Tyler
THREE MONTHS LATER
Dear Indy,
Waking up next to you has been nothing but a gift these last few months.
I’ve been wandering this life aimlessly since I walked away from you. Being with you and Noah has been my why. You’ve claimed my heart in a way I never thought possible, although if I’m being honest, I think you’ve carried a piece of me since we were young.
I’d be fooling myself if I said I wasn’t in love with you from the moment I heard your voice. You’ve found a way to connect yourself to my soul and I haven’t been the same since.
I know we bound ourselves through marriage over a decade ago for convenience.
How about now we finally show the world how deep our love stretches?
We met when we were young and formed a friendship.
We fell in love through letters. Then I made the biggest mistake of my life and tore us apart; and now I don’t want to let time separate us any further.
Let’s not waste any more of what we have left and let’s start living.
I want every second moving forward to be planning the family we envision together. Let’s celebrate this life we have with Noah, our friends, your parents, and everyone else that deserves to witness what we’ve chosen as a unit.
I love you beyond myself. I love Noah and I can’t wait for the endless tomorrows with both of you.
Finish reading this letter and join me in the living room. I’ve got a surprise waiting for you.
I love you to eternity.
Forever Yours,
Tyler
I feel my heart pounding as I wait for Indy to read the letter. I’ve been waiting in the living room with Noah. She sleeps in on weekends that I’m not working and I’ve had this plan for a while now.
I took Noah to help me pick out a ring for her a few weeks ago, and we came up with a plan to ask Indiana to “marry” me last night. He doesn’t need to know the logistics of our marriage from years ago, so I kept that to myself. All he needs to know is that I’m asking for his help today.
His smile stretches across his face because he knows what I have planned for this morning. Last night we went out on a guys’ trip as Indy was working late. She was none the wiser, thinking we were simply hanging out together while I had the day off.
We finally hear her moving around in the room, so we scurry to get in position. Noah’s giggling, as I try to tamper my nerves. Even though we’re married on paper, I’ve never officially proposed to her. The velvet box feels like a weighted brick in my pocket.
“I hear her, Hunter.” He beams up at me.
“I know, buddy.” I ruffle his hair as I move up beside him. “Okay, you know what to do?”
“Yep.” He smiles brightly, that upper left tooth missing from his grin. I know things will likely not go as planned with a youngster at the reigns of a proposal, but that’s the fun in all this. I’m surprised he’s kept anything a secret this long.
I look over to find Darth looking unamused in this whole thing. Noah thought we should dress Darth up for the occasion. So, he’s in a little bowtie and dapper top hat, which hasn’t been the easiest to keep on. He’s stretched out on the couch, licking his paw, unfazed for now.
“Grab Darth,” I instruct Noah.
“Oh yeah!” He nods. The cat looks perturbed being dragged into this whole scenario after he got settled in a comfortable spot on the couch. If a cat could roll his eyes, Darth likely would.
Setting the white furball down, Noah adjusts the bowtie in place. “Perfect!” Noah says.
I hear the door open upstairs and I up look to see the woman I love staring down from the railing.
I’m in a suit, while Noah is in a button-up and slacks. For nine in the morning, it’s probably a lot, but it’s all I could come up with. I wanted something she wouldn’t expect, and it’s hard to surprise Indy with our hectic schedules and having Noah in sports most weekends.
She’s holding the letter I wrote her in one hand and she swipes at a stray tear. She has a haphazard smile on her face. That has to be good news—at least that’s my hope.
We’re standing in a row, even Darth keeping his place in line. She looks at us and lets out a soft laugh.
“This is a nice welcome.” She walks down the stairs.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” I tell her.
“Yes, good morning.” Noah puffs out his chest, trying to look more grown up and that pulls a laugh from both Indy and me.
Noah walks up to his mom and grabs her hand, pulling her toward me. She bends down and gives him a kiss on the cheek. “Mom, come. We have surprises for you.”
“Oh, okay, sweetie.” She winks, continuing her walk over to me.
Once she reaches me, Noah brings her hand to rest in mine. I lean into her and whisper, “You look beautiful.”
“I just woke up and now my eyes are puffy from reading your letter,” she whispers.
I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight.
I get down on one knee, my heart once again racing.
“Tyler.” She cups my cheek with one hand.
“Indiana, for years I have loved you, yet I haven’t been able to find the courage to tell you.
I have kept those words inside and hidden.
I don’t want to live a life where no one knows how much I love you anymore.
I want everyone to know you are mine and I am yours.
I want to wear my love for you out in the open.
” I bring my lips to the inside of her palm and kiss it.
“Will you officially become Indiana Hunter?”
She’s nodding, with tears running down her cheeks. Finally, she says, “Of course, Ty. I love you.”
Standing, I wrap my arms around her waist, while she brings her arms around my neck. I hear Noah cheering. I reach for him, and I feel this little family of ours celebrating in our bubble for a moment together. It’s everything I’ve been searching for, and I finally get to have it.
Jerry and Scarlet offer their house two weeks later for an impromptu lunch we’ve posed as an engagement party. Indiana’s parents even flew in from Vegas.
Prior to the engagement, Indy did take some time to let it all out regarding past frustrations with Diana and Gary. She told them how hard it has been since Bryce’s death and the pain they caused her when she became Noah’s guardian.
At first, it seemed there’d be some pushback, but finally Diana and Gary listened. The conversation was productive, and I feel there might be some healing occurring in the relationship.
This brought a new conversation between Indiana and her parents—that of her finding Jerry and Scarlet.
I could tell that was a tough subject for her, but I’m proud of her for tackling it.
It was necessary before this gathering today so there wouldn’t be any animosity between her sets of parents.
It seems, from what I can see, everyone is getting along.
“Maybe it’s time to say something. The butterflies are eating me alive, Ty,” she whispers.
I pull her lips closer, loving the way she feels against me.
I shout into the crowd, “Hey, everyone. Thanks so much for coming today. We’re so happy you’ve joined us.”
We’ve gathered many friends from all around, even some that she went to school with and coworkers from Chicago as well.
Everyone cheers, holding up their drinks and whistling. I see Noah jumping up and down, trying to see over those that are taller than him. River moves him closer to the front.
“We have a little surprise for you all; Indy and I have actually already tied the knot. We did it in a civil ceremony. We’re excited to start our next steps forward, with Noah by our side.” I reach out and Noah comes bounding over.
“Let’s hear it for the new Mr. and Mrs. Hunter!” River calls out, his beer high up in the air. Everyone else joins him and I feel that pride swell in my chest.
I look down at Indiana as I wrap my arm around her. I see the glint of my wedding band, the same ring I had that night years ago, finally resting back on my ring finger, shining back at me.
People come up to congratulate us on the wedding, surprised we tricked them with the engagement-slash-wedding.
We wanted this to be an intimate affair, really focusing on us with Noah, and bringing everyone together for a gathering afterwards.
Because we have been married for years and no one knew, we thought it best to simply have a party to celebrate the continuation of this union together; of love and happiness that we are excited to see blossom as the years move forward.
The night goes on, with laughter and love. I feel surrounded with the found family I know we both felt we missed. As much as things were strained with Diana and Gary, I think with time, things will start to heal for them. I walk over to where Indy is dancing with Noah.
“Join us.” She laughs. They reach out for me to hold on to their hands.
The three of us are dancing until Noah sees Kalli and Vivienne walking by.
“I want to see Viv!” And before we can say anything else, he’s running off.
I pull my wife into my arms and breathe in her vanilla scent that I love so much. “I can’t wait to live on forever with you.”
“I can’t wait either,” she tells me, her smile growing across her face. “I really am at peace right now.”
“Same, baby.” I kiss her cheek.
“Sorry to break things up, lovebirds, but it’s tradition to do a money dance.” River walks up to us, putting his arm around us.
“Um, we weren’t planning on doing that,” I tell him.
“Sorry, you don’t get a vote.” He smiles, pulling both of us into him. “You see, I have plans, and I really need this to work out in my favor.”
I roll my eyes, knowing he probably has money on this. “Riv, no.”
“Yes, it’s happening.” He pushes me to one side, Indy to another. I see lines have formed, meaning he already spread the word prior to wrangling us into this.
I see our firefighter crew has lined up to dance with my wife, while a horde of women are ready to dance with me, Scarlet being the first one. At least I see Noah is the first one lined up to dance with his mom.