Page 71 of North
“Congratulations, bro! How does fatherhood feel?” He asked after he high-fived North.
“Amazing. I already don’t want her to grow up.”
“Grow up? She just got here. She’s not allowed to grow up yet,” he chuckled. “North, you choose a name yet? Don’t let my niece walk around without a name,”
“Her name is Blaze.” North stared at our daughter in Melanie’s arms and smiled. I’d never seen her more serene.
“Middle name?” Melanie’s gray eyes moved from North to me.
“I like Serena,” I said, noting how peaceful North looked. North agreed with the biggest smile and our daughter’s name was set in stone.
Ourfamilywas finally set in stone. Once Blaze was in my arms and in my heart I knew I’d die for her. I’d do anything to see her little smile.
“Oh, Kane, I have news,” Melanie said, handing a squirming Blaze back to North.
“What’s up?” I quizzed, raising an eyebrow.
“Guess who couldn’t pay their fine for three months in a row?”
“No surprise there,” I sighed. I knew when I sued Sierra for defamation she wouldn’t be able to pay up.
“She got arrested this morning.”
I didn’t feel happy or vindicated about it. I’d long since put her out of my mind once the gallery started to rebound. I couldn’t afford to give her any more energy so I didn’t.
“That’s not the only news,” Elijah said. The look on his face was hard to read. He couldn’t hold on to the ambiguity for too long because a smile started to form on his lips.
“What’s the news?” North pressed.
“I’m pregnant,” Melanie said, after a pause. Happiness danced in her eyes as she looked to Elijah.
“Oh my god!” North blurted. Immediately, she looked down to make sure she didn’t wake Blaze. “Mel, I’m so happy.” Before I knew it, they were both crying happy tears. I let them have their moment before I congratulated Mel and pulled her in for a hug.
Seeing Melanie and Elijah growing their family right alongside us made my heart full.
There was only one piece missing.
I pulled a small black box from my pocket and dropped to one knee at North’s beside. Her tears started immediately. She laid Blaze down in the bassinet beside the bed and brought her shaky hands to her mouth.
“Kane,” She sniffled knowingly.
“North, I can’t think of anyone else I want to spend forever with. You get me. You’re everything to me. The air I breathe, the colors around me, the blood pumping through my veins. I want this for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me?”
She didn’t respond with words but her tearful nod was enough of an answer for me. I slid a modest diamond ring on her finger and stood to kiss her full lips. My world was complete.
I was going to give both of my girls whatever they needed for the rest of our lives together. It was all I cared about now. My girls and my family.
Forever.
The end.