PAIGE
Two years later
"Ahhhhh!" TJ screams as he runs at Travis in the lawn of our Hamptons home. Just before he rams into him, Travis stoops down and scoops him off the ground and throws him over his shoulder and runs across the lawn as he laughs.
Amelia and I sit on the edge of the lawn on a picnic basket and watch as they horse around. I'm feeding our daughter grapes and she claps her hands as she watches her brother and dad play.
It doesn't take long before Amelia is over my fussing over her and the grapes. She climbs to her feet and stumbles over to TJ and Travis who include her in their game and they tone down the roughness so as to not hurt her.
After a while, Travis' age starts catching up to him and he starts running out of steam. So the love of my life retires to the blanket where I sit.
"Tired already, grandpa?" I ask.
"Well, I'm not the one who's been sitting around eating grapes all day."
"Correction, I've been feeding your daughter grapes."
"Po-tay-to, po-ta-to," he says.
I swat him on the arm. "You're such a loser."
"But I'm your loser." He leans forward and gives me a quick kiss.
"Do you have any plans tonight?"
"No, not really. Why?"
"I was thinking we could invite my family down for dinner."
"Yeah. That sounds like fun."
My family has warmed up to Travis over the years. They can see how devoted he is to me and our family. Whatever reservations they had are simply gone. It helps that Mom and Travis are pretty much joined at the hip.
Speaking of whom, Mom, like the trooper she is, is in remission and has chosen to seize life by the horns. Since her recovery, the woman is a tank. She's always training for some sort of physical endeavor. Last year she ran the New York marathon and is now preparing for a two-day mountain hike.
I hadn't noticed just how on-edge we all were when she was sick. Everyone seems lighter now that she is better and more accommodating. Travis has been invited to go fishing with Dad and Matt more times than I can count, and Lily takes him shopping every now and then. I'm sure that's not exactly what Travis would choose to do, but as long as it gives him the opportunity to spend time with my family, he does it.
I've also changed. In the best way possible, I think. Having Mom back has restored my sense of security. So I'm freer and quicker to laugh than I was when I firstmet Travis. Then add motherhood to it and it's like I'm an entirely different person.
Although my pregnancy wasn't the easiest, when Amelia was born my heart burst open. Where I used to be stubborn and rigid, I'm more flexible and permissive, especially where Amelia is concerned. I mean, I still have my moments of firmness, but that's fine, because Travis seems to also adore that side of me.
Travis has changed as well. Like he promised, he rolled back some of his duties at work. Since we can afford it, he and I are basically stay at home parents now. He was worried about taking a step back from work, simply because it's all he's ever known in his adult life. However, it proved easier than he imagined. He has taken to family life like a duck to water.
"When we get back to the house, I'll make the calls and let everyone know to come by for dinner," I say.
Not long after that the kids come running back to us and we pack up and go inside.
I hand Travis the blanket and picnic basket and say, "I'm going upstairs to call everyone and also return a few work calls. Please keep the kids busy and out of the bedroom."
"Of course." He kisses me on the cheek, then I run upstairs.
What I have been able to accomplish with DeLisle over the past two years is nothing short of miraculous.
I'm glad I was able to convince Travis to let go of the reins a little and let me do my thing. The synergy we've been able to achieve with our visions has turned out to be lightning in a bottle.DeLislehas truly become a household name. We've managed to make luxury accessible, and the numbers are astounding. They are the kind of numbers Travis only dreamed of.DeLisleis now one of Travis' most profitable companies and I'm so glad that I get to work on it with him.
Travis spends the rest of the afternoon entertaining the kids with arts and crafts. Afterwards, I hear them in the kitchen helping our chef, Mrs. Watson, prep dinner.
Travis is showing the kids how to wash rice when I walk into the kitchen and rejoin them.
I know Mrs. Watson would rather have us out of the way, because she can probably do everything we're doing much faster, but she doesn't say anything. She just smiles at us every time she walks by.
These are the moments that matter. These are the memories the kids will have, and I'm happy we are able to give this to them.
Once we're done in the kitchen, we all go get ready for dinner and before we know it my family members start trooping in. First, my parents walk through the door. TJ and Amelia run up and give them hugs. Dad picks them up, one in each arm and kisses both of them on the forehead. Mom leans over and does the same.
I'm so proud of the relationship TJ has with my family. Even though he isn't related to us by blood, my family treats him just like one of us. I am so grateful for that.
Mom and Dad walk into the living room with the kids where I can hear TJ talking their ears off.
Next, Lily and her boyfriend, Ryan, show up. We greet them and they join our parents and the kids in the living room. Not long after that, Matt shows up in his work clothes.
"Next time, I would prefer it if you let me know that I have dinner plans earlier than three hours before said dinner," he jokes as he hugs me.
"I'm sorry," I say. "The idea just came to usnot long ago."
Even though Matt was a little aimless after he graduated college, he now works in PR and seems to be rising quickly through the ranks. So it's pretty hard to get him pinned down these days. I'm actually surprised he showed up.
Now that everyone is present, we all head into the dining room for dinner.
Travis sits at the head of the table with me to his left and Amelia is in a highchair beside me. TJ sits to his right and everyone else spreads out around us.
There's a lot of chatter in the room. Suddenly, over the noise, Travis clears his throat loudly. "Can I have everyone's attention?"
The whole room goes quiet.
He looks at me and takes my hand. "I hadn't planned on doing this with an audience, but I actually think it's better this way. I'm so happy that all of you could join us tonight. I'm so proud to be part of this family, and I would like to make it official."
He turns to me. "Paige, you are easily the best thing that has ever happened to me. You're the best person I know and loving you has turned me into the best version of myself. I cannot even picture my life without you in it. You've given me everything I've ever wanted; a companion, safety, family....you are it for me, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. I know you deserve so much better than me, but still, I will ask the question."
Everyone around the table chuckles, then Mom and Lily gasp as he pulls a beautiful 4 carat princess cut diamond ring from his pocket.
"Paige DeLisle, will you marry me?"
Before he can even get the question out I'm nodding frantically as tears roll down my face.
"Yes, yes, Travis, I will marry you."
He slides the ring onto my finger and it's a perfect fit. We both get up and hug each other to a round of applause. When we break apart, I see that TJ and Amelia are clapping along with everyone else. I'm not sure they even know what's happening, but I will accept their well wishes all the same.
I look around the table at our loved ones beaming up at us. I feel complete. The final puzzle piece of my life has slid into place and I know I will be fine. We have a lot of life to live together and I know it's going to be amazing.
Travis is the answer to a prayer I never knew I was making, and I cannot wait for forever with him.
I know it's going to be quite a ride.
The End