Page 94 of Lucky Baller
“I’m sorry. I should have told you as soon as it happened. Lesson learned, I can promise you that.”
“Hopefully, nothing like this ever happens again.”
“If it does, we’re in it together,” he assures me.
“Together,” I repeat. We talk well into the morning hours. He helps me see Mom’s perspective, and although I’m hurt, I understand why she did it. I can’t imagine telling my young, impressionable daughter that I met a man, slept with him in the first week, fell in love, and didn’t even know his last name. I get it. I still think she should have told me when I was old enough to understand, but like Landon says, it’s not my story to tell. Not really. It doesn’t change the fact that Joseph didn’t know about me. We can only look toward the future, leaving the past where it lies and focusing on what’s yet to come.
The next morning, Landon and I find Mom and Joseph in the living room, drinking coffee and eating bagels.
“Morning,” I say, taking a seat on the couch.
“We went out for bagels,” Mom says. “They’re in the kitchen.”
“I’ll get them.” Landon leans down, kisses my forehead, and disappears into his kitchen.
“Have you been up all night?”
“We have.” Mom smiles at Joseph, and her face lights up. Something I’ve never seen from her before. Not like this.
Landon comes back, offering me a cup of coffee, but with no bagel in sight. I love how well he knows me. I’m not going to be able to eat until I talk to Mom. “Thank you.” He nods and takes a seat next to me.
“I’m sorry,” Mom starts. “I should have told you when you got older, but I didn’t know how. It hurt too much to think about never seeing him again.”
“Is that why you never dated?”
“I dated,” she counters.
“You did here and there, but never anyone serious. Never anyone you introduced me to. It’s always just been us.”
“I would have been there,” Joseph’s deep voice promises, filled with conviction. “If I had known where she was, I would have been there.”
“Why didn’t you look for her sooner?”
“I don’t know. For fear of what I would find, I guess.”
“So, why now?”
“Seeing you. You’re the spitting image of your mother, and it made her real again. All these years, that week has been in my mind, almost like a dream, but seeing you… that brought it all right back to reality. One I wanted more of. I knew if I found her and she was happy, I would walk away. I knew my heart would break all over again, but I did it anyway. I was tired of living with what could have been. I needed to know. I never could have imagined I’d find her and you. My d-daughter,” he says, choking up.
Landon places his hand on my thigh, giving me the courage I need. “I get it,” I tell them. “I understand, but it’s going to takeme some time. I don’t have this… connection that the two of you have. You’re a stranger to me,” I say, looking at Joseph.
“I want to get to know you, Tessa. I want to be a part of your life. You take all the time that you need. When you’re ready, I’d like to add my name to your birth certificate. I know you’re an adult, but it’s important to me.”
“I’m not changing my name.” I don’t know why I say it. He didn’t ask me to. I guess I just need to get that out in the open. Who knows, maybe one day, I might change my mind.
“Not to Stamper,” Landon speaks up. He sets his coffee down on the table and drops to his knees in front of me. He takes my coffee and places it on the table, as well, before taking my hands in his. “This isn’t how I planned to do this, and I don’t have a ring.” He grins, giving me a flash of his dimples. I stare down at him, my heart. My breath stalls in my chest when the reality of what’s about to happen settles.
“When I thought I might lose you, I felt like my world was spinning out of control. I don’t ever want to face that again. I want to know that it’s always going to be you that I come home to. You who’s sleeping next to me, and you who has my last name. Tessa Deaton, Freckles…” He smirks. “Will you make me the happiest man alive and do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?”
Tears are flowing down my cheeks, and emotion clogs my throat. I nod, and he chuckles. “I need your words, baby.”
“Y-Yes,” I manage to croak out.
He lets out a whoop of excitement and lifts me off the couch and into his arms. His lips press to mine, and suddenly, everything is right in my world. I know it’s going to be tough with his career, but we have a great support system surrounding us, and most of all, we have love. Landon Barker is everything I never knew I wanted and everything that I need. He’s the love of my life.
“I love you,” I say as he sets me back on my feet.
“I love you, too.”
