“Stepdad. But you can call me whatever you want. That’s up to you.”
“That would be awesome. We could finally be an actual family.”
It means a lot that Emily is okay with the prospect of us getting married someday and having me as a father figure. I really try my best to do everything right by her and Tessa. My plan is to give them everything they want and more.
Once we are finished eating, I take her back to my house for a surprise. Tessa isn’t even aware of my big plans tonight.
“What are you guys doing here?” she asks, stepping outside.
I can hear the trotting coming down the street and wait to see Emily’s face.
“Woah. What is that?” she says, looking down the street.
A horse-drawn carriage pulls up to my house, and Emily starts crying which in turn makes me teary-eyed.
“Mama, look. Just like Cinderella! I’m a princess.”
That’s all I ever wanted is for her to feel as special as I know she is. This night means everything to me, and she deserves to go to that dance feeling like a complete princess.
“You didn’t?” Tessa says, wiping the tears from her eyes. “How did we get so lucky to have found you?”
“Fate, babe. It brought us together.”
Emily and I get into the carriage and wave goodbye to Tessa to make our way to the dance. She’s so adorable, waving to all the people she could on the way. All I could do was sit back and watch her.
When we pull up to the school, everyone outside stops to watch us get out. A bunch of little girls come over and start talking to Emily.
“I love your dress.”
It isn’t long before she’s pulling me inside to dance to some song about how a fox speaks. Weird.
The night is perfect, and we dance almost the whole time, except for when we have to take a break due to being out of breath. She introduces me to all her friends, and I truly get a look of what Emily is like outside of the house. The sparkle in her eye, and the kindness she shows others.
When we get home that night, I hate that it’s over. Couldn’t we go back and replay this whole day over again? Emily is exhausted, but she wants to tell her mom all about it.
I leave them alone and go into the bedroom to reminisce over all the amazing things that happened today. The future is looking promising for the three of us, and I’m overwhelmed with joy. The fact that someday I will be able to call Tessa my wife. To be able to be the husband and father I always dreamed of being. Maybe you can have more than one true love.