Page 109 of Nanny for the Doctor

“Actually, about that.” Reed steps back from my dad and comes around to the side of the bed.

Helping Stevie to stand, he kneels on the floor next to me, reaching underneath.

“What are you doing?” I furrow my brow.

Reed pulls out a small black ring box, and the tears immediately start back up.

“You’ve had that under there the whole time?” I giggle.

“Yes. You were too pregnant to look.” He smirks. “Henry, come here. It’s time.”

I look over at him, and my heart pounds so hard I imagine everyone in the room can hear it.

“Mae, we have a question.” Reed looks to his son.

Henry clears his throat and takes my hand, just like Reed. “Mae—I don’t want to call you that anymore.”

My cheeks hurt from smiling.

“I think what he means is that he’d like to call you something else. And I would, too.”

“Oh yeah, that’s it.”

Reed smiles at me, tears brimming. “I love you, Mae Elizabeth Marrington. I love you more than I can put into words. And I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for me and Henry.”

“I love you, too, Mae. I don’t ever want you and Grace to leave.”

I sob, barely able to keep it together and let them finish.

“I want you to be a part of my life always. I want to stand by your side through thick and thin, rain or shine. I want to be there while you grow into an incredible mother, and I want to make this little family of ours official.”

Reed can barely speak around the lump in his throat and he turns to Henry.

“Mae,” Henry says, trying his best to sound serious, “would you be my mom?”

I can stop the heavy flow of tears that stream down my face.

“Mae,” Reed speaks next, “will you marry me?”

Nodding frantically, I pull them both into my arms, kissing their heads and crying like a fool.

“Yes! A hundred times, yes!”

They each offer me a grin, and I don’t think I can feel any happier or more complete. Johnny walks over with Grace in his arms and gives her to Reed.

The three of us create a little bubble around her, and I whisper, “Yes. So much, yes.”

“I promise to be there for you, Mae. When you’re up for it, and she’s a bit older, go back to school. Get your teaching degree.”

“What?” My eyes go wide.Can this be real?

“I’m serious. It means so much to you. Get your degree. I’ll do all the double shifts of diaper duty to help you get through it.”

“I’ll help, too!” Henry nods.

“You boys…you are my favorite people in the universe. And now we’ve added a little girl to the mix. My family—” I look at everyone gathered around me “—is the best in the world.”

We look down at Grace. I take Reed’s face in my hands, meeting his teary eyes with mine.

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