Two Years Later

Picking up the keys from the real estate agent, I rush home, to give Taylah and the girls their final surprise.

After months of searching we finally found our dream home; one big enough for Aubrey, Abigail and everyone else who comes in and out of our lives.

It’s been two years since I walked back into Taylah’s life, and I have no regrets. Actually, I have one, that we didn’t meet sooner, so I would have more years with her, because this lifetime and the next will never be enough.

From then on our relationship hit the ground running and we still haven’t stopped. It took three months for me to sell my place and move in with her. She argued we should move into my place because it was bigger, but I told her I wasn’t ready to give up her drawing to strangers.

One year later, we put down our names as foster parents. It’s been challenging, rewarding, and completely life changing, in all the ways that matter.

It’s an open house for the most part. Long term and short term stays, until we met Aubrey and Abigail. They were newborn twins who needed permanent housing. It was kismet.

Seeing Taylah work her magic, bring her Crazy to more lives than just mine has been the icing on the cake. So much so, that I can’t wait to have babies of our own.

Walking in the front door, I greet her the same way I always do. “Honey, I’m home.”

Laying on the couch she has two babies draped across her body; the three of them sleeping. I snap a picture, and send it to her, with the hashtag MILF. Instagram is still a no go for me, but nobody can say I don’t have my hashtags down pat.

Using the time they’re asleep to pack some last minute things in the car, I walk around the house making as much noise as possible. She’s going to kill me, but I’m desperate for them to wake up.

Two hours later, we pull up to the place dreams are made of.

“I’m just going to check something inside, are you good to get the girls out of the car?” She rolls her eyes at me, while shutting the door with her hip.

“I don’t know, Sexy, it’s a mystery how the three of us survive without you.”

I kiss her to shut her up. It works, and she knows it. “I’ll see you inside.”

The sound of slow and cautious footsteps, sets my plan in motion. The front door opens straight to the living room, a huge blank wall with no furniture directly in front of it. Down on one bended knee, I hold both her ring, and a photo I’ve kept hidden in one hand.

Her mouth drops the minute she sees me. Placing the girls in the middle of the floor, she frets about their comfort before walking toward me. This is why I love her.

“What are you doing?” she asks, as she gets closer.

“What do you think I’m doing, Crazy?” I fight the urge to stand up, and continue with the plan. “I want you to marry me.”

“Drix.” She says my name like the sun rises and sets with me. Like there’s nothing before me and nothing after me. She says my name like I’m the one. Every. Single. Time.

“Crazy, when you walked into my world, I knew you would change it. I didn’t know how or in what way, but you were someone I was never going to forget. You had faith in me when I lost hope for my own happy ever after. You challenge me to be better, to do better. For you, for our family, and for myself.”

Holding my hand out for hers, I slide the ring on her fourth finger, just as I hand her the next surprise.

“What’s this?” she asks.”

“See if you remember it,” I urge.

Her eyes widen, as it dawns on her. “How did you get this?”

“I had it taken that night.” In her hand is a photo from the Karaoke Bar. It doesn’t hold the same sadness as the original, but her ethereal beauty is all the same. Wearing a smile through tears, I take all credit for the photo that captures our happiness. “Turn it around.”

Taylah Jennings, I love you. I have never loved someone as much as I love you. I have never been loved the way you love me. Become my wife. Become the mother of our children, all of them, in any which way they come. Save the world with me, Crazy. Just like you saved me.