Page 88 of 5+Us Makes Seven

She turned around in my arms and wrapped them around my waist. Her head was tilted back, her eyes hooking onto mine. I wrapped my arm around her and set my glass on the edge of the balcony, then cupped her cheek against my palm.

I smoothed my thumb across her cheek as we began to sway to the music of a band playing off in the distance.

“Do you regret anything?” Natasha asked.

“How in the world could you ask me something like that?”

“I don’t know. I wonder sometimes if you do.”

“I could never regret anything with you,” I said. “Not one second of our journey together.”

“Even that dinner? When you got upset and sent me home by myself?”

“As much as that night royally sucked, no. I wouldn’t change that dinner.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because it brought us here. To this moment. And I wouldn't want to risk changing anything about this moment if it meant correcting some temporary wrong from the past. We all have a journey to walk, Natasha. And I’m honored my journey is alongside yours.”

“Wow. You really must love this dress,” she said.

“No. I just really love you.”

I slid my hand into my pocket and withdrew the box. I held it up in front of Natasha, her lips parting in shock. I slowly got down onto one knee as the band played off in the distance and the stars twinkled above our heads.

Then I opened the box and revealed the beautiful ring I had purchased a few weeks before.

“Carter. What are you doing?”

“Natasha Lewis, you have single-handedly opened my eyes to

things I didn’t know to be things. I started out as an alternative schedule for the children, but it quickly evolved into a life I didn’t think I would lead for myself. Along with you came a passion that was ignited that I hadn’t felt in years. A hope that I had somehow distilled into resentment. You brought a light into my life, and my home, and my children that I never thought would be possible again. And with our massive and chaotic family, there’s only one thing that’s out of place.”

“What?” she asked breathlessly.

“Everyone has my last name but you.”

She giggled and shook her head as I plucked the ring from the box.

“You are the glue that holds this family together. You are the spoke from which we all divert from. Without you, there is no epicenter. There is no strength. There is no wheel to turn. And with no wheel comes no forward progression, and with no forward progression comes no future. I didn’t have a future until you walked into my office that day, and I don’t want to spend another second of my life wondering if you will be in it. If you want my future, Natasha-- if you want this life we’ve built-- it would be an honor to have you be its epicenter. Will you marry me?”

I watched Natasha get on her knees in front of me before she slid her arms around my neck. She peppered my cheek in kisses, her tears dripping onto my skin. Our lips found one another and our tongues intertwined as we knelt in front of one another. Fully vulnerable, fully submissive, and still fully strong.

“Yes,” Natasha said breathlessly. “I will marry you, Carter.”

I slipped the ring onto her finger, then helped her to her feet. I threw my arms around her and picked her up, swinging her around on the porch. I put her down onto her feet and escorted her back inside where the first of five lovely courses was waiting for us.

Then I pulled out her chair, sat her down, and we began to eat.

“If it’s not too early to talk about, I think getting married after the twins turn one might be the best decision,” she said.

“Whatever you want. It’s your day.”

“No, that’s not true. It’s our day, and I want it to be a day that reflects both of us.”

“Why after the twins turn one, then?” I asked.

“Because they’ll be a little more settled in their eating and sleeping routine, and I figured I might not be as nervous leaving them behind.”

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