Chapter 23
The lights in the auditorium dimmed, I was leaning forward, hands clasped between my knees, watching a swarm of six-year-olds in pink tutus stumble onto the stage.
“There she is,” Sevyn whispered, nudging my arm.
I saw her immediately. Serenity was front and center, chin tilted up with that same focused intensity she got when we were playing games. She didn’t look nervous; she looked like she owned the floor.
Moving into the same neighborhood as Kash had been the best and worst decision of my life. Best because our girls could walk to each other’s houses; worst because Kash felt the need to give me unsolicited advice on “living with a pregnant woman” every time he saw me checking the mail.
As the music started and Serenity began her routine, I felt a familiar kick against my hand where it rested on Sevyn’s thigh. I looked over at her. Her belly was prominent now, a beautiful, rounded weight that sat between us.
When the recital ended, Serenity didn’t just walk off stage—she bowed like she was at the Met.
“That’s my baby!” Sevyn cheered, and I found myself standing up right along with her, clapping louder than anyone else in the room.
“I want tacos,” Serenity announced as soon as we got to the truck, her trophy clutched in her lap.
“Tacos it is,” I said, checking the mirror.
Lunch was loud and full of Serenity recounting every second of her performance. Afterward, instead of heading home, I pulled into the plaza where Sevyn usually got her maintenance done.
“The nail salon?” Sevyn asked, arching a brow as I cut the engine. “Batman, you know I’m not due for a fill-up until Tuesday.”
“I know,” I said, getting out and opening her door. “But Serenity’s nails look like she spent the morning in a sandbox, and you’ve been complaining about your feet swelling all day. Go get the works. On me.”
Sevyn studied my face, her eyes searching for the motive. “What are you up to, Batman?”
I just smiled, the kind of small, steady smile that usually meant I had three backup plans already running. “I’m just spending time with my favorite people, Sev. Go. I’ll be right here.”
An hour later, they came out glowing. Serenity was showing off her glittery pink tips, and Sevyn looked more relaxed than she had in weeks.
When we got home, the house was quiet. The afternoon sun was hit the floorboards in the living room just right.
“Mortal Kombat?” Serenity challenged, heading straight for the controllers.
“You’re on,” I said, sitting on the floor beside her while Sevyn headed upstairs to “get out of these outside clothes.”
We played two rounds. She beat me once—mostly because I let her, and partly because she actually learned the combos I’d taught her. As the third round loaded, I reached into the pocket of my hoodie.
“Hey, Renny,” I said, my voice dropping.
She looked over, her small face serious. “Yeah?”
I pulled out two small velvet boxes. I opened mine first, revealing a custom gold Batman chain then I opened the second one. It was a smaller, delicate version in rose gold, the Batman symbol encrusted with tiny pink diamonds.
Serenity’s eyes went wide. “Oh my God. It’s sparkly.”
“I wanted to ask you something,” I said, turning fully toward her. “Before I asked your mama. I wanted to see if I could be your Batman forever.”
The room went quiet. I could hear the hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. I waited, my heart hammering against my ribs in a way that felt more intense than any tournament final.
Serenity looked at the pink diamond chain, then she looked me dead in the eyes.
“Batman is okay,” she said softly. “But I’d rather you be my dad. If that’s okay.”
The air left my lungs in a single, jagged rush. I felt my eyes burn, a sensation I’d fought off for twenty-nine years but couldn’t hold back now. I didn’t say anything for a second. I just nodded.
“Yeah,” I choked out. “That’s more than okay.”
“Then yes,” she beamed.
I reached out, my hands shaking just a little, and clipped the pink chain around her neck. Then I put mine on.
Serenity touched the diamonds, then jumped up, pointing toward the stairs. “Okay! Now go ask Mama!”
I walked upstairs, the weight of the ring box in my pocket feeling like a lead weight.
I found her in the nursery.
The room was painted a soft, neutral grey, waiting for the final touches. Sevyn was standing by the crib, her back to me. She was still.
As I stepped into the doorway, I saw why. On the edge of the crib, I’d left a small, plush Batman. Around its neck was a card I’d hand-written.
I saw her hand go to her mouth. She was already crying.
I walked over, my feet silent on the carpet. I reached her just as she turned around, her face wet with tears, the sonogram of our boy pinned to the wall behind her.
“Kasen,” she whispered.
I didn’t give her a chance to start a monologue. I reached out, taking her hand in mine.
“Will you?” I started, the word feeling too small for everything I felt. “Will you let me love you guys forever?”
I dropped to one knee, pulling the ring from my pocket. It was a flawless pear-cut diamond, simple and elegant, just like her.
“I don’t want to just be the guy who secured your studio, Sev,” I said, looking up at her. “I want to be the man who secures your life. Yours, Serenity’s, and his. Always.”
“Yes,” she sobbed, pulling me up before I could even finish the gesture. “Yes, Batman. Of course.”
I slid the ring onto her finger, my forehead resting against hers while she cried into my chest. I felt her heart beating against mine, and lower down, the steady, rhythmic movement of our son.
The door flew open a second later.
“LOOK!” Serenity shouted, skidding into the room. “Dad got us matching chains!”
I felt Sevyn go still against me. She pulled back, her eyes wide as she looked at her daughter.
“Dad?” Sevyn repeated, her voice hushed.
“Yup!” Serenity said, puffing out her chest to show off the pink diamonds. “Look! We the Batman Team now.”
Sevyn looked at the chain, then up at me, her eyes filling with a whole new set of tears. She didn’t have to say a word. The look she gave me told me that the title meant more than the ring ever could.
I wrapped an arm around my daughter and the other around my fiancé, pulling my family into the center of the room.
I couldn’t be more happier.