46. Astrid
We’ve talked at length about how this will go, so I don’t know why I’m still so nervous. Sean squeezes my hand as we walk into the room and sit Violet down. She must sense something because she looks between us as she kicks her legs against the couch.
“Violet,” Sean begins, his voice is strong and clear. He smiles. “Astrid and I have something important to talk to you about.”
I take a deep breath. I hope she’s happy. I hope that she’s okay with this. I’d never want to replace her mother.
“You’re staying!” Violet says, not missing a beat. Her face breaks into a smile.
It makes me laugh. I should’ve known that I didn’t have to worry about that part. We get along great. But getting along and having a potential stepmother are two very different things.
“Well,” I say, “yes.”
Sean squeezes my hand.
“Astrid is going to stay. She’s going to keep living with us.”
Violet bounces with excitement.
I take a deep breath, a mixture of relief at her excitement and nervousness for what he’ll say next. Violet is only six, too young to really understand what’s going on, but I still want her to accept me. I want her to be happy. I want them to be my family.
“Violet. Astrid is my girlfriend,” I say.
“Ohhhhhh.” Violets eyes widen in excitement, and then a big smile spreads across her face. Are you going to get married? She seems unable to contain her joy.
Sean nods and my heart swells.
“We do want to get married one day. Does that make you happy?”
“Yes!” Violet throws her arms around us in a tight hug, her approval and happiness evident in the way her tiny arms squeeze our necks.
Thank god.
Violet is reluctant to go to bed after that, too excited and insisting that she gets to stay awake. Sean and I both stay in her room, taking turns reading to her until her eyes betray her, and she grows too tired to stay awake.
When she’s tucked in and fast asleep, we walk downstairs hand in hand, the warmth between us growing as we start this new chapter in our lives. I can’t believe we are so lucky. Sean and I are going to be together, to get to bask in our love and support of our new makeshift family.