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“Shall we look at the menus?” Doug asked as he handed me one before picking up his own. He must have gone straight to the kid’s menu because he said, “You’re in luck Little Man; they have chicken fingers.”

Doug ordered their signature dish, filet and lobster, with a baked potato on the side. It sounded so good, I ordered it too, only I ordered a small filet.

After we finished eating our mouth-watering dinners, our server cleared our dishes, including our wine glasses. When he reached for our flutes, Doug asked him to hold off.

After the server left, Doug refilled our flutes with the last of the champagne, giving Chase a half an inch in his plastic one.

What’s he thinking Chase won’t-

Doug stood, moved to the edge of my bench, and took a knee. “Beth, I’m going to do it right this time. I love you, and if you’ll have me, I’d be honored to be your husband.” He reached in his pocket and took out a red jewelry box.

Chase was now standing on the bench. “And my daddy?” he asked, using his outside voice while he bounced on the bench and clapped.

Tears filled my eyes as I searched for words and came up empty. I wanted to tell Chase to stop bouncing on the bench, making me bounce too, but I couldn’t find those words either.

Doug gave Chase a look that made him stop bouncing as he said, “Inside voice.” He looked back at me. “Yes, if your mom says yes, it’d be my honor to be your dad.”

He opened the box, revealing a large sparkling round diamond with a small diamond on each side.

Yes, that’s the word I’m looking for. I was so excited I finally remembered the word, I shouted, “Yes!”

"Inside voice, Mommy," Chase said, disrupting the moment.

Most women wouldn’t think getting engaged with a six-year-old present was romantic, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Doug stayed on his knee as he placed the ring on my finger.

“I promise to love you, protect you, and spoil you every day of our lives. I promise to be the kind of man Chase can look up to, and be the best stepdad a boy can have.”

“Yes.” I repeated with squeak. I should have said more, but my love for the man in front of me robbed me of my words.