“What is going on over here?” Matthew says, coming to us and seeing Karrie with tears in her eyes. “Oh my God, please don’t tell me that you’re pregnant again, Karrie. I swear, I don’t think …” he says, taking the baseball hat off his head and scratching his head. “I mean, if you are, I’m super happy.”

“Dude, shut up,” Karrie says to him. “I’m not pregnant.”

“Oh, thank fuck,” he says, putting the hat back on, and going to hug her, and she pushes him away. “So why are you crying then?” he asks.

I turn to Mark and then back to them, and I finally say, “I’m pregnant.” Two words I never thought I would ever say. “We’re pregnant. I keep forgetting I have half of you living inside my uterus.”

“Oh, dear God,” Matthew says at the same time Karrie takes me in her arms.

“I’m so, so happy for you,” she tells me and then looks at me. “You are glowing.”

“Oh, that’s because we had sex before we came here,” I tell her. “Not because of the baby.” Matthew now groans out. “Matthew, how do you think we got the baby in there?”

“There are things I don’t want to think of in my life, and this is one of those things,” Matthew says and then smacks Mark on the shoulder. “Never thought I would see this happen.”

“I helped,” I say, putting up my hand. “I probably did all the work, too.”

“Honey,” Mark says softly, shaking his head. “I love you. Let’s go get you something to eat.”

I nod at him and look around and see eyes on us, and I have no idea what is going on. But then I spot Mark’s family, and I look over at him and then everything finally clicks into place. The tent, the balloons, all the flowers—this isn’t just a family barbecue. I turn and see Mark, but now he isn’t beside me, he’s on his knee.

“Vivienne Paradis, you came into my world, and you made it complete. I want to hold your hand for the rest of my life. Until we are old and gray and can’t remember anything except that we love each other,” he says, and the tears just pour down my face. “I want to wipe your tears. I want to hold you up when you can’t do it yourself. I want to be the man you deserve now and forever.” My hand goes to my mouth to stop the sob coming and my hands shake, my knees get weak. “Would you make me the happiest man in the world and spend the rest of your life with me?” he says and then laughs. “I mean, you make me happy every day, but if you say yes, it will be extra special.”