Page 146 of Wicked Love

“Yes!” Becca agrees.

“Your kindness softened me, your laughter steadied me, and your love made me believe in possibilities. You’ve made me a better man, a better father, a better human than I thought possible.

“Today, I promise you that I will never stop showing up for you. I will celebrate all the wins and hold you through all the losses. I will listen and learn and grow beside you. I will protect our family and love you without limits. I vow tohonor the trust you’ve placed in me, every day, for all the days to come.

“I have been unsure of so much in the past, but when I look at you, I know with absolute certainty: I am where I am meant to be, by your side, forever. I love you, Poppy.”

Poppy presses her trembling lips together and dabs her eyes with a lacy cloth.

“I loveyou, Bowie. I never imagined that love could feel so honest, so gentle and strong all at once. You saw the person I was—clumsy, blunt, and always hopeful—and you never asked me to be anyone else. You’ve shown me that love is not only about holding on when it’s easy, but it’s about standing together when life is messy and unpredictable. Your patience, your quiet strength, and the way you love my heart and our children have filled me up with more joy than I thought possible. Your hair is also really amazing.”

Everyone cracks up and there are a few whistles and catcalls.

“Today, I promise to cherish the man you are and the man you strive to be. You’re perfect to me, and I can’t wait to laugh and cry with you for the rest of our lives. I love you so much, today and forever.”

I put my hand on her cheek, thumbing away the tear, and lean in to kiss her softly.

“Ahh…I guess I’ll allow that,” Penn says, laughing.

When it’s time for the rings, Poppy turns to get hers and I turn to Rhodes. He makes a clicking sound with his mouth and Bogey runs up, dressed in a bowtie. He twirls around twice and Rhodes bends down and retrieves the ring that’s connected to his tie. Once the ring is in Rhodes’ hand, confetti shoots out of Bogey’s bowtie as he runs back to his spot.

There’s applause and I turn to Rhodes.

“How in the hell—” I ask.

“Dog whisperer,” he says smugly.

We exchange rings and before we’re pronounced husband and wife, Poppy turns and looks at Becca. Marley hands Poppy a beautiful frame, and my eyes water when I see what it is. I didn’t realize Poppy wanted to do this in front of everyone, and once I do, the waterworks start flowing.This woman.

“Becca, can you come up here, please?” she says, smiling at Becca.

Becca jumps up, always ecstatic to do what Poppy asks of her.

Poppy takes Becca’s hand.

“You have a picture for me,” Becca says, excited.

“Yes, and I want to tell you what it says,” Poppy says, holding the frame up for Becca to see. “It says that I’m officially your mom now.” She points at their names. “See, right there? Becca Fox has officially been adopted by Poppy Fox. That means I’m your mom forever and forever.”

“You are?” Becca gasps.

“Yes,” Poppy says. She puts her arms around Becca and they hug. “You can call me whatever you want, Poppy or Mom or Mommy…”

“I call you my mom,” she says, sounding like a teenager all of a sudden. She beams at me. “Daddy, I have a mom!”

“Yes, my sweet girl. You do.”

She turns to the crowd and yells, “I have a mom!”

Everyone cheers and the three of us huddle into a hug.

“Perfect,” Poppy says, laughing through her tears.

I am a fucking puddle. When Poppy asked about adopting Becca, I was also a puddle. I’ve never considered asking Adriane to sign over her rights before, because I’ve always hoped she’d eventually want to have some part in Becca’slife. For Becca’s sake, I’ve wanted that door to always be open, but Adriane has proven she has no intention of ever being in Becca’s life. When Adriane didn’t have any objection to relinquishing her rights, I knew even more that this was the right thing.

Poppy isn’t going anywhere. She’s loved Becca from day one and the bond they have gets stronger every day.

Everyone keeps clapping and cheering. I look back and the guys are wiping their eyes. Softies, the whole lot of them.

---