Page 135 of Townshipped
I hum, still in awe that we get to have all this. We spend nearly every day together, unless one of us is in Cincinnati or Columbus on a consulting call.
When I flew back with Aiden six months ago, I ended up staying with Jayme and Shannon. Aiden and I spent those short three days talking about our future. Two weeks later I moved back to Bordeaux, renting the other side of Lexi and Trevor’s duplex, which is where I still live now.
Aiden had a flash of inspiration as to how I could support myself and move to Bordeaux. I was dead set on being self-supporting. He didn’t fight me, which was a surprise.
We merged our business skills into a new company: MacIntyre Business Solutions. I offer marketing consultation remotely and Aiden still does the IT consulting work he always did.
Aiden guides me over to the large black dinner bell he has perched on a tall iron pole.
“Want to do the honors?” he asks.
I pull the small rope and the bell sounds. People start making their way to the tables where potluck salads and side dishes are spread alongside the platters of meat Aiden and Duke grilled all afternoon.
We all fill our plates and mingle while we eat. Children run here and there, playing freely. It’s life as it should be.
And it’s our life.
After the meal is finished, Aiden calls everyone’s attention. He grabs my hand and we walk toward the firepit. Karina gathers all the kids. Paisley and Ty come over to stand next to Aiden.
“I don’t have much to say, because I’m not a public speaker,” Aiden says, looking down at Paisley and Ty. “I just want to thank all of you for being here for us on this special day when I get to share the biggest news of my life so far. The most important thing to me is family. It’s the family who raised me. And now, it’s the family I’m raising.”
I smile up at him. He says he’s not a public speaker. I beg to disagree.
“These two.” Aiden pauses to ruffle Paisley and Ty’s hair.
Paisley immediately smooths her hand down her head to straighten any potential mess Aiden made. Ty just beams up at Aiden like he’s Captain America, or even better, one of the Kratt brothers.
“These two have made my life so full … full of messes. Full of noise. Full of more crayons and juice boxes than I ever knew I needed. But also full of love, and fun, and snuggles. And most of all, full of purpose. And now, whether they like it or not, they aren’t going to be able to get rid of me.”
“We don’t want to get rid of you, Uncle Aiden Dad,” Ty says.
Everyone laughs.
“I don’t want to get rid of you either, buddy. Not ever,” Aiden says softly.
I look over at Gabriela. She’s wiping her cheek and beaming at me. She mouths, “I’m not crying, you’re crying.”
I smile big.
“And this one here,” Aiden turns to me.
What is he doing? This isn’t about me. It’s a day for him and the kids. Maybe I fill some sort of motherly role in their lives, but we’re so careful to keep the line well marked so the kids don’t have to deal with more confusion.
“Em,” Aiden says with a look of desperate hope and overwhelming joy. “Em. You’re everything to me.”
His voice has shifted. He’s not making a speech. He’s talking to me. It’s the voice he uses in the late hours when the kids are tucked in, the last emails are sent, and it’s just the two of us alone in the living room.
“I love you, Em. Plain and simple. You’re my one and only. Make me the happiest man in the world. Complete my purpose.”
He drops to one knee and I gasp. Gabriela squeals. All eyes shift to her for a minute, but then they’re back on the scene unfolding right before me. Aiden on his knee in the gravel, Ty and Paisley standing right here with us.
“Will you marry me?” Aiden asks.
And then, as if the tears weren’t welling in my eyes, Ty drops to his knee and the Paisley drops to hers and they say, “Will you be our mom?” and I lose it.
I look down into Paisley’s eyes. She’s staring up at me with a shy, but hopeful expression on her face. I answer her before I turn to Aiden. She needs to know. I’m not only accepting Aiden. I’m saying this for us.
“Yes. I’d be honored.”
