Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
As they begin to walk off in the direction of the office, Vida looks over her shoulder to me and winks.
“Alright, Hollis, it’s go time,” I tell my son as Ruby files in beside us.
Walking slowly, we give them time to get the office unlocked and walk inside. Following in, I have Ruby to my right, my son to my left, and the woman I love directly in front of me much like the first time I walked in here years ago.
Hollis steps forward, “Zizi, we became a family here,” he starts and looks over his shoulder to me.
I step forward and go beyond him dropping to a knee in front of Maritza. “Baby, I came into this very office a broken man. My life was a mess, I had no solid place for my son, and my heart was hard. Piece by piece you were the glue holding me together. You are home for me. I can’t promise I’ll always get it right, but I can promise you I’ll try. I can promise you love for this lifetime and beyond.”
Then I look to Hollis, he adds, “we can promise you family, Zizi.”
“I can’t promise the ride in life will be easy, but I can promise to ride this life with you with every breath I take.”
Hollis nudges me before reaching in his pocket and pulling out the box. “Save the promises for the preacher, Pops.” He mutters just above a whisper causing Vida and Mariella to life.
Maritza seems to be in shock as she stares at me and my son who drops to his knee beside me. Tears begin to roll down her cheeks, but I can’t wipe them just yet.
“We’re a package deal.” Hollis explains.
“I came in here years ago and asked you to watch my son. I come in here today to ask you to watch out for my heart and my sons. I come in here to ask you today to let me watch yours in return. Maritza, today I ask you, will you marry me? Will you ride this life out with me?”
“Don’t answer yet,” Hollis stops her as she’s nodding her head yes. “Zizi, I don’t know what it is to not see you. I don’t want to ever know that feeling. I lost my mom, but the truth is Zizi, I didn’t because I have you. Will you marry my dad and be my mom for everyone to know?”
“Oh my God,” she cries, “yes,” she looks to Hollis, “yes, buddy.” Before I can even put the pear-shaped full carat solitaire on her finger, Hollis jumps up and wraps her in his arms holding her close.
He’s grown so much, he’s taller than her, but she still clings to my son, our son telling him she loves him.
I tap my boy on his shoulder, “you think I could put the ring on her finger and maybe give her a kiss.”
He looks to me without releasing Maritza and pulls her back in for another hug. Finally, after everyone around us practically is laughing through tears, he releases her. She jumps into my arms planting her lips to mine as she wraps her legs around my waist and arms around my neck holding tight.
Pulling away, she beams as she leans in to whisper. “Yes, Dillon Jacoby, I will marry you. Yes, I will be a mother to your son. And Dillon, yes, I will be a mother to your daughter,” she pauses, “or maybe another son.”
I jerk back as she locks her eyes to mine. “Broken body, yes, but miracles happen. I hope you’re ready to start over with a teenager and a baby, because he or she is coming early next year.”
Tears fill my eyes.
She is giving me a real family. Unlike anything I ever could have planned for myself.
Life can sometimes go down a broken road, but there is always more to the ride.
Never give up.
The End…