This Is Me Trying

Chapter Eighteen

Danielle

"Bambina? Do you work today?" Stefania asked from the kitchen.
"No, I might come in later and see you though." I sipped my coffee on the couch.
"Okay. I love you." She leaned down and gave me a kiss.
"I love you too." I smiled as I watched her walk out of the house.

I looked down at the ring on my left hand, and sighed. I'm really getting married.

I heard the door unlock, and shut again.
"Babe? Did you forget something?"
"Uh no. It's me."

I turned and saw Betty standing in the doorway to the living room.
"Betty. Hey." I turned my attention back to the TV.
"Hey. I uh, I brought you some stuff." She picked up a large bag from the floor and walked over to the couch, handing it to me.
"You didn't have to get me anything kid."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the way I acted yesterday. I didn't mean anything I said. I'm happy you and Stef are back together. I'm happy you're getting married. I'm sorry I said you weren't my mom. You're the best mom I've ever had. I just don't wanna see you get hurt again. I'm so, so sorry." Betty rambled out, tears running down her face.

"Come here." I opened my arms and she walked over. I pulled her into a hug and held her tight. "You know Stefania isn't going to hurt me again, right?"
"I know. I just worry. I just..." Betty trailed off.
"You can tell me, sweet girl." I held her tighter.
"I just feel like it was too easy for her to come back. She cheated. She hurt the closest thing I've had to a mom, and she wins you back with a ring?"
"Betty, sweetie, it's not just a ring. It's a promise. It's a commitment. It's something that people like Stefania and I, and you, weren't allowed to do even six years ago. Gay marriage became legal, five years ago. Two men or two women in love couldn't get married, because it was against the law for them to marry each other. This ring isn't just a symbol our love for each other, it's so much more. Stefania could've given me a ring pop and I would've said yes."
"That's because you like candy." Betty sniffled with a smile.

"I love you kid. I'm sorry. I know all this has been hard on you. I should've listened to you better."
"No, you did everything right. I was just an asshole." She gave me a teary laugh.
"I think me and you need to set up some ground rules though." Betty continued as she sat up and leaned back into the couch.

"I agree." I nodded.
"Can we go to work and include Stef? She deserves to be included too."
"I'm sure she'd love that kid."

Betty

I walked with Danielle to Stefania's trailer. She knocked and we heard, "Come in!"

Danielle walked in, I followed closely behind.
"Bambini! What a lovely surprise!" Her face lit up when she saw us.

"I'm sorry Stef. I'm sorry for all the things I said. I didn't mean it. I'm happy you two are getting married. I'm happy you're back in our lives. Will you forgive me?" I quickly said.
"Of course bella. Come here." She opened her arms and I quickly hugged her.
"I love that I have my two girls back." Danielle hugged us both and rested her chin on my head.
"I love you both." I hugged them both tighter.

"Betty, is there something else you wanted to talk about?" Danielle asked me while raising her eyebrows.
"Uh yeah. I think I should have rules. You know, stability and shit."
"Okay. Rule number one. No more cussing." Danielle chuckled.
"Deal. Stef?"

"You want me to be included?"
"That's why we came. You're uh, you're my other Mom too. You deserve to be in this." I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.

"Okay. Um... curfew?" Stefania looked at Danielle.
"No staying out past ten?" Danielle suggested.
"Okay. What about Elizabeth and I? I mean, we're not really dating or whatever... but I was thinking about asking her to be my girlfriend."
"You two can go on dates. But you have to be home by ten. And if she's over at our house, the door stays open."

"And you should ask us before you make plans." Stefania added.
"Okay. Anything else?" I asked.
"I can't think of anything else right now. But we'll think of some stuff along the way."
"Okay. Okay. Are you telling Krista about you two now? Since you're engaged?"

"We were gonna tell her today, and then tell everyone else."
"Okay. I'm gonna go find Elizabeth while you two do that." I stood up and turned to leave. "I mean, can I go hang out with Elizabeth?"
"Sure kid. Thanks for asking. I'll call you when we're gonna tell everyone." Danielle smiled at me.
"Thanks Dani."

Danielle

"Krista? Can we come in?" I knocked on our boss's open door.
"Of course! Come on it ladies."
Stefania and I walked in and shut the door behind us.
"What do I owe the pleasure?" Krista shut her laptop and focused on us.

"Danielle and I would like to let you know that we are together." Stefania reached over and grabbed my hand.
"That's amazing! I'm very happy for you two. I assume you two haven't told anyone?"
"Betty knows. But there's also something else we needed to tell you. Stefania proposed, and I said yes."
"Oh my goodness! More congratulations!"
"We didn't know you you'd react, that's why we've been keeping it a secret." I fiddled with my ring nervously.

"That's understandable. The only thing I ask, is that you tell your co workers before you go to social media about it."
"We were planning on going to tell them after our meeting."
"Good. Go tell them, and let me know before you post on social media."
"Thank you Krista!"

Betty

"You're pretty." I smiled into Elizabeth's kiss.
"Oh shut up. You're the pretty one in this relationship."
I pulled back slightly, "Relationship?"
"Do you want to be my girlfriend, Betty?"
"Yes."
"Yeah?" She smiled and pulled me on her lap.
"Yes." I pressed another kiss to her lips.

"Hey! You two! Break it up!" Jaina said jokingly.
"We're just kissing." I stuck my tongue out at her and got off of Elizabeth's lap.

"Attention everyone! We have an announcement to make." Danielle said loudly.
"Betty. Come here." Stefania called me over.

I walked over and stood next to Danielle.

"Stefania and I are together." She said with a smile.
Everyone clapped and cheered.
"And we're getting married." Stefania smiled at Danielle.
"And there's more. Betty, you know we love you more than anything. You're our kid. Do you wanna make that official?" Danielle looked at me.
"What do you mean?" I questioned.
"Can Stefania and I adopt you?"

Danielle

"What? Really? Are you serious?"
"Yes goof ball! I mean, you're our kid." I laughed.
"But don't you already have rights to me?"
"Yes. But, I want to make you a Savre. A Savre-Spampinato? Spampinato-Savre? We'll work on the last names." I smiled brightly at my daughter and my future wife.

"Oh my God, yes!" Betty shouted as she jumped into mine and Stefania's arms.
Everyone was cheering and clapping for us. For our family.
"I love you guys." Betty sobbed out.
"We love you too bambina. So, so much." Stefania kissed the top of her head.