Page 143 of A Moment for Us
Josh’s thumb rubs the top of my hand. “I want that. I finally have this chance with her and our baby. I want to be a good dad and a good partner.”
My heart clenches, and I kiss his cheek. “The fact that you’re here shows that you are already.”
“I agree with Delia. It’s not easy to take the steps needed to overcome trauma. It’s a very intense and sometimes long process, but I’ll be here to guide you through it.”
Josh’s eyes meet mine. “For her, I’ll do anything.”
“I love you.”
His lids lower as though he’s absorbing the words, and then his blue eyes find mine. “I love you so much, and I’ll fight every demon I have if it means a life with you.”
“And all I want is your demons to go away so you can be happy and free of the past.”
I lean into his touch, and we take a moment to just be before he turns to Dr. Warvel. “I’m ready.”
She smiles. “I think you’re going to be just fine.”
Epilogue
Joshua
~ Fourteen Months Later ~
“Iswear you’re always late. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing.” I pick up Everett, who’s gumming one of his toys. “Your mommy is going to be late to her own wedding.”
Delia peeks her head out of the bathroom. “Good thing this isn’t my wedding then.”
“No, it’s worse. It’s acceptable for the bride to be late but not guests. And keep saying that, you’re going to marry me someday soon.”
“Keep asking, and maybe I’ll eventually say yes.” She goes back into the bathroom, and I groan.
I ask her a lot. I ask her in different ways. And each time I ask her, she kisses me and tells me to try her again later.
It’s become somewhat of a game between us. We live together, are raising Everett, and are ridiculously happy. I don’t need her to be my wife for her to be my everything, she already is that. One day, she’ll say yes, and then I’ll whisk her away before she can change her mind.
After a few more minutes, Delia exits the bathroom with a huff as she fixes her earring. It amazes me that, no matter how much time we spend together, she never fails to take my breath away. Delia is the best thing that ever happened to me, and she gave me the greatest gift—Everett.
“Fine, I’m as good as I’m going to be.”
“You’re perfect.”
She smiles even though I can see she doesn’t want to. “Don’t be sweet when you’re a pain in the ass.”
“Don’t be beautiful when you’re a pain in the ass.”
“I’m not sure how to respond to that.” She turns to Everett, who is now clapping his spit all over me. “Learn now, my sweet boy, that the woman you love is allowed to be late if that’s her prerogative.” Delia tickles his belly, and he smiles.
“We have to go, like, ten minutes ago.”
“I did my best, but with him teething . . .”
I give her a look that says she’s full of shit. “It wasn’t him.”
“It could’ve been.”
I roll my eyes. “It wasn’t. I took care of him while you soaked in the tub to prepare for the events of today.”
“It’s going to be a very long day. I needed to be relaxed so I don’t ruin this wedding, if we can even call it that.”
