“And I’m going to be a daddy,” he sighs, holding me close, but making sure he doesn’t press too hard against my belly.
“So, we don’t have to go to that stupid dinner thing then?” I ask, double relieved.
“Oh, we’re going!” Steve calls out, checking his watch and urging me to hurry up before darting off up the hall.
“Your grandpa Billings will be tickled pink… and your dad!? Oh my god, your dad is going to wet his pants when he finds out!”
“But Steve,” I whine, really not wanting to go, then jumping with a start as he reappears in front of me, a small velvet box in the palm of his hand.
It takes a moment for it to register, but once he pops the lid, and then the question when he’s down on one knee… it finally sinks in.
“I’ve been waiting for the right moment. But I may as well make an honest woman out of you now, Penny,” he says grinning before getting more serious.
“I won’t have you bringing a child into this world without a proper mom and dad. A husband and wife… and before you say anything, I’m not asking. I’m telling you. Marry me Penny. Marry me.”
“A baby and a proposal,” I say, the corner of my mouth pulling up, “You’re right, my dad is gonna wet his pants.”
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
Steve
I always said I’d never give up racing, that it was my life. But that was before I actually started living. Before I had a life, or my wife.
I couldn’t have had Penny bring our child into the world unless we were married, I guess I’m just old fashioned like that. And she couldn’t have me racing cars at hundreds of miles an hour around concrete circles for the same reason.
We have to be there for our kids, always. We have to keep them safe and keep ourselves safe so we can always be there for them.
It doesn’t mean I don’t miss it though.
Mike’s picked it up though, a little too well I might add.
He took over the management of the team with Benson, and not long after I left, made himself one of the newest recruits behind the wheel.
Penny’s not overly excited, but it’s Mike’s dream. He always said he only wanted to be a mechanic, but that was only because I was the driver he’d always compare himself to.
So now, Mike’s a race car driver and team manager… Penny and me, we’re a mommy and daddy duo that only visit the track so Mike can visit with his baby grandson Isaac.
Isaac was the one who brought us all together, as a real family. Before he came along, Mike was happy racing but he was never a hundred percent about me and Penny, he only let it slide because he still wanted to be in her life, plus anyone can see how crazy I am about Penny.
Even her old man.
Grandpa Buford though, that’s another story. If Mike was the one who took some time to come around, it’s Buford Billings who we have to remind that he’s not a young man anymore and that being a grandpa has boundaries. It’s supposed to have boundaries.
“I like when he visits though,” Penny says.
“I do too baby, I really do… but every single day?” I ask her, watching her roll her eyes and then chuckle.
“He does own the building,” she reminds me, which does remind me of something.
“Aha! I think it’s high time we moved out to the ranch. You said so yourself, once Isaac was old enough, we could leave the city remember?”
She creases a frown.
“What would we do all day, all the way out there?” she asks, a sparkle in her eyes telling me she’s only teasing, that she’s been waiting for me to bring it up for some time now.
I pretend to be deep in thought, cradling my chin in my hand and scratching my cheek.
“Well…” I start to explain, moving over to her and Isaac, who are both on the couch and snuggling up next to them both, my arm around my wife. My best friend and my everything.
“Isaac’s gonna need some company soon. And what better place to think about how we can go about getting him some brothers and sisters… than living out in the middle of nowhere… all alone.” I let my fingers start to creep across to Penny, walking their way up her thigh, and creeping under her skirt.
“Somewhere I can scream my head off and nobody will hear?” she suggests.
“Exactly!” I agree quickly. “Especially not old man Buford,” I remark, and Penny playfully slaps my hand away.
“Don’t say that Steve, Buford’s done a lot for us. He doesn’t mean to meddle. He just misses having a young family around.”
I know she’s right. I’d actually miss him if we moved. Mike too.
“Oh no! Oh no you don’t!” I call out, reading Penny’s mind and blocking my own ears with my hands as she starts to laugh out loud along with Isaac, who seems to know exactly what his momma’s thinking at all times.
I don’t want to hear it, I don’t even want to think about it… but at the same time, I knew it had to happen one day.
It’s a big place, Steve… you’d hardly even know he was there… and dad could come stay on his days off… think of all the free time we’d have?
I don’t have to hear her words, I can read her lips and I can tell she’s not even joking either.
I wanted Penny all to myself, and I’ve got her. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a big, extended family. Not by a long shot.
I know she’s had her dad her whole life, but she’s always craved more.
The bigger, broader family she never knew growing up and I know she wants that for our kids, and I couldn’t agree more.
“There will have to be boundaries,” I caution her, once she stops laughing at me and I eventually start to warm
