TY’S EYES GREW massive when we took his blindfold off. “You got me a house for my birthday?”

Our life in the city was now completely behind us. It had been a long and gruelling road packing and merging our lives over the last six months. And we’d gone and added a wedding to the mix at the last minute. It wasn’t all smooth sailing, but like everything that had happened since Jude and I met, we got through it, together. He was my rock and I was his, and no amount of time would change that.

For the purpose of this big reveal, we’d been staying in the main house with my parents while Jude and I prepared the new house with our new furniture and a mixture of our belongings. Until now, Ty hadn’t laid eyes on it, my family keeping him busy while Jude and I unpacked. The finishing touch was a giant bow that Jude, Dad, Harry and I all tied around the outside last night.

The look on Ty’s face was totally worth it.

“Do you like it?” I asked, helping him out of the ute.

“I don’t have to live in there all by myself, do I?”

I laughed. “No. This house is for you, Jude and me to live in. Do you want to go inside? I think there might be some more presents for you.”

His eyes grew bigger. “Really?”

I nodded. “How about you go and untie that big bow?”

“Come on!” he yelled, grabbing Jude’s hand then running for the front door. My brother followed closely behind, his phone held aloft as he filmed the whole experience. A squeal erupted the moment Jude opened the front door.

“This is the best birthday ever!”

“I think he likes it,” Mum said with a chuckle.

“Guys, get in here!” Ty yelled from the doorway, gesturing wildly for my parents and me to follow him.

“It’s a beautiful house,” my dad said taking in the wraparound veranda and outdoor landscaping. “You’ll all be real happy here.”

I looped my arm with his as we walked up the path. “Thank you for letting us do this. I don’t think I can express that enough.”

He patted my arm. “I have my little girl happy and back home. After everything you’ve been through, that’s all the thanks I need.”

Hugging him a little tighter, I touched my head to his shoulder. When we got inside, we were welcomed with the sight of Ty jumping into Jude’s arms.

“I love this house!”

Dad chuckled. “You chose well with that one. Jude is a good egg.”

“I know he is. And I think you’re right; we’re going to be really happy here.”

---

A little later that night, when Ty was tucked into bed, I stood in the doorway listening as Jude read him a story and Ty talked about what an amazing birthday he had. He was a five-year-old boy who’d just had all his dreams come true, and I imagined this would be a day he wouldn’t forget any time soon.

However, like with all little boys, there was just one more thing he wanted. “Jude,” he said, his voice sleepy as he stretched his hands above his head.

“Yes, buddy?”

“Since you and mummy are married now and we have this new house, do you think I can call you daddy?”

My chest clenched. Ever since Jude had been living with us, Ty had become a different boy. He was happier and acted more like the crazy kid he was supposed to be instead of the child of a grieving mother, always concerned about why she was so sad. I understood that he wanted a father and he saw that in Jude. But I didn’t know how Tyler would feel about his son calling another man ‘daddy’.

“I don’t know, bud. Why do you want to call me daddy?”

“Because everyone calls you Jude. Mummy says that mummy is a special name that only I get to call her. I want you to have a special name too. And I want you to be my daddy. I wished on my cake that it could be you.”

Jude’s head spun and his eyes met mine. Hearing Ty’s reason, I knew it wasn’t about me, or Jude, or Tyler, it was about the little boy and his birthday wish and his longing for something he’d never experienced until Jude entered our lives. I nodded my head, letting Jude know that I was completely OK with it if he was.

He turned back to Ty and ran a hand through his thick blond hair. “I’d love nothing more than to be your daddy, Ty. That would make me very happy.”

Ty smiled. “Goodnight, Daddy,” he said. “I love you.”

“I love you too, son. Goodnight, Ty,” Jude replied, kissing him on the forehead before creeping out of the room. My eyes were swimming with tears.

“You heard all that?” he asked when we moved into the living room.

I nodded, sniffling. “Yeah. I heard every word. It was...intense. Beautiful.”

He wiped a hand over his face. “Are you sure you’re all right with it?”

“Yeah. He loves you. It’s fitting. You earned it.”

“I don’t want to take anything away from Tyler.”

“He’ll always know who his father is, but he needs a dad too, Jude. All of our kids will.”

“What do you mean, all of our kids?”

“Well, you know we haven’t exactly been careful lately. What with all the stress of the wedding and the move…well, I’m late.”

“You’re late?” His hand covered his mouth and his eyes grew wide. “Have you tested?”

“Not yet. I was waiting for you.”

“OK.” He looked freaked out.

“Are you OK with this? We haven’t talked about more kids. But with the lax protection, I kind of thought you would be happy about this.”

“I am. I’m nervous.” He held out his hand. “Look, I’m shaking.”

I took it, laughing. “OK. Then let’s test.”

He nodded, swallowing hard. Then I went to the bathroom, and together we stood and watched as the test activated. Within ten seconds two pink lines showed up.

“Is that a yes?” he asked.

“That’s a yes.” I smiled.

“Yes,” he yelled, his fist pumping the air before he picked me up and spun me around in a circle. Then he lowered me to the ground and kissed me softly. “I’m going to be the best husband and father. I had a shitty example, but I’ll be better than you could possibly imagine.”

With my heart filled with love—everything we’d been through, all that we’d shared—it came down to this moment. A moment where all our hopes and dreams about what the future could hold became a reality. I touched his face and looked into his eyes, smiling. “You already are, Jude.”