“Mommy, Mommy!” he cried excitedly. “Zachary took me to the park today! We played on the swings and the slide!”
I smiled and knelt down to hug him. “That sounds like so much fun, sweetie. Did you have a good time with Zachary?”
“Yes!” Thomas nodded enthusiastically. “He’s so much fun. I love him!”
My heart swelled with love and happiness. It had taken a lot of convincing, but I’d finally managed to persuade Zachary to let Thomas call him Dad. And judging by the huge grin on Zachary’s face, he was just as happy about it as I was.
“I love you too, buddy,” Zachary said, ruffling Thomas’s hair.
I stood up and walked over to Zachary, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Thank you for taking care of him today,” I said, looking up into his eyes. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
Zachary smiled and kissed me on the forehead. “You’ll never have to find out,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I felt a surge of love and gratitude for this man who had changed my life in ways I never could have imagined. He wasn’t just my boyfriend anymore. He was Thomas’s father, my partner, and my best friend.
Together, we had overcome so much. And now, we had a bright future ahead of us.
I knew that there would be ups and downs along the way. There would be challenges that we would have to face and obstacles that we would have to overcome.
But I also knew that as long as we had each other, we could handle anything. We were a family now, and nothing could ever break that bond.
As I looked at Zachary and Thomas, I felt a sense of peace and contentment that I had never felt before. I knew that this was where I belonged.
This was my happily ever after.
And I couldn’t wait to see what the future held for us.
I stood in front of the full-length mirror, smoothing down the front of my dress. It was a deep blue that matched my eyes, and it hugged my curves in all the right places.
“You look beautiful, Mommy,” Thomas said, tugging on the hem of my dress.
I smiled and picked him up, twirling him around. “Thank you, sweetheart. You’re pretty handsome yourself.”
Thomas giggled and squirmed out of my arms. “Where are we going?” he asked.
I set him down and brushed his hair out of his eyes. “Remember how I told you that Zachary is getting a big award for being such a good boss? We’re going to the award ceremony tonight.”
“Oh, yeah!” Thomas’s eyes lit up. “I can’t wait to see Zachary get his award. He deserves it.”
I laughed and took his hand. “Come on, let’s go. Zachary is waiting for us in the car.”
We made our way downstairs and climbed into the backseat of the car. Zachary was already there, looking handsome in his tailored suit.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he said, leaning over to kiss me.
I felt a flutter in my chest as his lips brushed against mine. Even after all these years, he still had the power to make my heart race.
“You clean up pretty well yourself,” I said, running my hands over the lapels of his jacket.
Zachary grinned and pulled me closer. “I’m just glad I get to spend the evening with the two most beautiful people in the world.”
I rolled my eyes and playfully shoved him away. “Oh, stop it. You’re going to make me blush.”
Zachary laughed and turned his attention to Thomas. “Hey, buddy, are you ready for a big night out?”
“Yes!” Thomas bounced up and down in his seat. “I’ve never been to an award ceremony before. Is there going to be cake?”
Zachary ruffled his hair. “I don’t know, but I’m sure we can find you some dessert somewhere.”
The rest of the drive to the hotel was filled with Thomas’s excited chatter. He asked a million questions about the award ceremony and what it would be like.
By the time we arrived, he was practically bouncing with anticipation. Zachary and I exchanged amused glances as we climbed out of the car.
The ceremony was being held in the grand ballroom of one of the fanciest hotels in town. There were cameras flashing everywhere as people made their way inside.
I clutched Zachary’s arm tightly, suddenly feeling nervous. I had never been to an event like this before, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.
But Zachary just smiled reassuringly and led me inside. Thomas was right on our heels, taking it all in with wide eyes.
The ballroom was massive, with a high ceiling and sparkling chandeliers. There were round tables set up all over the room, each one covered with a white tablecloth and fancy dishes.
Zachary led us over to our table, which was right up front. Thomas quickly claimed the seat next to Zachary, and I sat down on Zachary’s other side.
As we waited for the ceremony to start, I couldn’t help but people-watch. There were so many important-looking people in the room, and I wondered what their stories were.
I turned my attention back to Zachary and Thomas. Zachary had won an award for CEO of the Year, and Thomas and I were here to support him.
As the lights dimmed and the ceremony began, I felt a surge of pride. Zachary deserved this award, and I was honored to be here with him.
The next hour was a whirlwind of speeches and awards. I applauded along with everyone else each time someone new was recognized.
Finally, it was time for Zachary to accept his award. He stood up and smoothed down the front of his jacket, giving my hand a quick squeeze before he walked onstage.
I watched him with pride as he gave his acceptance speech. He was so confident and charismatic, and he commanded the attention of everyone in the room.
As he made his way back to the table, I jumped to my feet and applauded along with everyone else. Thomas was clapping and cheering, a huge grin on his face.