Epilogue Two
Mason
I don’t ever get sick of watching live football. I’m grateful my beautiful wife feels the same. She’s really gained a love for the game. We’re once again at the stadium, the energy and roar of the crowd engulfing us. There’s nothing I love better than Sunday Night lights, the crisp fall air, and the roar of a crowd . . . well nothing I love better than my wife.
Once again Maria and I are sitting on the field, now as a married couple. It’s been a full year since I proposed, six months since we said I do, and each day has been better than the last.
Something’s different today. Maria’s been restless all week, but there’s been excitement in her gaze since we arrived at the game. She has something to share, but I know she won’t do it until she’s ready. I love every touch, every whisper, every moment with this woman. I can wait.
Halftime begins and Maria turns to grin at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I have a surprise for you,” she says.
“I love surprises,” I tell her.
“This one is extra special.” The glint in her eyes is making my heart skip a few beats.
The show begins in front of us, and then I notice something peculiar on the giant screen above the field. It’s displaying one puzzle piece at a time, slowly exposing a picture. The final piece falls into place and I read the words, We’re expecting a new player!
The image switches to a baby grinning, and then it shows a picture of Maria holding a pregnancy test. The crowd gets it before I do, and they roar in delight. Finally I turn and look at Maria who’s holding the same test she was showing in the picture on the screen. Her eyes are filled, and her lips are turned up in a big grin.
“We’re having a baby?” I gasp.
She nods, her tears spilling. “Yes, you’re going to be a dad.”
I’m overcome with emotion as I pull her into my arms, tuning out the roaring crowd around us. I thought I was happy before this moment, but I truly didn’t know what happiness was before this moment. Now, our family is complete.
To think I was almost foolish enough to lose this woman because of my own pride and stubbornness. She took me back, accepted me with all of my faults, and now we’re more in love than ever before, and to top it all off we’re going to be parents. I don’t see how life can get any better than this right here and now. I have my partner for life, and we can only build a stronger and stronger foundation from this point on.
“Thank you,” I whisper as the game continues and I sit and hold my wife.
“For what?” she asks.
“For loving me, for trusting me, for forgiving me,” I say.
She cups my cheek. “Mason, we’re a team. We’re both going to fail at times, but we’re a team, and you know nothing breaks the bond of a team.”
I laugh. “Nothing,” I agree. “I love you.”
“I love you more,” she says, making me shake my head. We’ve had this same argument before.
“Let’s love each other equally,” I suggest.
She leans in and kisses me. This we can both agree to. We can also agree to grow our love each and every day. We’re a family and we’re a team, and that means we’ll stay together for life and make each moment count.