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My mouth dropped open slightly as Daniel went to grab two glasses of champagne from a table nearby. He returned quickly and handed me one.
“I’d like to make a toast,” he said.
Everyone turned their attention to him.
“To Heart. Er, Addison. The strongest woman I know. I don’t know how I deserve you, but I will never take one single day with you for granted. I love you for the woman you are, and now for the mother you are. Cheers everyone.”
He raised his glass and everyone followed suit.
I looked up at him with teary eyes as we both took a sip of champagne.
“I love you,” I said, standing on my tiptoes and kissing him on the cheek.
“I loveyou,”he said.
He stared at me a moment longer before looking around the party proudly. I saw his eyes land on Brody and Freddy. I knew he was eager for them to meet Bridgette. I scooped her from Monica’s arms and handed her to Daniel.
“Go,” I said, giving him a nudge. “Go introduce her to her uncles.”
He looked at me and down at her before walking over proudly to his friends.
“The whole dad thing looks good on him,” said Monica.
“It does, doesn’t it?” I sighed, taking another sip of champagne.
I admired him for a moment, already thinking about getting him alone later tonight. If we would have a chance for that now that we were a family of three. We had so much to navigate, but I was eager to do it together.
I turned to Monica. My best friend who had done so much for me during everything. I wanted to thank her, but I stopped myself when I caught something in her eye. I hadn’t seen that look in a really long time.
“Monica?” I asked curiously.
“Hmm?” she said dreamily.
“Whatcha thinking about?” I asked, nudging her.
She giggled. Actually giggled. Monica, the bulldog acting like a giddy character from one of her novels.
“Monica…”
“Okay, okay. I met someone…”
“Oh, my gosh!” I squealed. “When? How? What? Who?”
“Calm down, calm down.” She laughed as she put her hands up.
“This is crazy,” I whispered, after I realized people were looking.
“I know. At first, I thought the whole thing between you and Daniel was crazy, but then…”
I waited for her to finish, but she shook her head.
“I’ll tell you everything later. This isyourday,” she said.
I pulled her in for a hug. “You better.”
We made our way over to where Daniel was now surrounded by his brother, Freddy, and my parents all admiring Bridgette. Never would I have ever pictured all of these people in a room together, but here we were. It was one of those moments you wanted to take a mental snapshot of and keep forever. I would never forget this.
Epilogue