Finding Love Again

37

**Christmas Night**

The day had been filled with joy, laughter, and the warmth of family togetherness. Now, as the evening settled in, the house had taken on a quieter, more intimate atmosphere. The fire in the living room crackled softly, casting dancing shadows across the walls. Most of the family had retired to their rooms, the younger children finally worn out from the excitement of the day, leaving only a few lingering in the living room.

Maya was sitting on the couch, her legs curled under her, sipping a cup of hot chocolate as she watched the flames flicker in the fireplace. She felt a contented warmth in her chest, the events of the day still playing vividly in her mind. It had been perfect, more than she could have ever asked for. But as she glanced over at Ryan, who was quietly playing with a toy car on the rug, she noticed a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

Liam entered the room, a gentle smile on his face as he saw Maya looking over at Ryan. He walked over to where Ryan was sitting, his hands tucked into his pockets, and sat down beside him on the floor.

"Hey, buddy," Liam said softly, ruffling Ryan's hair. "Mind if I join you for a bit?"

Ryan looked up, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Sure, Liam," he replied, but his tone was subdued.

Liam noticed the slight sadness in Ryan’s voice. He knew exactly what it was about. Earlier that month, Ryan had made a Christmas wish—a wish for a family, for someone to call "Dad." And while Liam had been doing his best to step into that role, he knew today might have felt a bit incomplete for the boy.

Liam took a deep breath, his heart heavy but filled with determination. "Ryan," he began, his voice gentle, "I want to apologize."

Ryan's eyes widened slightly as he looked up at Liam, confused. "Apologize for what?"

"For not being able to give you everything you wished for this Christmas," Liam said, his voice sincere. "I know how much you wanted a dad, and I haven’t quite made that official yet. But I promise you, I’m working on it. And soon enough, it will be real. For now… if you want, you can start calling me 'Dad.' Because eventually, I plan to make it official with your mom."

Ryan's eyes lit up, the sadness evaporating in an instant. "Really?" he asked, his voice filled with hope.

Liam nodded, his smile warm and reassuring. "Really. I love your mom very much, and I care about you too. I want us to be a family, and I promise to do everything I can to make that happen."

Ryan’s face broke into a wide grin, and without a second thought, he launched himself into Liam's arms. "Thanks, Dad," he whispered, his voice muffled against Liam’s shoulder.

Liam’s heart swelled with emotion as he held the boy close. "You're welcome, son," he replied softly. "I promise, I'll always be here for you."

Maya watched from the couch, her eyes misting over with tears. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, overwhelmed by the love and sincerity in Liam’s voice. She had always hoped for a father figure for Ryan, someone who would love him unconditionally, and now here was Liam, stepping into that role so naturally, so beautifully.

Liam gently pulled back from Ryan, ruffling his hair again. "Now," he said, standing up and reaching into his pocket, "there's one more thing I need to do tonight."

He turned to Maya, his eyes locking with hers. There was a sparkle in them, a look of determination mixed with nervous excitement. Maya’s breath hitched in her throat as he approached her, her heart beginning to race.

Liam reached out, taking her hand and helping her to her feet. He took a deep breath, then slowly got down on one knee. Maya’s eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth in shock.

"Liam…," she whispered, her voice trembling.

He smiled up at her, his eyes filled with nothing but love. "Maya," he began softly, "I know we’ve been through a lot together, and today, being with you and Ryan, I realized more than ever how much I want this. How much I want us. You and Ryan are everything to me. I want to be the one you lean on, the one who makes you laugh, and the one who stands by you through whatever life throws at us."

He pulled out a small velvet box from his pocket, opening it to reveal a delicate ring with a simple yet elegant band, adorned with a small, glistening diamond. "This isn’t an engagement ring—yet," he continued with a soft chuckle. "It’s a promise ring. A promise that I’m committed to you, to us, to building a life together. A promise that one day, when the time is right, I’ll get down on one knee again with an engagement ring in my hand. But for now, I want to give you this to show you how much you mean to me."

Tears streamed down Maya’s face as she listened to his words, her heart overflowing with emotion. She had never expected this, never imagined that today would end with such a beautiful, heartfelt gesture. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the love that poured out of him, and she knew, without a doubt, that he meant every word.

Liam looked up at her, his own eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Maya, will you accept this ring and all the promises that come with it?"

Maya nodded, her voice caught in her throat as she whispered, "Yes. Yes, I will."

A radiant smile spread across Liam’s face as he slipped the ring onto her finger. The room seemed to glow with warmth and love as he stood, pulling her into his arms. She felt his lips press softly against her forehead, and she closed her eyes, savoring the moment, feeling her heart soar.

Ryan clapped his hands excitedly, jumping up and down beside them. "Mom, you’re going to marry Dad!" he exclaimed, his face glowing with joy.

Maya laughed through her tears, reaching down to pull Ryan into their embrace. "Yes, sweetie," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "One day, I will."

They held each other close, the three of them wrapped in a tight embrace, their hearts full of love and hope for the future. The room was filled with the warmth of the fireplace and the soft glow of the Christmas lights, the perfect ending to a perfect day.

And as the night drew to a close, they knew this was just the beginning of their new chapter—a chapter filled with love, laughter, and the promise of many more Christmases to come, together as a family.