PAYBACK IS A BITCH

Chapter twenty eight: Please say yes

I was speechless. What I held in my hand was the goal, but that didn't make it any less impactful. I looked up from the gorgeous diamond ring in my hand to my eagerly awaiting audience. Billy was on his knees with a hopeful smile on his face, the kids were watching with eager excitement for the follow up question and my response.

"Will you marry me?"

Saying yes immediately will make me look too eager, I need to play it hard. I didn't respond immediately but instead looked as if I was considering it.

"Please say yes."

Three words from the most unlikely person nearly caused the box and the ring to drop from my hand. "What!"  I wheeled my sharp gaze to my daughter who was giving me a pleading look.

"Sophie did you just speak?" There was awe in Josh's voice as he stared at his sister with a look of disbelief and joy. We all were gawking at her in amazement.

"Yes," she acknowledge with a soft smile, and before I knew what I was doing I was moving in her direction on autopilot. When I got I threw my arms around her chubby frame hugging her strongly.

"Oh my God!" I cried in both relief and tears.

"Does that mean yes? I want you to be my new mummy," her green eyes gazing expectantly at me. I looked from her to Billy who has gotten up from his knees, and was making his way to us. "You should listen to the kids, they know what they are saying," his blue eyes twinkled at me, a jovial smirk pulling at the corners of his lips.

I know I was going to say yes, but I wanted to know what the other kids thought of their proposal. Dave had a smile on his face, Josh nothing. Billy noticed where I was looking and said. "I spoke to them about this and they are all on board."

"And you Josh, are you on board?" I stared into his blue eyes which he held boldly. "And if I say no will you turn him down?"

"Josh!" Billy barked, I ignored him and continued to hold my son's eyes. "Yes."

"Bella, please ignore my son, this is between you and me, and his opinion I tell you doesn't weigh into this decision."

This where he is wrong, Josh opinion matters more than his. Turning down Billy will make things a lot of more difficult, but I will find away to finish what I started. I kept looking at Josh waiting for his response, and ignoring his father.

"This is ridiculous," Billy grumbled like a baby, but the staring contest happening between me and my son continued. I waited.

"Remember your promise," he said seriously. At first I was confused, then I remembered our discussion. "You will never have to worry about that." Billy and the others looked at us with question in their eyes that I didn't bother to clarify, but I did turn to look at Billy. "Yes, I will marry you," I finally answered.

"Thank God!" he exhaled dramatically, before flashing me a charming grin. "Come here," he beckoned me to him and when I got to him he leaned down and kissed me.

"Not in front of the kids guys," Dave teased causing a round of laughter to spread through the room. Billy and I pulled apart and then got congratulations and hugs from the kids.

"I can't believe you spoke,  Soph," Josh threw his hand around his sister, a smile on his face. "I am happy," Sophie muttered with a shrug and settled down on the ground as we went back to opening our gifts. It was a moment of laughter and liveliness as we chatted with one another and when the night fell, Billy asked that I spend the night.

"You can say yes, we already know what goes on between you two when the door is closed," Josh teased with a smirk on his lips.

"Josh!" Billy scolded.