“Do we need anything else, Dad?”

“Let’s see. We’ve got the cups, right?” I asked.

“Yep.”

“And the Sprite for the punch?”

“Uh huh.”

“What about the miniature moisturizers for the gift bags?”

“The little red tubes?”

“Those are the ones,” I said.

“We’ve got those.”

“Then I think that’s it.”

“Mom always forgets stuff.”

“In her defense, she’s been very busy lately. This thing with Bloomingdale’s is very big.”

“What’s it called again?” Brody asked.

“It’s called a launch party. See, your mother is going to be designing her own line of clothing for the store, and it launches tomorrow. They’re celebrating the launch tonight before the store opens in the morning.”

“Then Mom’s clothes will be in the store?” he asked.

“Exactly.”

“And this is a big thing?”

“Son, it’s a very big thing,” I said.

I drove Brody and myself to the hotel where the party was about to begin. Ana had been running around doing so many things that she had forgotten a few things on her list of items for the party.

The head designer of Bloomingdale’s kept telling her to rely more on the party coordinator they had hired specifically for this purpose, but I knew Ana wouldn't use him any more than she had to. She was a powerhouse to her core, independent and full of life.

She’d throw this party on her own unless someone chained her down and restricted her movements.

“We’re back, Kristi.”

“Oh, thank you. Thank you for running out. I need those moisturizers now. And the Sprite. People are going to start arriving soon, and I have to get the punch together and put it in the chiller,” she said.

“Can I help?” Brody asked.

“Wanna pour an entire bottle of Sprite out?”

“Yeah!”

I passed off the rest of the things we had picked up to the party planner who had become nothing but a shadow in the background. The conference room that Bloomingdale’s had booked for the party looked phenomenal. The smells of dinner drifted from the massive kitchen, and the silk tablecloths glistened underneath the dim lighting. There was a tower of champagne glasses, a chocolate fountain, a dance floor, and a DJ setting up in his booth.

They really had gone all out for this party.

I dipped into a restroom to put on my suit. Then Brody came in and I helped him with his. I had decided to put us in matching suits that would ultimately match Ana’s dress. Or at least based on what she had told me her dress looked like. I hadn’t actually seen her in it yet. But she had said it was blue and silver, so that was what I went with.

We had light gray suits with dark blue button-down shirts and silver ties. We were practically twins. I took his hand and we emerged from the bathroom. Then we headed straight for the party that had already begun.

The room was filled. There had to be at least five hundred people here to celebrate. And in the middle of it all, sipping on her glass of water and being doted on by the bigwigs, was Ana.

She looked absolutely breathtaking.

Her royal blue dress had a stitched silver design that flowed down the expanse of the gown. It had small spaghetti straps with fabric that fell off her shoulders, and every time she moved, the gown sashayed with her hips. Her silver jewelry sparkled in the light of the room, and her beautiful blond hair was piled high on her head. Her entire ensemble made her aquamarine eyes pop as she panned her gaze over to us.

When she saw us, she gasped. “Look at my boys!” she exclaimed.

“Surprise,” I said.

“You two match!”

“You look spectacular, Ana.”

“Oh, we have to get a picture of this. Get together! Family photo!”

People started taking pictures as flashes went off everywhere. I held Brody close to me and slipped my arm around Ana’s waist, holding her closer to me than I ever had in my life. I looked down into her eyes, watching her smile bloom across her cheeks.

Then she looked up at me, and I knew tonight would be the perfect night.

The night drew on and people started dancing. Food was eaten and drinks were shot back, but Ana seemed pretty tame considering the occasion. She talked and picked at food, but she didn’t really seem to unleash. It gave me pause before I headed over to the DJ booth.

“Excuse me, everyone? Could I have your attention please?”

Everyone quieted down as Ana’s eyes widened.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“I’d like to take this moment to thank everyone for coming out and celebrating this joyous occasion with our family. This is a big moment for Ana Price, and I know she’s got a speech churning inside her to give.”

Are you nuts? she mouthed.

“Yeah! Mom has a speech she wants to give,” Brody said as he took the microphone from me. “But first, I want to tell you guys how awesome she is.”

The crowd let out a collective awww that cascaded around the room.

“My mom is the best. She works hard, and she always gives up what she wants so that my dad and me can have what we want. So, tonight is hers to be happy about what she wants. I’m proud of you, Mom.”

Tears rose in Ana’s eyes as I took the microphone from Brody.

“I couldn't have said it better myself. So, without further delay—Ana?”

The crowd chanted her name as I wiggled the microphone at her. She shook her head and tossed the rest of her water back, then walked up onto the stage. The crowd cheered as she took the microphone, and I stuck my hand into my pocket. I took a step back from her and wrapped my hand around the small box against my thigh. Then I waited for the perfect opening in a speech I knew she had been planning for weeks, though I had known she’d act coy about it.

“I don’t really have a speech fully prepared, but I do have something I want to say. First off, thank you to Bloomingdale’s for taking this step with me. There is a blossoming market for making women of my stature and bigger feel wonderful and beautiful in their skin, and for Bloomingdale’s to be brave enough to take on my daring designs is an honor I can’t describe.”

I pulled the box from my pocket as the audience stood captivated by Ana’s words.

“I also want to thank my son and Tyler for being there for me during this crazy time in my life. A lot has gone on, but without their support, I’m not sure I would have gotten to this point.”

I stepped back up to her side and gazed down at the profile of her face, taking in the beauty of her pride.

“So, this night is for all of us, for all of those who supported this endeavor and the families who put up with the craziness during this time. This launch is for every big girl who got picked on in school and told they weren’t beautiful. This line is for every curvy belle on the planet who can’t find the right jeans to fit them or the right dress for that perfect date. But most of all—”

I got down on one knee and popped the box open as the crowd gasped. They began to cheer as Ana looked down at me. Then her hands flew to her mouth. The crowd went wild. They clapped and whistled and yelled yes. I smiled at Ana with tears in my eyes as Brody walked up beside his mother, slipping his hand into hers.

“But most of all, this launch is for you, Ana, for all your hard work and your dreams, the obstacles you overcame and worked through despite the life that was handed to you. Yes, this launch is for everyone in this room. But most of all, it’s for you, my love.”

Tears fell from her eyes as my hand began to shake.

“I love you, and I love our son. I want us to be a family, and I want to stand at your side while you succeed. I want to help you through every launch and be there for every moment so I can share them all with you. I want us to be the family I dreamed of in college. I want to be the man you know I can be. Ana Elizabeth Price, will you marry me?”

“Marry him! Marry him! Marry him!”

I laughed as the crowd chanted, but they didn’t have to do it for long. Ana nodded her head as tears streaked down her cheeks, and it launched me from the floor. I wrapped my arms around her and crashed my lips to hers, bending her back as Brody yelped with excitement.

“My parents are getting married!”

I laughed against her lips before I settled her on her feet. Then I plucked the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. I wrapped her up in my arms and kissed her one last time, pulling another cheer from the crowd before the music struck back up. Then I took her hand and the hand of my son and escorted my family off the stage.

“Are you moving in now?” Brody asked.

“I think so, Son.”

“Can we have movie nights every night?”

“Of course we can,” I said.

“Can we camp in the backyard and have sleepovers, too?”

“I bet we can even convince your Mom to go camping in a national park with us,” I said.

“Will you, Mom? Will you come camping with Daddy and me?” Brody asked.

“I suppose it depends on when you want to go,” Ana said.

“We can go anytime you want,” I said.

“As long as it’s within the next three months, we’re good. Otherwise, it might not be a good idea,” Ana said.

“I think we can make within three months happen. What do you say, Brody?”

“Yeah! Camping with Mom and Dad!”

Ana wrapped her hand around my wrist and guided my hand down her body. It graced her chest and slid down her stomach, then stopped right at her belly button. I furrowed my brow as my eyes caught hers, and then everything slowly fell into place. The water. Picking at her food. The sleep in her eyes that had kept her from dancing.

The next three months.

“Oh my gosh,” I whispered.

“I think this one’s going to be a little harder on me this time,” Ana said.

“Oh my gosh,” I said.

“What is it, Daddy?” Brody asked.

“Are you really?” I asked.

“Is Mom what? What’s going on?” Brody asked.

“Sweetheart, how would you like to have a little brother or sister?” Ana asked.

My jaw hit the floor as her eyes fell to Brody.

“You’re going to have a baby?” he asked.

“I am. Is that okay?” Ana asked.

Tears filled my eyes as I drew her into my arms. I couldn't believe it. Ana was pregnant. Our family was growing and we were getting married. I laughed into the crook of her neck and spun her around, kissing her shoulder as my tears dropped onto her skin.

“You’re pregnant,” I whispered.

“We’re pregnant,” Ana said.

“We’re going to do it right this time,” I said.

“I know,” Ana said.

“We’re going to do it right from here on out.”

“It’s going to be perfect, Tyler.”

I settled her back down on her feet before I hoisted my son into the crook of my arm.

“We’re going to do this right,” I said.

“I’m gonna be a big brother?” Brody asked.

“You are, sweet boy,” Ana said.

“And Daddy’s gonna live with us?” he asked.

“I am,” I said.

The second Brody wrapped his arms around both of us, my life finally fell into place. I had my son, I had my business, and I had the woman I loved. We were creating a family. We were creating a legacy. We were creating a history I had always known we would.

It was everything I could have ever wanted, everything I had dreamed of in college.

And then, even though I didn’t think it could, it got better.

“I love you guys,” I said breathlessly.

“We love you too,” Brody said.

I looked into my son’s face as a smile crossed his cheeks.

“You love me?” I asked.

“You’re my dad. Of course I love you,” he said.

Hearing my son tell me he loved me for the first time made an already perfect moment even better. The only thing I knew to do was celebrate, to commit every single moment of this night to memory. So, I pulled my family out onto the dance floor and put Brody on my shoulders as people clapped and smiled, cheering us on.

It was time to create some true family memories.