“I don’t want to leave you two tonight,” Reiner whispered while he stood behind her as their little bundle of joy let loose a small cry. He would have to fly out tonight for an away game tomorrow. Jada had gotten used to flying with him so that she could see all his games. She was still learning the game of football, and with Reiner as her teacher, she was getting the best person to school her.
“Reiner, you woke her up.” Jada swatted at Reiner. She leaned over and scooped up their daughter. Her small face was scrunched up in a precious cry. Her little lips puckered up as if wanting a kiss from her momma. Jada happily obliged and laid a small kiss to her daughter’s lips.
“I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to look at her once more.” He chuckled, reaching for little Miss Serenity Sara Strickland.
“Well, if you’re going to wake her then you can change her.” Jada walked with him to the changing table.
Her life had changed in the past months. She had finally agreed to move in with Reiner so that she and the baby would be with him. He didn’t want to miss anything. Even though football season was in full swing, he still made sure that he was able to spend time with his little girl and her.
Reiner had fallen in the love with Serenity the minute she’d stepped foot in the world. She may only be a few weeks old, but she already had her father wrapped around her little finger. Jada patiently watched as he changed the baby’s diaper. He had mastered the art of diaper duty after a few tries.
He scooped Serenity up from the table.
“Hey, little girl, your family is here to visit with you. Let’s go make an entrance,” he cooed to her while they walked out of her bedroom.
“Why is everyone here today? Had I known that they were all coming, I would have cooked or something,” Jada muttered as they walked down the stairs.
The smells of tempting food filled the air.
“You don’t need to be up cooking,” Reiner remarked when they made it to the first level. “That’s why our mothers have designed a rotating schedule for one of them to be here with you.”
“There she is!” Reiner’s father called out once they entered the family room.
Everyone gathered around Reiner and Serenity, trying to get a look at her. Jada smiled and stood watching. She didn’t mind that their attention was on her. She was just happy that family was all there to love on Serenity.
The relationship between her and Erna had made a complete turnaround. There was no more tension in the air between them. Every time Reiner went home to the ranch, Jada was right there with him.
She couldn’t ask for a better life. She had fallen in love with a man who loved her for her and was crazy over their newborn child.
“Wait until she’s walking and big enough to get on her first pony!” Erna exclaimed, tapping Reiner’s father on the arm.
“Well, I have already been looking for a pony for her. Nothing but the best for my granddaughter.” Karl chuckled.
“Dad, not yet. It will be a few years before she’s getting in the saddle.” Reiner scoffed, handing off Serenity to Jada’s mother, Clare, where she and Erna both cooed and smiled at their granddaughter.
“Well, I guess I’m no longer the important one,” Jada joked since no one had even looked in her direction since entering.
Laughter filled the room while they all greeted her. She smiled, knowing that everyone was captivated by the baby. She took a few steps and stood next to her mother and Erna.
“How has she been sleeping, dear?” Clare asked.
“For some strange reason, she’s a night owl. Three in the morning, and I swear the little girl is wide awake and ready to eat. Literally it’s every night like clockwork.” She smiled and shook her head. It was worth it.
Now that she’d had the baby, she was taking time off from her salon. Trissa took on the responsibility of running the shop while Jada was out on maternity leave.
“Oh, dear. Reiner was a night owl. I swear, up to about age nine, he was always the child I would check on in the middle of the night and find him on the floor playing.”
They shared a laugh, and Jada noticed the women looking over her shoulder at something. She turned around, and a gasp escaped her.
Reiner was down on one knee behind her.
Her hands flew to her mouth as tears welled up.
“Oh, my goodness,” she whispered, staring into his eyes. Even on his knees they were eye-level. She glanced down at the small black velvet box that was in his hand. “What are you doing?”
Her gaze flew around the room, and the smiles on their faces let her know that everyone was in on the surprise. Their parents and Sky were grinning from ear to ear.
“Jada Dalton, from the moment I met you in the pouring down rain on the side of the road, I knew that you were special. Meeting you again later let me know that we were meant to be together.”
Tears began to freefall from Jada’s eyes as she listened to Reiner. Her gaze dropped to his hands when he opened the box, revealing the most amazing ring she’d ever seen. The large princess-cut diamond was surrounded by small diamonds and took her breath away.
“Reiner,” she hiccupped, brushing her tears from her cheeks.
“Jada, you have made me the happiest man on the earth by giving me the most perfect gift a man could ask for. I couldn’t ask for a better woman to be the mother for my child. It seems I’ve waited a lifetime to meet you and I want us to become official. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Make an honest man out of me and say you’ll marry me.”
He stared at her, waiting for an answer. She was too choked up with emotion to get a word out. She threw herself at him, almost tilting them both on the floor. Reiner stood from his knee, cradling her in his arms.
“Jada, honey, you have to answer. Is that a yes?” He chuckled, squeezing her tight.
“Yes!” she cried out as he set her down on her feet. She jumped in place, holding out her hand for him to slip the ring on her finger.
He leaned down and covered her lips with his while their family surrounded them.
She had fallen hard for Reiner, and now, she would have forever with the man of her dreams.
The End