“I guess that’s a ‘no.’”
“Wrong. That’s a ‘I don’t want you to see how emotional I got when you said that.’”
“I gotta go.”
“Wait.” Razor looked at his phone. “What time does school get out?”
“Three, but I’ve got a stop to make.”
“To get a ring?”
Monk shook his head. “Flowers.”
WHEN THE BELL RANG, Monk was waiting on the front steps of the elementary school. He never waited in the car line. That was no way to pick up two little girls at the end of a long day. Plus, he loved to see their faces when they came out and saw him waiting with both arms behind his back.
“What do you have for us today, Mr. Monk?” asked Savannah, running ahead of her sister.
“That isn’t polite. You didn’t even say hello.”
Savannah stuck her tongue out at Sierra.
“You know your mother doesn’t like that,” he said, scrunching his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she said, looking at the ground.
“It isn’t me you need to apologize to. Say it to your sister.”
Once she had, Monk told them both to close their eyes. “Okay, open,” he said, with his arms now in front of him.
“Bouquets? They’re so pretty!” exclaimed Sierra.
“They’re like the ones we had for Aunt Ava’s wedding.”
Monk shook his head and laughed. Everything was always Aunt Ava, never Uncle Razor.
He led them farther off the sidewalk and knelt down. “I have something very important to ask you.”
With wide eyes, both girls nodded. “Go ahead, Mr. Monk,” said Sierra.
“While we’re on our trip, I’m going to ask your mother to marry me. If that’s okay with the two of you.”
Savannah’s eyes lit up, and she shoved the flowers closer to him. “Are these for when we’re flower girls?”
“Those are to practice with.” He looked between them. “But you haven’t answered me.”
“Of course it’s okay,” said Savannah, putting her arms around his neck. Sierra, though, held back, studying her flowers. Monk reached out and took her hand.
“I wouldn’t just be marrying your mom. In a way, I’d be marrying both of you too. We’d be a family.”
Sierra’s eyes filled with tears.
“Talk to me, sweetheart. Tell me why you’re crying.”
She stepped forward and leaned into him. “Will you be our dad?” she whispered.
“If you want me to, absolutely.”
“Can we call you that?” asked Savannah.