Page 115 of Tangled Emotions

He sat down and I went to the fridge to get out two ice cold root beers in bottles. I popped the tops off and sat down with him, handing him one.

“Whoa.” He giggled. “This is the good stuff.”

“I thought we’d need it for our man to man talk today.”

His lips twisted up. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Not at all.”

“Okay, good.” He took a drink, wiped his mouth on his sleeve and folded his hands on the table, like he did the day we had our man-to-man talk at the diner.

“Here’s the thing.” I took a drink, then a deep breath. “I’m in love with your mom. And I love you too. This is my house, and I’d like for us all to live here.”

“This is a nice house.” He bobbed his head.

“I’d also like to marry your mom, if she’ll have me.”

“Marriage.” He stroked his non-existent beard. “So you’d be her husband?”

“Yes.”

“Well.” He threw his hands up. “I have questions.”

“Understandable.”

“Can you support her, so if something happened, she wouldn’t need to worry about money?”

That’s awfully specific.

“I can.”

“Will you always tell her she’s beautiful?”

“I will.”

His face took on a very stern look. “Will you be her best friend?”

Who is this kid? Columbo?

“I would love nothing more.” I took another drink. “Where’d you come up with these questions?”

A smile spread across his face. “I asked my Nana and Grandpa what were good qualities for a husband.”

“I see. Those are good qualities. Now, before I can ask her, I need to know how you would feel having me as a dad.”

“Hmm.” He took a drink of his root beer. “Will you be there when I need you?”

“Always.”

“Do you really love me?”

“I do.”

“I could be good with that.” He frowned.

“What is it?”

“Well if you marry Mom then she’ll be Edith Holliday.”

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