Cowboy Baby Daddy

The Fabulous Five had gotten together for another wedding proposal.

A high-pitched giggle reached my ears, and then Kadie came bounding around the corner. She looked tired but happy.

“Mama, Mama!” she said, rushing into my arms. “Daddy gave me ice cream.”

I laughed, realizing my daughter didn’t know what was going on. “You shouldn’t be out here, sweetie. You should be resting.”

She stuck her lip out. “I slept already.” I kissed her on the forehead and set her down.

I blinked. Alex had disappeared. I spun around, looking for him, only to find him emerging from around the corner with a champagne tray. We all grabbed a champagne flute.

Alex handed a glass filled with grape juice to Kadie, and she giggled again, obviously happy to be included in the adult’s fun.

Carl raised his glass. “To Alex and Aspyn, the only other couple in town that makes Perri and me seem fast in comparison.”

Everyone laughed and raised their glasses. “To Alex and Aspyn.”

After I took a sip, I turned to Mama. “You knew about this?”

She shrugged. “Yes, but honey, it was not exactly planned over days and days.”

I leaned in to whisper to her. “And what if I’d said no?”

Mama shook her head. “He asked me for my permission and what I thought. I told him you wouldn’t say no.”

I leveled a gaze at her. “And you were so certain?”

“Yes. If I’d had even a shred of doubt, I would have told him to wait.”

I pulled away from her, thinking that over. Mama knew me better than I knew myself obviously.

Alex and Carl chatted a few yards away.

I walked over to Carl, glared at him, and poked him in the chest. “You almost spoiled the surprise.”

Perri shot him a glare. “Carl, how could you?”

Panic struck his face. “What? I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who brought the lights and champagne, for crying out loud.”

Alex watched our exchange with a smirk on his face. “You left your truck right up front.”

Carl threw his hands in the air. “Of course, my truck was right up front. It’s not like I could walk all this stuff over. You couldn’t carry all this stuff over from my place either.”

Alex playfully punched him in the arm. “You could have driven your truck back after bringing the stuff.”

“Oh. Yeah.” Carl offered him a sheepish grin. “Sorry, bro.”

Alex grinned. “No problem. I couldn’t have done it without you, so I forgive you.”

“Mama,” Kadie said. “Can we live with Daddy?”

I smiled warmly down at her, my heart so filled with happiness, I thought it might burst. “Yes, sweetie, we can live with Daddy.”

Everyone cheered again, and Kadie clapped.

We’d had our ups and downs, made our mistakes, but in the end, Alex and I had still found each other. Our daughter could grow up happy with both a loving mama and daddy.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I rushed over to throw my arms around Alex. “I love you, Alex Kline.”