want to marry her.”

My words seem to hang in the air, and Edward leans back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “You’ve been together, what, nine months?” he asks, his voice carefully controlled.

“Yes, sir,” I reply.

“And you’re sure? Because once you step into this, Owen, there’s no stepping out. Not without hurting them.”

---