“I can’t wait to meet everyone,” Steffi smiled tenderly at Drake as the call ended. “And your hairline is just fine. I was just playing around with you.”
“I know, but that’s how it is in my family, which is why you are perfect for me. I practically cut my teeth on verbal jabs and cheap shots lobbed at each other – now speaking of cheap shots, I need to call Tommy and my mother.”
“Call Tommy – and we can call your mom after the ceremony, so we have plenty of time to chat.”
“She’s gonna adore you.”
“Like her son?”
“Just like her son,” Drake admitted, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing the back of it briefly, before drawing in his breath and tossing Steffi a smile. “Now for round two – Tommy.”
As they pulledinto the parking lot of the building, both of them were laughing so hard they were nearly crying. Tommy was more than thrilled for them – and then proceeded to ignore Drake as he regaled Steffi of every little mortifying childhood moment that ever existed. From breaking the glass jar full of seashells at a friend's house because he was climbing on the counters to get to the Pop Tarts – all the way to when he lost his shoe in the creek and he had to wear pink canvas shoes that were on clearance from K-Mart for two weeks until they had money enough to go get a new pair of sneakers.
Drake remembered those moments, weirdly enough, with fondness, because they’d been so broke growing up… but he had such a vibrant childhood - full of love, energy, and a sense of family. His dad might have passed away when they were young, but each of them took up the mantle, trying to fill in where they could. Their mother was the glue that held them all together – and even now, he loved spoiling her because she deserved it for handling the three of them with grace and dignity. He bought her a longarm quilting rack, had paid off the house, and provided her with a new car last year. Anytime she wanted to fly out for a game, he arranged everything… and would do it for any of his brothers.
Family was everything to him, and as he looked at Steffi, he realized that she was a part of that fold, that family, which is why he wanted to provide. It wasn’t just a deep-seated love for her, but a driven need to give back to those who meant the worldto him. He would spend decades showering this woman beside him with laughter, love, so many smiles… and fill her arms full of mischievous children who would thrive under her radiant personality.
“I love you,” he said hoarsely, wiping the laughter from his eyes as recognition slammed into him. “I’m not just fond of you – but I love you and everything you are… everything you will be,” he said emotionally. “I see you. I need you. You are my friend, my partner, my everything… and I can’t wait to make you my wife.”
Steffi’s eyes were shining as her lip trembled – and he let out a nervous laugh, glancing up at the building before looking back at her. “If I’m gonna make a freakin’ fool out of myself bawling when we exchange our vows, I thought I’d go ahead and get the sappy stuff out of the way since it’s private.”
She nodded, wiped her eyes.
“I can’t wait to harass you about the lawn, to cheer for you at the games, to hold you close when we say our good nights… and then jab you in the ribs when you snore – and just FYI – I could hear you sawing logs from the couch with that schnoz of yours…”
“Dang, tell me how you really feel,” he laughed, grinning wildly as his heart thrummed in awareness. “Gimme everything you’ve got, wild woman.”
“I cannot wait to dress our children in tiny little baseball caps,” she whispered hoarsely, looking at him with a love that was brighter than the sun. “And you know I’m going to be one of those weird band moms who's a control freak…”
“Band? Nuh-uh… baseball.”
“You have an off-season.”
“So?”
“So – our kids will be in baseball, track, scouts, and whatever else they want to be in… and we’ll be the obnoxious parents in the stands, screaming and cheering for them.”
“You know it,” she whispered. “So are you gonna marry me or what?”
“Depends on what the ‘or what’ option is…” he teased – and pretended to duck as she hissed his name. “Dang woman, haven’t you come up with something loving or sweet yet? Darling Weirdo, Demanding Winner…”
“Hmm,” Steffi hesitated and smirked. “I guess I should think of something – shouldn’t I?”
“We’re about to get married, so yes,” he chuckled and glanced at his watch. “Shoot – we’ve got five minutes. Let’s go.”
They both got out of the car, clasped hands, and began jogging toward the front of the building. Drake was almost immediately recognized by a man in the area who shouted his name – and knew it wouldn’t be long now.
“Let’s go,” he urged quickly, seeing people turning and looking. “I know how this goes only too well – and we’ll have to stop out front after our appointment.”
“Gotta feed the fans?” she teased, darting under his arm as he held open the door for her.
“Pays the bills,” he shot back, grinning.
Time seemedto stop as everything went by in a blur of happiness. Drake never imagined himself getting married, even though he’d hoped and yearned for someone special to love him. Maybe he was emotional, maybe he was just overwhelmed, but when it came to their vows – even though he was repeating the phrases that they offered… he wept.
Drake wept and didn’t care that people in the courtroom where they were exchanging their vows in front of a magistrate were taking photos or recording them. Steffi was smiling at him,her eyes glistening and full of love as she proudly recited her vows to him, knowing how he was falling apart. He might be providing, but this woman held his heart in her hands.
“I do,” Steffi said to him. “My Darling World…”