“We got the retainer,” Tricia waddled into my office with a hand on her belly.
“You look ready to pop,” I told her with a big grin. “I can’t believe you are about to have a little one of your own. Izzy is going to be three, and she is so excited to have someone to boss around.”
“And I know she will,” Tricia replied. “I thought you were crazy with her birth story, and then I met and married a man inside of three months. I guess we both have a bit of the untraditional love stories.”
“I would say so,” I told her as my mind turned over to Logan.
We have been dating for a couple of years, and today was one of his days to take Izzy to a ballgame. They enjoy all types of activities together, and it allows me time to catch up in the office. Lara was now in college, so her time able to fill in for Izzy’s care needs was more sporadic. I wouldn’t fill her role in our life, though, as she was now as much family as staff.
“You think that man is ever going to step up to the plate?” Tricia asked, attempting to lower herself into the chair opposite me.
“Baseball jokes today?” I asked with an eyebrow skyward.
“You know I work with what I have,” she said.
“I am not in a hurry to marry Logan. Things with us are amazing, and I see no reason to put that on the table. My mother adores him, and Izzy, along with those two, is always doing things without me. I enjoy work and then take the other time to spend with them. I see no reason to mess with a good thing.”
“Mommy, guess what,” a tiny voice called out, running through the space, just as Izzy and Logan, right behind her, bust into the room.
“What, pumpkin?” I asked as she launched herself into my arms.
“Daddy brought you a pretty ring like mine,” she held up her hand, and on the little digit is a very expensive-looking engagement ring.
I turned to Tricia, who gave me a knowing smile. I rolled my eyes at her.
“Here, Mommy,” Izzy said, giving me the ring as I felt the tears start to rise.
“You know I adore you,” Logan leaned over. “I might have had some help picking that out recently,” he said, glancing over at Tricia. “Say you will make me the happiest man and daddy on the planet. Marry me, and Lara, you, me, and Tricia, along with Trent, will make the best family.”
“I see you already care for all the baggage I have,” I whispered, putting a hand on his cheek as he lowered his lips to me with a deep kiss.
“Ewww,” Izzy said as we separated with a kiss.
“Are you going to be my flower girl?” I asked.
“Yeah! And Aunt Tricia’s baby too?”
“I think we can make that work,” I said as she slid off my lap to chat with Tricia and her belly.
“I adore you. I don’t think I knew how much you would mean to me that night you walked into the bar,” Logan whispered.
“Me neither, but I’m glad it all worked out,” I told him, kissing him deeply once again as my entire world fell perfectly in place.
One-night stands were never my thing, but this one turned out to be everything to me. Serendipitous hearts are always destined for one another; we found each other twice and now won’t ever be separated. I already knew what I would be thankful for at this year’s Thanksgiving holiday with all my amazing family by birth and choice gathered around.