Mr. Masters (Mr. 1)

Willow looks up from her assignment. “To celebrate what?”

He holds his hand out for me to take. I walk to him and he puts his arm around me. “We have some news.”

Willow smiles instantly, but Sammy simply frowns as he looks between the three of us.

“Brielle and I are getting married.”

Julian pulls me close to his body and kisses my forehead. The children stare at us in shock.

I wait for their reaction…

And I wait.

And I wait.

Oh no. Aren’t they happy?

“What?” Will

frowns.

“My eyes rise to Julian. I frown, unsure what to say.

“Brielle is going to be my wife. That means she’ll be your stepmother. She’ll be moving in to live with us,” he explains.

They both look at each other, then us, and then each other again.

Finally, Willow screeches. “Yes!” She jumps from her chair and nearly knocks her father and I over as she wraps her arms around both of us. “Oh my God. I’m so happy. This is awesome.”

I laugh at her excitement, and then my attention turns to the beautiful little boy in the room.

Sammy’s face falls.

“What’s wrong, baby?” I whisper.

“I don’t want you to marry Dad.”

I crouch down in front of him. “Why not?”

He twists his little hands in front of him. “Because if he gets cranky then you will leave.”

I smile and Julian rolls his eyes. "No, I won't baby. I like your dad… even when he's cranky."

Julian smirks.

“That’s just who Dad is.” I smile. “And I love him, faults and all. I’m not going anywhere.”

Sammy smiles and looks between the two of us, a flicker of hope blooming in his little eyes. “Really?”

I nod. “Really.”

He jumps up to kiss me and hugs Julian.

“Where’s your ring?” Julian asks.

I dig it out of my pocket and hand it to him. He slides it onto my finger as the children watch on in awe.

Julian kisses me softly. “Now you’re really stuck with the three of us.”