Marley

The last year has been nothing short of incredible, and to be honest, I don’t know how I would have ever survived without him. When this man walked into my office, I never could have imagined we would end up here.

Together.

But here we are, happy as ever, still going strong.

“Let’s go to see the monkeys!” Lyla shouts from the top of Asher’s shoulders as he carries her toward the exhibit.

And if I thought the man couldn’t make me happier than he already does, when I see him with my daughter, my heart is nearly bursting.

Asher didn’t hesitate to step in as a positive male influence in her life. He does everything a father would, and for that, I am grateful. He’s showing my daughter that a man can have integrity and honor. He’s so good with her. It breaks my heart even more that he will never have a child of his own, because I know he would be an amazing father.

The way he is with Lyla.

She is still too young to understand what happened with Steven. I’ve done my best to explain her father’s passing without tainting her innocent mind. I know as she grows older she will want to know what really happened and ask more questions, but for now, she’s content with the answers I give her. Asher stepping into the role as father has helped tremendously, too. Not that I doubted him for a second. He’s the most caring, giving man I’ve ever known. 

Even when he has me tied up with my panties in my mouth, he’s nothing but generous.

I’ve never met such a selfless man and I can’t believe I get to call him mine.

We make it over to the monkeys and Lyla squeals with delight as we stand by and watch them swing from the vines.

“Look, Mama!” Lyla says as Asher lowers Lyla to the ground.

She tugs my hand, pulling me toward the photo booth. The three of us cram inside, Lyla sitting on both of our laps. I feed the couple of dollars into the machine and then the timer begins the countdown.

When it reaches one, Asher presents an open box with a diamond ring.

“Surprise!” Lyla says, clapping her hands. “Asher wants to marry us, Mommy. Can we please?”

My mouth hangs open in shock as I look from the ring box to him. Asher takes my left hand in his.

“I don’t think I can say anything that hasn’t already been said. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. You are the reason I get up every day. The reason I come home every night. You are my purpose.” He slides off the bench, bending down in this cramped photo booth. “Will you marry me?”

Lyla lowers her hands, plucking the ring from the box with her tiny fingers. “Let me see your hand, Mommy.”

I offer her my left hand, trembling with excitement as she slides the ring onto my third finger.

She claps her hands together with excitement. “It fits!”

I lean in, wrapping my arms around his neck. “It’s perfect.” He kisses my mouth. “You’re perfect,” I tell him.

“I don’t know about that, but for you, I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be.” He presses his forehead to mine. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes,” I reply, kissing him again. 

“Can we go see the hippos now?” Lyla asks.

Asher and I share a laugh as we pull apart. “Yes, but first.” He pulls out a tiny ring from his pocket, reaching for Lyla’s right hand.

She gasps and my heart expands in my chest. Two seconds ago I didn’t think I could love this man any more than I already do but once again, he’s proven me wrong.

I love him more and more with every breath I take.

“If I’m going to marry your mother, then I want to make a promise to you, too. I vow to always be fair and honest with you," Asher tells her. "I promise to support you in every way I can. I promise to always hold your hand and brush your hair when you ask me to. I promise to tuck you into bed every night. Wear crowns and let you paint my nails any time you want.”

Lyla giggles.

“I vow to show you how a man should treat a woman through my relationship with your mom," he says through the tears building in his eyes. "And above all else, I vow to protect you, care for you, and love you so big forever."

“Does this mean you’re going to be my daddy now?” she asks, her voice laced with hope.

“Yes,” Asher says, as he hugs her tight, a lone tear slipping down his scruffy face. “If that’s what you want?”

Lyla nods.

“You’re a good daddy. You take care of me and Mommy. You let me stay up late and watch movies when Mommy is working late. And you make the best pancakes in the whole wide world.”

“I do make good pancakes.” Asher laughs as he slips the tiny ring onto her right hand. 

“Daddy, can we go see the hippos now?”

Asher’s face beams with pride as he grabs her hand before clasping mine, leading us from the booth. We only make it a few steps before I remember to grab the photos from the tray.

I hold them up to inspect each one while Asher rests his chin on my shoulder. It’s incredible how much happiness can be expressed in four tiny photos.

He kisses my neck then my cheek. “Just think, this is only the beginning. The beginning of our forever.”

“It’s going to take forever to get to the hippos if you don’t come on,” Lyla says, tugging our hands.

We both laugh, following our little girl toward the hippos, toward our forever. 

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The End