I can’t believe that one year ago, I almost didn’t give Grady a second chance.

What a mistake that would have been.

Getting back with him wasn’t the easiest thing. I mean, of course, for a few days after I’d decided to be with him again, it was easy, because we’d both just been so happy to finally be together again. Things felt good.

But, eventually, some of my resentment bled in again, and we had some things to work through.

I don’t want to make it sound like getting back together again was easy, it wasn’t, but is love ever easy? What it was, though, was worth it. Absolutely, one hundred percent, worth it.

Because today, I was the happiest I’d ever been. Today, I was dating the man of my dreams, and we were good. We were happy.

And I had a feeling we always would be.

I was lying on the couch, reading a book, when Grady walked in with groceries in hand.

“Need help with those?” I asked.

“Nope,” he said, “I’m fine. Go back to reading.”

So, as he unloaded the groceries, I did. I focused on my book and didn’t pay much attention to whatever it was he was doing.

Until he finished putting away groceries and was standing in the kitchen just staring at me, waiting.

“Uh, what?” I asked.

“N-nothing,” he stuttered, as he turned around.

He’s been doing this lately, for the past few days at least… he’s been acting a little strange. Like he has something he wants to tell me but then never does. Though, of course, I’m sure there’s nothing. We tell each other absolutely everything.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had another secret baby to tell me about!” I teased him.

But he looked up at me, shock on his face, and suddenly my heart dropped.

“Grady, no, don’t tell me you got someone else pregnant!” And how?! We’d been together for over a year now! There couldn’t be someone from his past who was pregnant.

There could be someone who had a baby long ago, though. Who only now brought it to his attention that he was a father.

“No, no!” he said quickly and laughed awkwardly. “No, it’s not that at all…”

“Then what is it?” I asked suddenly. “Why are you being so damn strange? I don’t get it. Don’t we tell each other everything?”

“Yes, of course…” he said softly.

“So, why does it feel like you’re keeping something a secret?”

He sighed and walked over to the couch, sitting at the end of it and putting my feet on his lap.

“Okay, so, you know how you mentioned a baby just now, and I reacted all… weird?”

“Yes…” I said softly.

“Well, that might be because… because I want one?”

“Want one what?” I asked cluelessly, before it hit me.

“A baby…”

“Oh!” I said suddenly.

This shouldn’t surprise me at all. I’d always known Grady wanted to have kids. Wasn’t that made extra clear to me when he left me because he wanted to do right by his future child? Obviously, having kids meant everything to him.

“I know we’ve only been together a year now, and we’re not even married yet, so I haven’t brought it up. I didn’t want to freak you out, and it doesn’t have to be soon, but I just want to talk about it. Discuss it, you know? Make sure we’re on the same page. Make sure it’s a possibility in a couple years.”

I thought on this. “Of course it’s a possibility, babe,” I told him.

“Really?” he asked excitedly.

“Of course! You think I might not want to have kids?” That would be very selfish of me, to not want kids, but to continue in a relationship with someone I know wants them so desperately.

“Well, I mean, it just hasn’t been discussed…”

“Babe, I know how you feel. I know how badly you want to be a father, and… and that can happen sooner than later, if you want…” I said slowly.

“Wait, really? Like… in a year, maybe?”

I gave him a cheeky smile. “In a year, maybe, yeah. I mean, I hadn’t really thought about it, but… I’m ready. I’ll be ready.”

“You’re serious?!”

I grinned at him, “I am.”

I really hadn’t thought much on it, but I knew this time would come for Grady sooner rather than later, so it wasn’t a total shock. And I would be ready. I’d be ready for anything with him by my side.

“You’ve just got to promise me one thing,” I told him.

“What?!” he asked. “Anything!”

“You’ve gotta marry me first.”

He grinned cheekily but didn’t say anything.

“What?” I questioned. “Do you agree or not?”

“Oh, I agree…” he said softly, as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small red velvet box.

I jumped up off the couch immediately. “What… what is that?!”

“It’s my agreement. It’s my promise… to marry you.”

“You’re kidding?!” I gasped. “You have a ring like… you’ve seriously already bought a ring.”

“Baby, I’ve had a ring for months. I’ve just been waiting until the right time,” he knelt down on the floor in front of me. “Will you marry me?!”

I couldn’t even say yes. I just squealed. Squealed, squeaked, and jumped around in circles.

“I’m going to take that as a yes?” he asked with a grin.

“Yes! Absolutely yes, I’ll marry you! A thousand times over, I’ll marry you!”

He stepped in toward me, putting the ring on my finger. “And have babies with me?”

“Lots of babies! All the babies! Whatever the hell you want.”

He pulled me in slowly and planted a soft, gentle kiss on my lips.

“Here’s to the beginning of our journey, the beginning of our family… just the way I always hoped it would be.”

I kissed him back. “Here’s to us.”

And what a family we were going to become.