Page 72 of Crazy in Love

“Lee, Zhi looks like a beautiful woman, and she makes you smile. She got you to come home, and that’s what I’ve wanted for so long. I’m sorry about how I reacted the other night, and I promise I will make her feel more welcome.” Mum stops, letting Lee talk.

“Mum, honestly, that’s all we both wanted. I love her, and I can’t wait for you to get to know her,” Lee tells her. I know Lee wasn’t too bothered about Mum not liking Zhi. But Zhi really wanted both my parents to like her. Something about it not being good for the relationship if there are negative vibes around them. So it will mean so much to her, knowing my mum will finally be on board with their relationship.

“Aiden-” she starts, then stops, and I know whatever she’s about to say is going to be hard for her. Especially knowing not one of her boys will be marrying Cathy now. “Saylor was a surprise. She’s younger than you, which... I didn’t think you two would have much... what I’m trying to say is, if Saylor makes you happy, then she makes me happy.” I press my lips together tight, but it’s not working because the smile still fights its way through.

“I know that was hard for you to say, and I appreciate it. Saylor isn’t going anywhere, and having you not hate her will help with her stress and our future.”

“Are you seriously thinking about doing it?” Lee asks. His voice is loud enough for making his surprise on what I have planned obvious.

“I am. I’m going to ask Saylor to marry me, not yet, but I’m going to.” I look over at my mum. I’m not sure if she is trying hard to show her disapproval in my plan, or if she is worried about saying the wrong thing.

“Well, you are one lucky man to have a beautiful woman and a baby on the way, and Lee, Zhi is wonderful, and I can tell she keeps you on your toes,” Dad tells us with a little humor in his tone, but it makes me laugh, because Zhi really does.

“That she does,” Lee answers, which finally gets my mum laughing.

Can what my mother is saying be true? Is she going to be happy with our relationships, or is it some act where she will be closely trying to break one of us up? Now I know my mum would never break up a family when a child is involved, but she has had a plan for a long time for one of us to marry Cathy, so I’m not sure if I’m fully buying into this new act of hers.

One thing is, I’m not going to overthink it right now. I finally have my whole family in one house, my parents accept Saylor, and this is all I’ve wanted for the last few months, so I’m going to be happy while it lasts.

Epilogue

Aiden

8 months later

I knew my life would change the day I saw Saylor at the party. There was something about her that pulled me into her crazy world. I don’t regret anything about it. I fell in love with her, and I couldn’t let her walk away from me.

I watch Saylor feeding our baby girl, Adele.

I kept thinking my mother was up to something, but she was telling the truth. She has treated Saylor with nothing but love and has been there whenever she needed something. Saylor finally stopped with the taunting about being paid when she finally realized that my mother wasn’t playing tricks, and I was happy about it. Some of the things she was saying were making me laugh, and my mother fought with me because of it.

“You want to take her?” Saylor looks over at me, and I close my laptop and take my daughter from Saylor, then sit down next to her. “You know she was up way too many times last night?”

“I know, and if I could feed her, I would have taken over, but for a little while, you’re on your own with the night feeds. I keep telling you, I will do the nighttime nappy duty.” I kiss the top of her head when she leans it on my shoulder.

“I know, but I much prefer you cooking for me instead.” She leans forward and grabs her tea and phone. “Hayley sent more pictures of her trip.” Saylor opens her phone and shows me some of the pictures.

Hayley fit in great at the center, and it has been so stable with her personality too. Saylor has seen more of her sister than anyone else, and Hayley’s apartment was also a big hit. She’s been enjoying the freedom but loves that she has her sister within walking distance. The center is away for the weekend, to Scotland. Saylor didn’t want her to go, but I told her she needs to give Hayley some freedom, otherwise she will never learn to live alone.

“She looks happy,” I say as Saylor continues to flick through the pictures.

“She does. Are you still good with Lee and Zhi coming over for dinner?” I ask.

“Yes, it will be nice to see them. They’ve both been busy with work, but Zhi needs to take it slow.” Saylor looks up at me, and I smile.

Lee and Zhi are expecting their baby in five months. I can’t believe our kids are going to grow up together. It’s going to be crazy.

“She is. Lee said they were going to talk about it,” I reply.

Saylor gets off the couch and walks upstairs to have a shower, then get ready for the day. I quickly get off the couch and take Adele with me.

“You ready? If she says no, I’m blaming you, Adele,” I say with a laugh, then quickly go to the door to let Anika in, so she can help me.

“We have everything. David and I will get it all set, then we will hide in the other room with Adele,” Anika tells me quickly, walking into the house, and I say hello to David.

I had things planned in my head, but Anika said I was thinking too hard about it. All I need is something simple, and the perfect ring.

After I spent four months shopping for the ring and found nothing I thought was good enough for Saylor, I decided to get one designed for her. Something I knew would match her personality.

---