46. Robert
forty-six
Robert
Walking up to the front door with Delia by my side, my heart was thudding harder than I cared to admit. Not because I was unsure—far from it—but because Corinne’s opinion mattered more to me than anything. She’d been through so much, and she’d already navigated so many big feelings when it came to Delia that I wasn’t sure how she’d take the news.
Delia gave my hand a squeeze, her other hand resting lightly on her growing belly. “You know, you look pretty nervous to face an eleven-year-old for a former Navy SEAL,” she teased.
“First of all, it's not just any eleven-year-old. It’s Corinne. She’s scarier than any enemy,” I corrected her, and she tossed her head back, laughing as we made our way up to the front door. “And second of all, she’s almost twelve, which means one year closer to becoming a teenager. I don’t even wanna go there right now.”
She rolled her eyes with a playful grin, but I caught the nervous glint in her brown eyes. “She’s going to be happy,” Delia said, more to herself than to me. “Right?”
“Of course she is,” I said firmly, squeezing her hand. “She loves you. And she’s been talking about being a big sister ever since you showed her how exciting it could be to plan a baby’s room. Then when she found out it was twins, I thought she might explode. This is just the cherry on top.”
Before Delia could respond, the door flew open. Corinne stood there, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement. She was wearing one of her favorite T-shirts—the one with faded green stripes on it—and a pair of mismatched socks. Her wild red curls were barely tamed by the bright orange headband she wore.
“You’re here!” she exclaimed, bouncing on her toes. “I’ve been waiting forever !” She turned and shouted to Lizzy, “They’re here, they’re here!”
“I know!” Lizzy shouted back, from somewhere in the back of the house. “ I’m the one who told you !”
“Forever, huh?” I said with a grin, picking her up. “We’ve only been gone a weekend.”
Corinne wriggled to get out of my arms, my baby no longer a baby, and I set her down on her feet. “Did you bring me anything?” she asked suddenly, her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed.
“What did I tell you?” I asked, turning to Delia with a smirk. “She only loves me for my presents.”
“Well, I’m sure that’s not the only reason, but it doesn’t hurt,” Delia responded, coyly presenting the paper bag of presents we’d brought back.
As Corinne reached out, Delia pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes seriously. “Be careful with it.” Corinne nodded, and Delia acquiesced.
Corinne went into present-opening mode, a mode in which my little angel turned feral, as she pulled out the item, throwing the bag on the ground and ripping the paper off her gift.
Lizzy, who stood leaning against the doorway, made a move to grab the bag. I shook my head at her, and she relaxed back against the doorway with a slight smile.
When Corinne had completely unearthed the gift, a snow globe with a scene of the rivers and gondolas in Venice, she gasped at it. “Shake it,” Delia prodded, and when Corinne did, she gasped again.
“Wow, thank you,” she breathed, watching the little fake snowflakes fall on top of the little pretend river.
I knelt in front of her, taking her small hands in mine. “Corinne, I got Delia a present, too, on the trip.”
“You did? Can I see?”
“Mhm.” Delia showed her her left hand, and Lizzy gasped from the doorway.
My eyes darted to her, and I smiled before looking back at Corinne, who seemed to be soaking it in, holding Delia’s hand tightly and twisting it left and right.
Delia let her manhandle her hand, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of appreciation for the gentility she reserved for my daughter. “Wow, it’s really sparkly.”
“Do you know what that is, Corinne?” I asked, still kneeling beside her.
Her head turned to me to show she was listening, but her eyes stayed glued on the ring, watching it sparkle in the light. “It’s an engagement ring. I asked Delia to marry me.”
Her eyes widened so much I thought they might pop out of her head. “You what?! ”
“And,” I added with a smile, “she said yes.”
For a moment, she just stared at me like she was trying to process what I’d said.
Then, with a squeal so loud it probably rattled the windows, she launched herself at Delia, throwing her arms around her neck. “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Yes! ”
Delia laughed, hugging her back tightly. “I’m glad you’re okay with it.”
“Okay with it? Are you kidding?” Corinne pulled back, her hands still on Delia’s forearms, and her face lit up with pure joy. “This is the best thing ever! I’ve been waiting for you guys to get married forever! Now, I get a mom! ”
She turned to me, her excitement bubbling over. “Does this mean I get to call her Mom now?”
My throat tightened at the longing in her voice and in her words ? the secret desires she’d kept to herself.
I glanced at Delia, and I could see that her eyes were blurred with tears. She was looking at Corinne with such ferocity, and with a tentative grin, she said, “You can call me whatever you want. It’s not up to me or your dad.”
Corinne, ever empathetic, saw the change in Delia’s demeanor and the tears in her eyes and put her tiny fingers on Delia’s cheeks. “Is it okay, though? If I call you Mom?”
Delia’s own eyes were misty as she cupped Corinne’s cheek. “Of course you can, Corinne. I’d be honored.”
Corinne threw her arms around Delia again, her little body shaking with happiness.
“This is the best day of my whole life! ” she declared. Then she pulled back and looked between us. “Wait. When’s the wedding? Can I help plan it? Can I be the flower girl?”
“Whoa, slow down,” I said with a laugh. “We haven’t figured all that out yet. But yes, you can help. And yes, you can be the flower girl.”
She grinned, clearly pleased. Then her face lit up with another idea. “And I can help pick the cake! And the dress! Oh, and we should have balloons! Lots of balloons!”
Delia laughed, brushing a strand of hair out of Corinne’s face. “I think you’re going to be the best wedding planner ever.”
Corinne nodded, satisfied. Then she threw herself at me, hugging me tightly.
“I’m so happy, Dad,” she said, her voice muffled against my shirt. “I always wanted a mom. And now I get the best one.”
I held her close, my heart full to bursting. “I’m glad, sweetheart. I’m so glad.”
As Corinne pulled back to excitedly start planning the wedding out loud, I glanced at Delia. She was watching Corinne with a soft, teary smile, her hand resting on her belly. I reached over and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
This was my family—messy, loud, and bursting with love. And I couldn’t wait to see what the future held for us.