Chapter 49: Chapter 49

I look down at my lap. "You know, you think you're a shitty person, yet you have done nothing but care for the baby." I look up at him. "I'm a shitty person, Evans. I feel horrible for not wanting this baby. I feel horrible for giving away a baby for money. I feel horrible for neglecting him all this time."

Evans shakes his head. "Don't do this to yourself, Ciara. We both know there was a very logical reason behind your actions. This isn't how you planned on having a baby and that's okay. It doesn't mean you're a horrible person."

I chuckle. "This baby isn't even born yet and I'm already the worst mom in the world."

"Does this mean...?" Evans's voice trails off.

"Yeah." I look at him. "The time we spent apart really helped. I want this baby, Evans. And if you wouldn't have wanted me back, I would have run away because I was no longer capable of giving away my baby."

"Well, thank God I love you enough to take you back then." He reaches for my hand. "Why in the world would I not want you, Ciara? I would have probably come to your room in the middle of the night and begged you to take me back in another one or two days. I’m miserable without you."

I can feel my smile from ear to ear. "You're so sweet."

He kisses my lips. "I want to show you how much you mean to me. Starting today."

I frown. "What do you mean?"

"I want to take you to my family. I want them to know that I love you and that this baby is as much mine as it is yours. I want everyone to know."

I laugh nervously. "Oh."

He chuckles. "You have no idea what you got yourself into Damien . Things are going to be very different from now on. If I were a sane man, I would probably get down to one knee right now and ask you to marry me."

I look at him. "So, let's do it."

"What?"

"Let's get married."

"That was a joke." He frowns. "I didn't know you wanted to get married."

"Me either," I admit. "But I want to. I want to marry you."

Mrs. Leonard. I already like the sound of that. Mr. Leonards' wife. Sole owner of Mr. Leonard.

Who would say no to that? I know it sounds crazy. I've known Evans for almost a year now and I love him so much that I would marry him this second if I could. I want to spend the rest of my life with him.

Evan's shoulders tense and I can tell I've hit a delicate spot. When he looks at me, he looks sorry. Like a little boy who broke the expensive ornament and is about to tell his parents. "You know I love you, Ciara, and I'm going to spend the rest of my life doing everything to make you happy...but I can't marry you. I don't think I can go through another wedding."

"Oh. Right," I laugh, dryly. "I'm sorry, it was a stupid thing to say."

He shakes his head. "No, it wasn't. I want you to know that I will marry you right now if I can. This is not about you, it's just my messed-up phobia of being stood up."

This is the first time Evans has admitted he has that problem. I decided to take it as a good sign.

"We don't have to have a wedding."

He looks at me. "What do you mean?"

I smile and squeeze his hand. "I don't need a huge wedding to marry you, Evans. Let's go to Vegas or here in City Hall, I don't know. It can just be a casual thing. No party. No ridiculous dresses. No drunk family members. No one. Just us We walk in together and leave together. It'll be like a stroll in the park."

He stares at me for a moment and then smiles. "That's the most romantic thing you have said to me, Damien." I feel my face get hot and he laughs. "Okay," he finally says with a smile. "Yes, let's do that one day soon."

"Really?"

He leans in and kisses my lips. "Yes, Ciara I want to marry you too."

I smile. "Okay."

"Now, are you ready?"

"For what?"

"My family, remember?" He stands up. "They're not all together, so we'll have to go to a few places, but we are getting this done today."

"Wow, okay." I stand up. "Let me shower really quick."

He smiles. "Okay. I need to make a few calls. I'll be right here." He kisses my forehead, making me giggle like a little girl, before I head to my room. I stroll into the shower, feeling like I'm walking on clouds. Everything is happening so fast, but I'm happy. I'm truly, fully happy. I want this. I want all of it. I want nothing more than to be with Evans and have this baby and raise him together.

I washed my hair last night, so I only washed my body. My hair is actually in agreement with me because it flows perfectly, and I don't have to do anything to it. I changed into maternity jeans with a long-sleeved white blouse and black and white converse. I reach for my sweater and meet Evans in the living room. He stands up when he sees me. "Ready?"

I nod. "I think so."

"You have nothing to worry about."

"I've heard that before," I murmur as we head out of the condo. We walk down the hallway into the elevator.

It is December, Christmas is only two weeks away, so it is really cold outside. The sky is white and there is a little breeze, but I love it. I love the cold.

"We'll go to my mom first." Evans says as he starts the car.

I look out the window. "Okay."

Evans reaches for my hand. "Hey," I turn to look at him and he smiles. "It's going to be fine. Everything's different now, remember?"

I smile. "Right."

He intertwined his fingers with mine and he held my hand as he drove. Evan's mom lives in a gigantic house. It’s way too big just for one person, but from when I met her, I can tell she's high maintenance, so I guess it’s to be expected. We get out of the car and I don't let go of  Evan's hand as he rings the doorbell.

“Evans," Rosa greets him with a warm hug. "How are you?" she asks as she pulls away and then she looks at me. “Ciara," she says, a little less than pleased. She turns around and walks into the house. "What is this about? I have to be somewhere in an hour."

"Don't worry, we won't take a lot of your time," Evans says as we walk in.

Her house is minimalist and gorgeous. It's a shame she's the only one that lives here—it just feels lonely. She stops and turns around. "Okay." She motions for him to continue.

Evans doesn't look the tiniest scared and that makes me feel better. “Ciara and I are together, mom. I love her and I just wanted you to know that before you hear it somewhere else."

Rosa doesn't say anything for a moment. She stares at Evans and then she looks at me. She doesn't look angry, just genuinely surprised. "There's nothing I can do about it, is there?" she finally says, crossing her arms on her chest.

"I want you to be okay with it."

"What about the baby?" she asks, looking at me. "You're willing to be the mother of my grandson?"

"I’m the mother," I say, proud of how brave I sound.

"This baby was conceived naturally," Evans says.

I look down at my feet for a moment, feeling embarrassed and thinking about how he's going to repeat those words to the rest of his family. I guess that's the most decent way to say it.

Rosa’s eyes widened. "Oh. Okay. That explains a lot." She sighs. "I owe you an apology, Ciara. I’m sorry about the way I acted the last time." She's not looking at me anymore. She's looking at something behind me, trailing off.

I smile, relaxing a little. "It's okay."

She nods and I can tell this is as deep as she goes. "Well, you are an adult." She smiles at me Evans. "Frankly, I’m honored that you still keep me in your life after everything. I trust you, honey and if you love her then I have nothing left to say but—" she looks at me. "Welcome to the family."

Her response takes me by surprise, and I can tell  Evans is surprised, too, because he doesn't say anything for a moment. "Wow," he finally says. "Thank you, mom." He hugs her.

It feels like a thousand pounds has been lifted off my shoulders. I knew his mom was going to be the hardest one and now that's over with. Rosa then reminds Evans that Grace is hosting Christmas this year and makes him promise to go.

"That actually went better than expected," he comments when we are back in the car.

"Yeah, what a relief."

"Told you it was going to be alright."

I turn to look at him but before I can say anything, he kisses me. Softly. Savoring the kiss. It is in that moment, inside the car on a cold afternoon kissing the most perfect man, the father of my baby boy, that I realize I've never been this happy in my life. I smile against his lips, trying to take a mental picture of this very special moment.