Chapter 97

Esme

Derek picks us up from the hospital a couple of days after giving birth. Walking again has been very challenging, but nothing beats holding my daughter in my arms after all this waiting.

Bea and Tris both got to hold Orchid. Annie and Lily came to visit their little “niece.” My mom cried her eyes out meeting her only grandchild.

“She’s perfect,” Derek had told me with a kiss on my head. “Great job, Esme. You’re a mom.”

I’d rolled my eyes at him with a devilish smile on my face. “I thought I was the girl’s honorary mom now?”

“Yes, you are. But I also know just how badly you’ve wanted your own kid.”

When the nurse rolls us out to Derek’s car, he stands there with a large grin. “Miss Thorne,” he states as he holds the door open.

“So formal,” I taunt. I get into the front seat.

“You don’t want to put Orchid in the carrier?” He asks.

My mind is positively scrambled right now. “Shit, I forgot about a carrier. I was gonna hold her on the drive.”

He moves toward the backseat, opening the car door and returning to my side. “Well, lucky you, I just so happen to have one.”

The nurse goes back in the hospital with the wheelchair, and Derek carefully puts Orchid in the car seat. I lean back in the passenger seat, breathing deeply.

He joins me in the front seat once he’s finished buckling Orchid in.

“You’ll have to teach me all your tips and tricks,” I sigh without looking back up.

Derek’s hand touches my arm, and I look over at him. Smiling, I cover his hand with mine. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

My boyfriend leans over the center console and kisses me sweetly. “I love you, too.”

He buckles his seat belt, and I do the same.

“Ready to go home and relax?”

“More than anything. I need a shower.”

Derek chuckles, heading to the apartments.

Orchid, to my utter delight, is fast asleep in the backseat. So far, she’s only been a little fussy with me. I’ve never taken care of a newborn before, so this is a real learning curve for me. But I have Derek; I have Bea, Tris, my best friends, my mom. I have so many people who’ll help me.

I look over at Derek now, a question bubbling up. “How did you do it?”

“Do what?” He doesn’t take his eyes from the road.

“Two babies. No Sadie. Being a single parent.”

“Don’t forget I was still working full time.”

I huff a laugh. “Of course.”

He shrugs. “It wasn’t easy. I ran on very little sleep back in the day. Lots of coffee, too. Thankfully, Bea was always helpful with her little sister. I’d wager that’s why they’re so close now.”

I smile, imagining the two of them in the hospital room after Orchid was born. “They’re something for sure.”

“And you’re not going to be alone with Orchid.”

I nod, knowing he means it. “I appreciate that, baby.” Then, I realize. “Wait. Where are the girls?”

“Your mom said she could watch them. She told me to come get you, make sure you get home safe.”

My heart skips a beat. “That’s so sweet.”

“Yeah, the girls weren’t thrilled. They wanted to come with. Thought I’d be enough for you.”

“You’d be correct,” I tell him, checking the rear-view to see Orchid. There’s a mirror on the seat back there, and it shows my little girl’s sleeping face. “God, that never gets old.”

“The sight of her?”

“All of it.”

“Well, get ready for the next several decades.”

We sit in mostly silence after that. The movement of the car on the road is lulling me to sleep. I’ve gotten sleep in short spans of time, but unless a nurse was nearby, everything has been on me to get done.

Now, the exhaustion is catching up with me.

I just let Derek drive now.

I hear the parking brake before I realize we’ve made it back to the apartments.

“You okay?” Derek whispers.

I nod, taking my time to stretch out my arms. “Just new Mom tiredness.”

“Of course. Come on, I’ll take Orchid out and you can bring her up in the carrier.”

“Thank you.”

I take my time to get out of the car, but Derek is fast. He unbuckles Orchid in one swift movement.

He hands over the baby and grabs my bag from where he left it next to her. Then, after locking his car, he holds out one hand to me.

I’m touched by his sweet gestures today. He must know how drained I am. I take his hand, squeezing tight with tenderness and care.

“Let’s get Orchid to her new home.”

We’re slow in our climb to my apartment. Derek is patient as ever.

Once we’re finally at the door, he takes my keys and unlocks the door.

It’s really dark inside the apartment. What the hell?

Derek reaches over, turns the light on, and I am not prepared for what’s waiting for me.

“SURPRISE!” Annie, Guillermo, Lily, Pedro, my mom, Bea and Tris all jump up and scream.

I cover my heart with my hand, backing up fast at the sudden onset of noise.

“What the hell?” I shout.

Derek, however, has the biggest smile on his own face.

He leads me into the apartment and closes the door.

“Esme.” His voice is unsteady. I immediately widen my eyes, not putting together what’s taking place before me.

That’s when he points toward the group of people, and everyone moves out of the way to read a message written out on a sign.

“Will you marry me?”

I gasp, my hand now covering my mouth. I look at Derek, who’s now kneeling down in front of me, holding a ring box in his hands.

“Holy shit, holy shit!” I can’t help but say with a shaky breath.

“I know we talked about not rushing anything. But I couldn’t wait any longer. I’ve known for a long time that you were more than just Esme. Now that you’ve given me the chance to prove myself, I can’t imagine going a second longer without asking you one simple question.”

The red velvet box is opened, and a beautiful circular diamond sparkles from within.

“Esme Thorne. I know you’ve been through a hell of a year. But will you do me the honors of becoming my bride? Will you be Esme Anderson, and take on not just Orchid, but Bea, Tris, and our home?”

“Say yes!” Annie giggles. “He’s hot!”

“Shh!” Lily warns, and I can see her push Annie.

“Really now, ladies, let Esme answer the poor man!” Angie interferes.

I can’t help laughing at the peanut gallery, my eyes beginning to tear up at the genuine gesture on Derek’s part.

I love all the people in this room: his daughters, who have become my family now; my mom, who is back in my life again; and my best friend, who is supportive of Derek.

Finally, I nod my head with tears falling down my face. “Yes, Derek. I will marry you.”

The room erupts in cheers, and Derek slides the beautiful diamond on my finger.

I slowly put Orchid down on the ground, and I take Derek’s face in my hands to kiss him with every ounce of love and appreciation for him.

Bea and Tris are the first ones to reach us, and I can tell they’re crying, too.

“What do you say, girls? Are you okay with having me as a stepmom?” I ask them as I gather them in my arms.

Tris, as always, is excited and claps her hands together. “Yes!”

“You’ll stick around, right?” Bea hedges.

I touch the older daughter’s cheek. “For as long as you’ll have me.”

Bea’s face breaks, and she starts to sob. “I love you, Esme.”

I hug them both again. “God, I love you too, Bea. I love you, Tris.”

“Where is the champagne? We need to celebrate!” I hear Lily shouting.

Glasses are passed out and the little ones are handed juice boxes.

“To Derek and Esme! May they have a happily ever after marriage!” My mom calls out. We all lift our individual drinks, and call, “here, here!”

As everyone chatters with excitement, I think back on the past year. I haven’t been this happy in…never.

I’ve never been so happy, in love, and at peace with everything going on around me.

I couldn’t ask for anything more.