Chapter 38 Ollie
ollie
“Thank you for picking a place close to the house. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to travel far.”
I gripped her hand, brushing my thumb gently over her knuckles. My heart raced, but I kept my expression neutral, hoping she still had no idea what was about to happen.
The warm summer air wrapped around us as we walked hand in hand, the sky painted in hues of orange and pink. I led her down the familiar cobblestone street toward the pub. She chatted softly, oblivious to the nerves simmering under my skin.
The pub came into view, its windows glowing in the evening light.
My mum, dad, and Will were already inside, overseeing the final touches and ensuring everything ran smoothly, just as we’d agreed.
Aunt Mae had arrived earlier, and I’d settled her into her hotel with her boyfriend.
Luna should be here and would be bringing Scarlette. It was all a part of the plan.
I’d envisioned this night long before I’d even worked up the courage to tell Nova I loved her.
Every time I saw her with Scarlette or caught her laughing with Luna, the image of this moment solidified in my mind.
The pub, the people who mattered most, the warmth of a summer evening—it all felt right.
As we reached the door, I hesitated for a moment, squeezing her hand. She looked up at me, her eyes curious but trusting.
“Come on,” I said with a soft smile, pushing open the door.
The pub was the same on the inside, nothing changed, but I waved to the bartender who smiled at me.
“Everyone’s in the garden.”
Nova furrowed her brow, but I grabbed her hands and pushed her through the crowd.
Outside, the space was transformed. Tables were set with small bouquets of scarlet flowers, flickering candles adding a touch of warmth. Familiar faces filled the room—Iris, her old boss, standing near the back, chatting with one of the photographers she’d insisted on bringing.
Nova’s eyes widened as she took it all in. “What is this?”
“A little something I put together. I figured you’d want all your favorite people in the room to meet Scarlette.”
Luna popped from the back with Aunt Mae, who was already holding a sound-asleep Scarlette.
“Stop.” Nova’s voice trembled. “Y-you did this?”
I nodded, but she was already running toward Aunt Mae, wrapping her arms tightly around her.
Mum came to my side, slipping an arm around my waist. “You ready to make that woman your wife?”
“I was ready the day I met her.”
“You’re a good man, Oll,” she said with a smile.
Dad patted my shoulder as he joined us. “You’ll do right by her. We know it.”
Mum handed me a small box, and I slid it into my back pocket. I looked back at Nova, her laughter mixing with tears as she hugged Mae. My family, my future—everything I ever wanted—was right here.
Luna sauntered over, nudging me playfully, with Will trailing behind her, their fingers intertwined. I raised a brow, glancing at their hands.
“When did this happen?” I eyed the two of them.
“I convinced her to try monogamy.” Will smirked.
Luna rolled her eyes but squeezed his hand. “Temporary experiment. Don’t get too excited,” she said teasingly, though the sparkle in her eyes told a different story.
I shook my head, chuckling. “I give it six months before you have matching tattoos.”
Will grinned, shrugging. “Wouldn’t be the worst idea.”
Luna smacked his arm lightly, but neither of them let go of the other.
“You ready?” she asked me.
“As I’ll ever be.”
Luna reached up and squeezed my arm. “You’ve become like a brother to me, Ollie,” she said, her voice unusually soft. “Thank you for letting me be part of her life.”
“You are Daddy Luna.”
She leaned her head briefly against my arm, a rare moment of quiet affection. “I’m proud of her.”
“Me too,” I murmured, our eyes fixed on Nova.
Together, we watched her from across the room.
That smile—the one I hadn’t seen when she first moved here—came so freely.
She glowed as she greeted the guys from work, hugged Aunt Mae, shared a laugh with Iris and Peter.
She wasn’t a hugger, not usually, but tonight she was all warmth, her love radiating toward every person in the room.
Luna sighed, and with a gentle push, she nudged me forward. “Go get her, buddy.”
I didn’t hesitate. It was time.
I walked up to Nova, my heart pounding, and leaned in close. “Can I borrow you for a moment?”
She looked up at me and nodded.
Taking her hand, I guided her to the center of the garden.
The hum of conversation quieted as everyone gathered around us.
Dad had his arm around Mum, a proud smile on his face.
Aunt Mae, holding Scarlette with her boyfriend, watched us with a knowing glint in her eye.
Even Luna and Will stood arm in arm, grinning from the back of the room.
I cleared my throat, my voice steady despite the butterflies in my chest. “Thank you all for coming. I know some of you traveled far, and it means the world to have you here, not only to celebrate little Scarlette’s arrival, but to support Nova.
She’s incredible, and she deserves all this love and more. ”
Nova’s eyes widened as I dropped down to one knee in front of her, the little box already in my hand. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks, and I could barely keep myself together as I looked up at her.
“I know you hate public things, but I figured this might be a safe bet—here, surrounded by everyone who loves you.” I paused, taking a deep breath.
“Nova, you’ve taught me more about love and resilience than I thought possible.
You’ve shown me what it means to truly care for someone, to fight for them, and to believe in them.
I don’t want to be here for you and Scarlette—I want to build a life with you. Forever. Will you marry me?”
Nova couldn’t speak. Her lips trembled, and instead of answering, she dropped to her knees in front of me, cradling my face as tears continued to fall.
“We were never really dating,” she whispered.
From behind us, Luna’s laugh rang out, full and bright.
I smiled, leaning in closer. “We can skip that step,” I said quietly.
Her lips found mine, her kiss deep and all-consuming. The room blurred, the world shrinking to the two of us.
When she finally pulled back, she rested her forehead against mine. “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I have never met someone so selfless as you. I love you.”
I stood, lifting her with me, slipping the ring onto her finger as the garden erupted in cheers. Aunt Mae stepped forward, handing us Scarlette, her tiny face peaceful in sleep.
Together, Nova and I kissed her soft, sleeping cheeks, our little family complete.
The party passed in a blur of laughter, hugs, and clinking glasses. By the time we were ready to leave, Luna and Will had already taken Scarlette back to the house, giving us the quiet moment I hadn’t realized I needed.
As we walked home under the soft glow of streetlights, the evening air carried a peaceful stillness. Our hands were linked, her fingers laced tightly with mine.
“Are you mad I did it in front of everyone?” I asked, glancing sideways at her.
“No. Not at all. Those are my people. I’m glad they were able to see that.”
“Are you happy?”
She squeezed my hand. “Incredibly.”
She fell quiet for a moment, her gaze focused ahead.
“When I first came here, Ollie, I was . . . lost. Everything felt heavy and dark, and I couldn’t see a way forward.
My depression was this horrible, scary thing that I couldn’t control, and I was terrified it would swallow me whole.
What I realized is . . . all I needed was someone to help me.
Someone to hold my hand while I navigated through it. ”
I looked at her, the raw honesty in her words tugging at something deep inside me.
“I haven’t been happier,” she continued, her voice trembling slightly. “Life is stressful, and things aren’t perfect, but . . . I’m happy. Truly happy.”
I stopped walking, turning to her and cupping her face. “You’ve made my life happier too, love. Every single day.”
We walked in companionable silence for a few moments before I asked, “Do you ever think about him? Austin?”
She didn’t answer right away, her gaze fixed on the cobblestones beneath our feet.
“I have recently,” she finally admitted.
“I wondered what my life would look like if I’d stayed.
But not in the sense of ever missing him.
I love my life here.” Her voice grew quieter, tinged with sadness.
“I miss Mami more. I miss the fact that she would have loved to be here tonight. I know she was in spirit.”
“She was.” I assured her gently, brushing my thumb over her hand.
Nova nodded, but her voice turned wistful. “Sometimes I wonder what will happen when Scarlette grows up. Who’ll attend her father-daughter dances or teach her to play rugby?”
I threw a hand over my heart, mock offended. “To think I wouldn’t do that.”
She laughed, the sound lightening the mood instantly. “I know we haven’t really talked about it much, and it doesn’t matter for a while, but . . . what do you want to be called? With Scarlette?”
The question lingered in my mind, looping back to the hospital, the moment I first held Scarlette. I’d thought about this before—what it would mean, what she might call me, and how I’d fit into her life in a way that honored her truth. It wasn’t a simple answer. Nothing about it ever was.
I finally turned to Nova, my steps slowing as I faced her. “I think . . . I’d want her to call me Ollie.”
Her brow furrowed slightly, her lips parting as if to argue, but I held up a hand gently, stopping her before she spoke.
“I hope this doesn’t hurt your feelings, but if there’s ever a chance she meets her biological dad, I want to leave that space for him.
I don’t want to take something away from her that she might want one day.
If, down the road, she decides to call me something different, then I’ll be okay with it.
I think Ollie is good.” The corners of my lips tugged into a faint smirk, trying to ease the weight of the conversation. “Plus, she already has a Daddy Luna.”
Nova’s eyes softened, but her voice carried a quiet protest. “Are you sure? I don’t think that’s fair, though. You are her dad. You’re the one raising her. Just because Austin is her biological father—”
I shook my head firmly. “No, Nova. I’m sure.
” I took her hand again, brushing my thumb over hers as I searched for the right words.
“Scarlette is going to grow up knowing love and security. She’s going to know that I’m here for her, always.
But if I take that title, I’m worried . .
. if she ever meets Austin, it might make things more complicated for her.
She’ll need space to figure out her own feelings about him, and I don’t want to stand in the way of that. She deserves that choice.”
Nova pressed her lips together.
“I don’t want her to feel like she has to choose between me and him, or like I’m replacing someone she might want to know one day. I’ll love her endlessly, no matter what she calls me. That won’t change.”
Her eyes shimmered as she nodded slowly. “You’re a better man than you give yourself credit for.”
“I want what’s best for her. For both of you.”
The house came into view, warm light spilling through the windows, and I looked over at Nova, her face soft with that rare, easy smile. I didn’t need a title to love her fiercely or to love Nova with everything I had. This was my family, and nothing was going to change that.