Page 56 of My Off-limits Firefighter Next Door

I smiled faintly, glancing across the yard at Savannah. She stood with a group of moms, her laugh carrying over the noise of the party. It was the kind of laugh that made you stop and smile, even if you didn’t know what was funny.

“I guess I’ve been waiting for the right time,” I said, more to myself than to Marcus.

He snorted. “And a four-year-old’s birthday party is the right time?”

I didn’t answer. Watching Savannah, I realized it might be. She looked so carefree, so happy. Her brown hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her smile lit up her whole face.

She had no idea how much she meant to me—or how much I wanted to spend the rest of my life showing her.

As if sensing my thoughts, she glanced over and caught me staring. Our eyes locked, and everything else faded into the background.

I stood abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the patio.

“Uh-oh,” Marcus muttered, standing too. “Here we go.”

I barely heard him. My focus was on Savannah, who tilted her head slightly, curiosity and understanding dawning in her eyes. Her friends stopped talking, their gazes darting between us, and a few began to giggle behind their hands.

I crossed the yard, my hand sliding into my pocket to retrieve the small velvet box I’d been carrying for months. When I reached her, I held out my hand. She took it without hesitation, her fingers warm and steady against mine, as I dropped to one knee.

The world seemed to hold its breath, the chatter and laughter around us dimming to a hum.

“Savannah,” I began, my rehearsed words scattering like leaves in the wind. I swallowed hard, finding the courage I’d been missing for months.

“I love you. I love Alana. And I love the life we’ve built together. I can’t stand another day of not being your husband. Will you marry me?”

Her breath hitched, and tears welled in her eyes as she pressed a hand to her mouth.

“Yes,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “Yes, Jackson, I’ll marry you!”

Cheers erupted around us, the partygoers clapping and cheering as I slipped the ring onto her finger. Savannah pulled me to my feet and into her arms, laughing as I spun her around.

When I set her down, the children had gathered around us, clapping and hopping with delight, mimicking the adults without understanding the cause for celebration.

Alana was there, tugging on Savannah’s dress with wide, curious eyes.

“Are you my daddy now?” she asked, her voice clear and innocent.

Savannah’s eyes met mine, and in that moment, I felt the weight of what her daughter’s question truly meant. I crouched to Alana’s level, holding out my hand for a high-five.

“I guess I am,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “What do you think about that?”

“Yaaaayyy!” she squealed, slapping my hand and darting off, her friends trailing after her in a blur of bright colors and infectious energy.

Savannah stepped closer, slipping her arms around my waist. “You handled that perfectly.”

I kissed the top of her head, my heart so full it felt like it might burst. “She’s an amazing kid. Takes after her mom.”

She smiled up at me, her eyes sparkling. “I never knew I could feel this way, Jackson. You’ve given me a happiness I didn’t think was possible.”

“You make me feel the same way, and you’ve given me a family, Savvy.” I replied, leaning down to kiss her.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the backyard, I realized something I hadn’t fully understood before. Life wasn’t about waiting for the perfect moment. It was about making the moments we had perfect.

And this moment? This was as perfect as it got. My family. My home. My forever.

The END.