Serial - Suddenly Daddy Part 50

The meal, of course, is great.  The company, even better.  The group of you settle into a light easy repartee.  Especially heartwarming was watching Jeremy and Poppy actually talk to each other.  Really talk to each other.  No teasing, no jealousy, no competition.  Jeremy in particular opens up to his sister, as if he had just been waiting for the opportunity to connect with her again.  He praises her voice and encourages her to sing more.  Perhaps even pursue it professionally.  You all chuckle as his flattery is actually able to elicit a rare blush from his usually unflappable sister.  Returning kind for kind Poppy admits how much she liked her brother's cooking.  She tells him how beautiful she thought he was and even asks if they could go shopping together some day.  He happily accepts the invitation.

Claire...you had never seen her happier.  Once the kids really get going she falls quiet and just watches them.  They are none the wiser but you could see in her expression and body language that her heart was overflowing with maternal love.  Occasionally she would give her daughter a worried look, knowing there was something there waiting to drop.  You would reach across and take her hand.  Giving her a look of comfort and calm you let her know without saying it that everything was going to be okay.  That open honest expression now looked upon you.  Deep tender emotions surfaced in her fathomless blue eyes as she looks at you.  She smiles.

She loved you.  She loved you with all of her heart.  She loved you as a partner, as a lover, as a caring new father for her children.

It was simultaneously humbling and emboldening.  After a lifetime of casting about, you had finally found your place in the world.  The place you belonged.

The meal is finished and the twins get up together to clear the table and do the dishes.  They were still talking.  The more they spoke to one another the easier it seemed to get.  They laughed and joked like best friends.  The cabin was filled with the joyous mirth of their exuberant youthful conversation.

You and Claire head to the couch.  You pause to look at the not quite dried wet spot still visible on the fabric of the seat where Claire had eaten out Poppy.  Claire laughs lightly at the sight of it.  You both knew there would be some cleaning up to do before you all left the cabin this weekend.

You take a seat at the arm and she curls up beside you, her feet tucked up off the floor she snuggles up against you.  You oh so naturally slide an arm around her.  Her soft curvy body feels so good pressed into you.  You look down at her and she back up at you.  Dear god she was beautiful.  

“We should get hitched.”  You state bluntly.

She laughs and leans up to kiss you.  “Oh Ted.  I already told you back at the office that...”

“Claire.  Will you marry me?”

Her laughter fades as she realizes you weren't joking.  The chatter and clinking of dishes falls silent behind you as the kids turn their attention your way.  It falls very quiet in the cabin.

Claire looks deep into your eyes.  “You're serious.”

You smile.  “Yeah.  I mean, I know we've only known each other a few weeks and...shit...I don't even have a ring for you...”

Claire reaches up and places two fingers over your mouth.  “Ye...”  Starts to say, then suddenly shuts her mouth.  Her expression is one of deep thought.  You are gripped with panic.  She was about to say yes, what had stopped her?  You were taking this too fast.  Stupid Ted, stupid!  Her dark blue eyes continue staring into yours.

Pulling her fingers away she finally speaks.  She had a smile, her eyes danced with life.  “I think this one time I'd like to be traditional.  I'd like you to get my family's blessing first.”

You run a nervous hand through your hair.  She picked NOW to suddenly get traditional.  “God Claire, I haven't even met your father or...”

She shakes her head.  “Not my parents Ted.”  Your eyes follow hers as she scans over to her children standing at the sink.  They look at each other then back at the pair of you, stunned that this was happening right now.

You nod.  “Very well.”

You kiss her again then pull your arm from around her.  Getting up you walk over to the twins who were waiting for you.

Poppy crosses her arms and cocks an eyebrow.  “Well, well, well.  What do we have here?  A grubby old garbage man asking for our Mom's hand in marriage.  Coming to us in bare feet.  Wearing shorts and a t shirt.  He thinks he's good enough for our Mom?  He doesn't even have a ring!”

“Poppy.”  You say seriously.

She grins from ear to ear.  “Come here Daddy.  Of course you have my blessing.”  The pair of you share a long happy hug.  “Take care of her.”

You kiss her cheek.  “I will.”

The joy is short lived as you turn to your beautiful boy.  There would be no quick and obedient 'Yes sir' on this question.  You see conflict in those clear azure eyes.  He was happy for you and his mother, but...there was something that tore at him.  You understood too well.

You are hit with a new type of dread, the likes of which you had never felt before.  Your relationship not being a monogamous one added wrinkles you were unaccustomed to.  You desperately hope Jeremy wasn't going to make this difficult.  And yet he had every right to do so.  He loved you and you loved him.  Your love for his mother had been like a steadily rising tide over these past few weeks.  It was a mature love.  Both of you had a past, you knew how the world was, your eyes were wide open to the benefits and challenges that lay ahead of you.  The pair of you were comfortable and compatible and truly happy with one another.  Your love for Jeremy was as brilliant and as swift and as powerful as a lightning bolt.  It had struck you from out of nowhere and rocked you to your very foundations.  You were still alight with the fresh intensity of it.  If he forced you to choose...you honestly didn't know what you would do.

You give him time, watching him with calm patient eyes.  He finally gives a fragile smile.  “She's a lucky woman.”

Poppy reaches for her brother.  “Jeremy...”  She whispers.

You wave her away.  This was between you and him.  You needed him to be honest with you, now more than ever.

He wipes a tear from his eye.  “I'm happy for you guys.”

You go to step forward to give him a hug but he stops you.  Resting both of his delicate hands on your chest he takes a deep breath, his smile brightening as he gathers his swirling emotions.  “No.  I mean it.  I knew...or I hoped, this was going to happen.”  He looks to his mother. “You've got yourself a good man here Mom.”

Claire corrects him.  “We have ourselves a good man Jeremy.  I won't come between you two sweetie.”  She understood, thank god she understood.

Reaching up you brush a dangling blonde bang from his face.  “I don't want to lose you my boy.  I'll still love you.”

This soothes him even more, he nods.  “I know.”  His grin ever widening he looks up at you.  “I give you my blessing...Dad.”

He leans up for a sweet tender kiss.  You both sigh as you part.

“Hey, I could use a best man.”  You say. 

“Your best boy?”  He asks, excited.  “Really?”

“Yes!  I wouldn't want anyone else beside me.”

“Can I wear a dress?”

You chuckle, you expected nothing else.  “Of course.  So how about it?”

He throws his arms around your chest and squeezes you tight.  “Yes sir.”

Once more you enjoy a long hug.  As you part the twins come together to watch what happens.

You turn and return to Claire who was still sat on the couch.  Coming around to the front side you kneel down on one knee and take one of her hands in both of yours.  You and she are all smiles.

“Well, you heard'em.  How about it baby?  Wanna get hitched?”

She laughs at the coarseness of it.  “Oh, you and your elegant honeyed words.”  She takes a breath and looks you straight in the eyes.  “Absolutely I will marry you Ted.  My answer is yes!”

You spring up towards her as Claire throws herself at you.  You come together in a strong embrace.  You kiss her with every ounce of passion you had within you.

You could hear the kids cheering.  “YES!”  Poppy cries jubilantly.

“He he he he!”  Jeremy laughs.

As you and Claire hold each other tight and continue your long deep kiss, your soul singing with joy, you then hear Poppy wonder.

“I wonder where we'll go for the honeymoon?”