“What is it?”
Zachary looked into my eyes, his gaze intense. “I meant what I said in the car. I will do everything I can to take care of you. You and Thomas are the most important people in my life, and I love you both so much. I need you to know that.”
My heart raced at his words, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. No one had ever said anything like that to me before. No one had ever made me feel so loved and cherished.
“Zachary…” I started to say, but I didn’t know how to continue. There were no words to express what I was feeling.
“Just remember that, okay?” Zachary said softly. He leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. “No matter what happens, I love you.”
I nodded, unable to speak. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close, needing to feel his warmth and his strength.
We stood there for a long moment, holding each other tightly. Finally, Zachary pulled back and smiled at me.
“Let’s go inside,” he said.
I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. I nodded, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. I knew that whatever happened, I could face it. Because I had Zachary by my side.
“Okay,” I said. “Let’s go inside.”
Together, hand in hand, we walked into the house.
“Mama, Mama!” Thomas called, running towards me with his arms outstretched.
I smiled and knelt down to catch him in a hug. “Hi, baby. Did you have fun?”
Thomas nodded enthusiastically. “We built a sandcastle!”
I laughed. “That sounds like so much fun.”
“It was!” Thomas exclaimed. “Daddy helped me.”
I looked up to see Zachary walking towards us, a smile on his face. He was dressed in a pair of board shorts and a T-shirt, his hair messy from the wind.
“Hi,” he said, bending down to press a kiss to my lips.
“Hi,” I replied, feeling a flutter in my chest.
Zachary turned his attention to Thomas, scooping him up in his arms. “How’s my best boy?” he asked, peppering Thomas’s face with kisses.
Thomas giggled and pushed at Zachary’s chest. “Daddy, stop!”
Zachary just laughed and continued to kiss Thomas’s face. Finally, Thomas managed to wiggle out of Zachary’s arms, and he ran off down the beach, laughing.
“Be careful!” I called after him.
Zachary smiled and put his arm around me. We walked down to the water’s edge, watching as Thomas ran along the shoreline, picking up seashells and interesting rocks.
“I can’t believe he’s already four,” Zachary said, shaking his head in amazement. “It feels like just yesterday that he was born.”
I nodded in agreement. “Time sure flies when you’re having fun.”
Zachary chuckled. “Ain’t that the truth?” He paused, then said, “You know, I never thought I’d be this happy. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love my job and all, but… I don’t know, it always felt like something was missing. And then I met you and Thomas, and suddenly, everything just clicked into place. You two are my world.”
My heart melted at his words. “I feel the same way about you,” I admitted.
Zachary looked down at me, his eyes soft with love. He pulled me close and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “I love you,” he murmured.
“I love you, too,” I replied.
We stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other’s arms, watching the sun set over the ocean. It was perfect.
Finally, Zachary spoke. “So, what do you want to do for dinner? We could grill out here at the house, or we could go into town and find a restaurant.”
I thought for a moment. “How about we order pizza?” I suggested. “Thomas loves pizza.”
Zachary laughed. “Okay, sure. We can do that.”
He pulled out his phone and placed the order while I went to find Thomas and get him cleaned up for dinner. By the time I got back outside, Zachary had already set the table on the deck, and the pizza had arrived.
“Pizza!” Thomas cheered, running over to the table.
I laughed and lifted him up into his booster seat. “Yes, pizza.”
We sat down to eat, and I couldn’t help but feel grateful for this little family of ours. We’d been through so much, but in the end, we’d come out even stronger.
As we finished up our pizza and the sun dipped below the horizon, I knew that this was where I was meant to be. With Zachary and Thomas, by the ocean, surrounded by love. It didn’t get any better than that.
We pulled up in front of my parents’ house, and I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me. It had been years since I’d been back here, and it looked almost exactly the same.
Thomas was practically bouncing with excitement in his seat. “Are you sure Grandma and Grandpa will like me?” he asked for what felt like the hundredth time.
I unbuckled him from his car seat and pulled him into my arms. “Of course they will,” I assured him. “They’ve been waiting to meet you for a long time.”
Zachary came around the car and took Thomas from me, setting him down on the ground. “Ready to go meet your grandparents?” he asked.
Thomas nodded eagerly, and the three of us made our way up the front steps. I took a deep breath before I knocked on the door, my heart pounding in my chest.
A moment later, I heard footsteps on the other side of the door, and then it swung open to reveal my parents. They looked exactly the same as I remembered, and a wave of emotion washed over me.