Page 103 of Quiet Protector

Stealing my chance to thank him for his help, he disconnects our feed just as the white van holding Ophelia darts by us. I can’t see anything through the super dark tint, but I can imagine Phillipa’s smile. It’s as big as mine.

“Mellowy.” Bobby breaks away from me when we enter the hotel lobby, eager to reach Melody who’s nervously pacing the marble tiles. I’m pleased to say Bobby can’t pronounce his D’s any better than I did when I was his age.

“Hi, Bobby,”Melody signs and speaks at the same time before she bobs down to return his friendly greeting with a big hug. They’ve only met once and FaceTimed a handful of times, but I’m confident Bobby is as smitten with Melody as I am. “I can’t believe you have finally come to live with us.”

I run my fingers through Bobby’s dark locks when he curls his arm around my thigh before taking in the elaborate foyer. “Is this where you live?” he stutters out with a lisp.

“No,” Melody answers on our behalf. “When your daddy told me you love animals, we moved into a house with lots of paddocks.” Bobby’s pupils expand to the size of saucers when Melody discloses, “We have pigs, horses, cows, and a dozen chickens. Would you like to go see them?”

Bobby nods so quickly, I’m certain his brain is rattled. “Please, Mellowy.”

Melody’s heart melts when he purposely mispronounces her name while signing it as taught, then it completely stops when I join her at Bobby’s level. I’m not squatting, though. I’m down on one knee, proposing to a woman who loves my son simply because he’s mine.

Furthermore, the ring box has been burning a hole in my pocket all day. I can’t wait a second longer.

Bobby slaps a hand over his mouth to hide his smile when I ask, “Mellowy, will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Then he full-heartedly laughs when Melody lifts her hand in the air to wiggle her eaten candy pop ring around. “Too late.” After tickling Bobby’s belly, making him chuckle more, she cups my scruff-covered jaw in her hands, lowers her mouth to mine, then whispers against my lips, “But I’d love to make it official.”