Randy had embraced his new role at the ranch. We’d asked him to be our official cowboy, taking the guests on horse rides and hikes. He taught kids and adults how to use a lasso. Sometimes the guests actually succeeded in roping our fake bull. In the evenings, we built a bonfire and invited everyone for s’mores and hot chocolate.

  By the time Christmas rolled around, we had good systems and routines.

  I didn't enter the pie contest the next year, after learning of Renee's near breakdown. Not wanting to be the cause of further consternation for the poor woman, especially after she discovered her husband in the arms of another. I figured the pie contest meant more to her than it did to me.

  For weeks now, I'd had the ring in my pocket. Stella and I had already agreed that I would propose at some point in the near future and that she would say yes. We’d wanted to work out a few details before talking to the boys about this giant change to their lives. Including what kind of family would we be exactly. Would I be a stepdad or a dad? Would they all take my name? I knew what I wanted but wasn’t sure how Stella would feel.

  When I’d asked Stella if I could adopt the boys, her response had been to cry and then shower me with kisses. I took that as a yes.

  After the Christmas festival, we all gathered at home to decorate a tree the boys and I had found on their property and dragged a quarter of a mile home. I hadn't dared suggest a fake tree with this crowd. During said tree hunting trip, I'm happy to report that I wore an appropriate pair of boots for such an activity.

  The rest of the house and our guest cabins were already decorated. Stella and Iris had spent all week putting up lights, wreaths, and garlands, transforming it into a winter wonderland. Even the weather cooperated by dumping several feet of snow.

  But we’d saved decorating our family tree for just us. I’d put Christmas music on and built a roaring fire.

  Now, however, as I stood next to our decorated tree, my stomach fluttered with nerves. What if I was wrong and the boys didn’t love me as I did them? The little ones already acted as though I were their father, but I’d felt Atticus and Caspian holding back. Once in a while I caught them staring at me with eyes that held both hope and worry at the same time. They were waiting to see if I left them. That would never happen. My greatest wish and ambition was to erase any doubt from their minds that not only was I here for good, but they could trust that other people would stay too. Projecting into the future, I could see how hard it would be for them to trust the woman they loved. Would they give their heart only to have it broken? It was my purpose on this earth to make sure they could. When the time came, of course.

  For weeks I’d debated the best way to propose the idea of adoption. I wanted it to be the boys' decision, but I also wanted them to say yes. Therefore, I had to ask the question just right.

  I’d ended up writing up a contract, which was now in my pocket next to their mother’s ring. I would read it to them. Hopefully without breaking down, but it was likely the tears would start rolling the minute I opened my mouth.

  Now, the box of decorations were all hanging on the tree. It was time.

  “Boys, will you sit on the couch please?” I asked. “I have something I need to ask you and your mom.”

  None of them said a word, not even rambunctious, talkative Thad. He’d finally stopped referring to himself as "me" in every sentence. Stella was relieved, but I missed his funny way of talking.

  I had them all sit together on the new couch I’d purchased after the old one collapsed one night during a heated game of Scrabble.

  Stella had taken the chair closest to the fire. A log shifted and sparks flew against the grate, as if it knew what I was about to do. I dropped to one knee and pulled the ring box from my pocket.

  “Stella, you have changed my life and opened my heart. I’m amazed by your strength and intelligence. Working together to build this business has been the happiest time of my life. I never believed in soulmates until I met you, and I believe God put us together just at the right time. You’re everything I could ever want in a partner and best friend. I hope you’ll agree to make me the happiest man alive and agree to be my wife. Will you marry me?”

  She nodded, tears in her eyes. “Yes, I’ll make you the happiest man alive.”

  I slipped the solitaire diamond I’d picked especially for her onto her pretty hand and then leaned in for a chaste kiss. No need to gross the boys out.

  Rafferty, Soren, and Thad piled on top of me, shouting hooray and hugging me around the neck. After I untangled from them, I glanced over at the two older ones. They hadn’t said anything, but smiles played at the corners of their mouths.

  After the little guys returned to their places on the sofa, I sat on the coffee table and took a good look at our motley crew. They were sitting in order of their age, little stairsteps if there ever were some. Since we’d come from the festival, their hair was tousled from tearing off knit hats, and they wore flannel shirts and jeans. I had to keep this image in my mind for the rest of my life, I thought. Take it out to look at when they’re all grown. “I’d like to ask you gentlemen something as well. I made up a little contract, so I wouldn’t forget what I wanted to ask you." I tugged it out of my pocket and unfolded the contract I’d carefully typed up before I came.

  “In a nutshell,” I said, voice quivering, “I would like to adopt you and become your father.” I glanced down at the paper. “I’ve come up with a promise. One that I will keep. I’m calling it SLURFPIG. Which I propose be our family motto from here on out.”

  Soren and Thad giggled.

  Nonetheless, I continued my speech.

  “S is for support. I promise to always be there for you. I’ll be here today and all the rest of the days of my life. Think of me like a tree with deep, strong roots. I’m here whenever you need me. To listen, to give advice or just take you fishing so we can be quiet together.

  “L is for love. I promised to love your mother, and I promise to love you boys. If you’ll have me, I’ll be your papa and love you as if we’d always been together. I’d like you to take my last name, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to. However, it seems like fate, given the name of your ranch, that we all be Moons, so I do hope you’ll consider it."

  I started to choke up at this point but continued on, even though my words were strained. “U is for understanding. There will be moments of adjustment as we grow into a new kind of family. That’s to be expected. But I’ll do my best to be patient and understanding, and I hope you’ll do the same, even when and if I do something dumb.”

  “You’re not dumb,” Soren said solemnly. “Not one bit.”

  “Thank you, Soren. I appreciate your kind words.” I continued, even though I felt precariously close to tears.

  “I don’t think you’re dumb either,” Rafferty said, raising his hand.

  “Thank you.” I smiled back at him, hoping to reassure him fighting for my attention or love was unnecessary. This was not a contest or game he had to win. “There’s enough love in my heart for all of you. Actually, you’ve made my heart bigger.”

  “Like the Grinch,” Caspian said.

  “Because you love us,” Rafferty said.

  “I love you, Mr. Moon,” Thad yelled out.

  “That’s right.” I wiped tears out of the corners of my eyes. “R is for respect. I promise to honor and respect your feelings, opinions, and individuality. I’m not here to change you. In fact, I think you’re all just right the way you are. Instead, I want to help you grow into the best men you can be. We might not always agree, but I promise I’ll always listen and value your opinions.

  “F is for family. We must put it above all else, always. Together we’re strong.” I drew in a deep breath. “P is for protection. I’ll protect you with my life. If anyone tries to hurt you, they’ll have me to answer to. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you’re safe and healthy. And I will never leave you.

  “I is for inclusion. Our family came together late and in an untraditional manner, but my hope is that we’ll make new traditions and memories together. We’re a team now, and a team works together but also plays together."

  Soren and Thad were starting to wriggle, so I sped up my delivery.

  “G is for growth. I commit to supporting your dreams, aspirations, and ambitions. I’ll always be on your side, no matter what you decide to do or be. I don’t expect perfection, only that you be true to yourselves and give whatever you do your all.

  “In conclusion, I propose SLURFPIG start this very night. As a matter of fact, I’ve prepared something that will remind us of the promises I’ve made to each of you and to your mother.” I grabbed a present from under the tree and handed it to a red-eyed Stella.

  She tore open the paper and then held up the painting I’d had made. I’d commissioned a local artist and he’d done a fine job. "SLURFPIG" was written in beautiful cursive and placed inside of a heart.

  “It’s…lovely,” Stella said, getting up to wrap her arms around my neck and kiss me on the cheek. “We’ll hang it in the kitchen.”

  I took Stella’s hand and turned back to the boys. “What do you say? Should we make this thing official?”

  Atticus’s head was bent, making his expression unreadable.

  “Atticus?” Stella asked. “Are you okay?”

  He slowly lifted his face. Tears dampened his cheeks. “Long live SLURFPIG. And the Moon family.”

  The rest of them all cheered. Then, as they were wont to do, Soren, Thad, and Rafferty jumped up and started chasing one another around the house shouting "SLURFPIG" at the top of their lungs.

  “How about you?” I asked Caspian. “You on board?”

  He nodded, his eyebrows coming together as if he were perplexed by all the fuss. “You’ve been my dad since we made our pie.”

  “But this is official,” Atticus said. “Legally, he’ll be our dad.”

  Caspian shrugged. “I don’t need anyone to tell me what I already know.”

  There were more hugs then, and we opened cider and champagne and made a toast to "Long live SLURFPIG" and then all collapsed together on the couch to watch Christmas movies.

  For as long as I live, I thought, I’ll never forget this night.

  Later, after the boys had finally settled down for the night, Stella and I snuggled up together on the couch, watching the logs turn to embers in the fireplace. We talked about the future and the wedding and how to proceed legally with the adoption and everything in between.

  “We have the rest of our lives to do this,” Stella said. “Talk until the fire burns out.”

  “Do you think I can stay over tonight?” I asked. “Now that you have that ring on your finger?”

  “And after the speech of the century,” she said. “You deserve it. But we agreed not to let the boys see us waking up together unless we’re married.”

  “Then let’s do it tomorrow. We’ll drive to Bozeman and get married at city hall. I don’t want to wait another minute.”

  Her expression softened, and she looked at me with such love in her eyes that my knees felt weak and I wasn’t even standing. “Jasper Moon, I would follow you anywhere, including city hall tomorrow.”

  I kissed her, hoping to convey the depth of my love. The world fell away as it always did when I captured her mouth with mine. Finally, though, I pulled away, knowing that tomorrow I could follow her up to her room and start the rest of our lives. “In that case, we better put another log on the fire, because I’m sleeping on the couch. We want to get an early start in the morning so we’re married by noon.”

  She laughed. “What about Penny? She’s all alone.”

  “She should enjoy it while she can. Her life’s about to get a lot noisier.”

  “And hectic,” Stella said. “The life of a family is not for those who crave quiet.”

  Family. The very best word in all of the English language.

  My family. At long last, I was home.

  About the Author

  Tess Thompson is the USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author of clean and wholesome Contemporary and Historical Romantic Women’s Fiction with nearly 50 published titles. Her stories feature family sagas, romance, a little mystery, and a lot of heart.

  She’s married to her prince, Best Husband Ever, Cliff, and is the mother of their blended family of two boys and two girls. Cliff is seventeen months younger, which qualifies Tess as a Cougar, a title she wears proudly. Her bonus sons are young adults working toward making all their dreams come true out in the world. Oldest daughter is at college studying Chemistry. (Her mother has no idea where she got her math and science talent!) The baby of the family is a junior in high school and a member of a state champion cheer team as well as an academic all-star, including achieving a 5 on the AP World History exam during her sophomore year.

  Tess is proud to have grown up in a small town like the ones in her novels. After graduating from the University of Southern California Drama School, she had hopes of becoming an actress but was called instead to writing fiction.

  Tess loves lazy afternoons watching football, hanging out on the back patio with Best Husband Ever, reading in bed, binge-watching television series, red wine, strong coffee, Zumba, and walks on crisp autumn days. She never knows what to make for dinner and is often awake in the middle of night thinking about her characters and their stories.

  She’s grateful to spend most days in her office matchmaking her characters while her favorite cat Mittens (shhh…don’t tell Midnight) sleeps on the desk.

  She adores hearing from readers, so don’t hesitate to say hello or sign up for her newsletter: www.tesswrites.com. You’ll receive a free ebook just for signing up!

 

 

  Tess Thompson, Mama Moon

 

 

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