I already can’t live without him.

It’s been three days since we brought Mason home and in those three days our life has changed so much. My life is no longer mine. It’s Mason’s. Everything we do is for him, and neither of us would have it any other way.

“Shh, it’s okay. I know what it’s like to not want to sleep at night, but believe me when I tell you that there is nothing to be afraid of. A little wet diaper isn’t anything to get worked up about.” I finish changing his diaper, wrapping him back up so he’s nice and warm before putting him back in his crib.

In our room, Aundrea’s sitting in bed with the lamp on.

“You’re awake?”

She points to the monitor and I smile as I crawl back into bed, getting comfortable.

“Parker?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For giving me the best gift in the world.”

“Thank you for saying yes.”

One word has changed my life. Her saying yes to going home with me the night we met, yes to our first date, yes to marrying me, and, lastly, yes to having a child.

The next morning I’m making coffee when Aundrea joins me in the kitchen.

“What are you so happy about this morning?” she asks, resting her head on my shoulder.

“You opened your eyes.”

“Huh?”

“In my dream.” She looks over at me, perplexed. “It started out how it has before, but then … you opened your eyes, Aundrea. It changed.”

She kisses my lips.

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I knew this day would come. Aundrea and Mason are my heart. And sometimes your heart and mind are equal partners. She’s taught me to conquer my own fear and, because of that, for the first time, I was able to watch my wife open her eyes, changing what was once a nightmare into something bright.

I wrap my arms around her and hold on tight. I take in her pear and honey scent and smile. This is my life.

Soft cries interrupt our embrace. “I’ll go,” she whispers against my lips.

The doorbell rings and people start piling in.

Both sets of parents come up from downstairs. Mine flew in two days ago to see their grandson and help out for a week and Aundrea’s came up the night Mason was born.

“Hey guys, come on in.”

Shannon walks in first, followed by Kevin and Jean who have their arms around each other. Jason, Genna, and Hannah arrive shortly before ten. Donna and Genna start making brunch right away, which is when Wendy arrives with her family. We wanted to have all our family and friends with us to welcome Mason. Each person here has played a role in getting him into our arms. We couldn’t have done it without their support.

When everyone is gathered in the kitchen, I make a toast. “I want to thank everyone for coming here this morning and spending the day with us. Aundrea and I especially want to thank Wendy.” I look over at Wendy. “Wendy, you have given us something that we’ll forever be thankful for. You’ve become a part of our family and we want you to know you’re always welcome.”

I hand her a small white box.

“You didn’t have to get me something, you guys,” she says.

“We wanted to,” Aundrea says.

“Think of it as a belated push present.”

Aundrea opens her mouth in shock. Wendy laughs.

“Parker, how do you know about push presents?” Genna presses.

“I know a thing or two.”

Wendy opens the box to find a picture frame. On one side is a photo of Wendy, me, and Aundrea holding Mason just hours after he was born. The other side of the frame is engraved, “I’m here because of you.”

Wendy starts to cry. “Wow, this is the best gift. I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

“No, thank you. Like Parker said, we couldn’t have done this without you. I will forever be grateful for what you’ve given us.”

Wendy passes the frame around. When Genna holds it, she gazes at it intently. “I never would have thought that my little sister would marry a man I introduced her to and go on to have a baby. Miracles do happen.”

Jean and Shannon both burst out laughing at the same time.

“You didn’t introduce them,” Jean says, eyes filling with tears she’s laughing so hard.

“What are you talking about?” Genna looks at us, confused.

“You mean you have no idea? To this day?” Shannon asks.

“No idea about what?”

Everyone turns to us.

I can only manage a shrug.

Aundrea’s cheeks flush a deep red.

It’s not that we’ve kept how we met a secret. People just assumed we met through For the Love of Paws and we’ve never found it important to correct them.

“You mean … you two met before the night at our house?” Genna interrogates.

“Uhh …” Aundrea looks uncomfortable and I find it absolutely adorable.

“Yes,” I answer for both of us. The room goes silent. I swear you could hear a pin drop. “Honestly, I’m surprised it never came out sooner.”

“How?” Genna looks between the two of us.

Both sets of parents look at each other. My mom speaks up. “I think we’ll take the kids in the living room.” Jay takes Hannah from Jason and they all exit.

I chuckle at their embarrassment. We have smart parents. I’m pretty confident they’ve figured out exactly how we met.