Beyond: Beyond the Lights

Chapter 37

JAMES

April twenty-second. Today was my birthday - twenty two years old. It didn't feel like just another day, though. It felt bigger, more important, and not just because it was my birthday. This year was different. Madi and Maria had transformed my life in ways I never thought possible. Maria, my little girl, was growing up so fast, and Madi had stepped into the role of being there for her in ways I never imagined someone could. Madi was already Maria's stepmom.

And today, I was going to ask Madi's parents for their blessing to marry her.

I'd spent the morning with Maria, and I could tell she was itching to tell me something about whatever she and Madi had planned for later, but Madi had given her strict instructions to keep the birthday surprise under wraps. I kissed Maria on the head, told her I loved her, and promised to be back later. Then, I headed out to the Torres' residence, knowing I had an important conversation ahead.

When I arrived at the Torres house, it felt different than usual. I'd always been comfortable around Madi's parents, but today was different. Today, I was asking for their blessing to marry their daughter. My nerves were kicking in, and even though I'd been married once before, asking Madi's parents felt like a whole new level of importance. Madi was the love of my life, and this time, I wanted everything to be perfect.

Sarah Torres was the one who greeted me when I knocked on the door. She gave me a warm smile, like she always did. "Jamie, it's so good to see you," she said, pulling me into a quick hug. "Come on in. I just put on a fresh pot of coffee."

"Thanks, Mrs. Torres," I said, stepping inside. The house was filled with the smell of freshly baked bread, and it made everything feel a little more comforting.

We sat down in the kitchen, and I accepted a cup of coffee from her. For a moment, I just watched her move around the kitchen, her motherly instincts always on full display. It made me think about Madi and how she was with Maria. That's when I knew I couldn't wait any longer.

"Mrs. Torres," I began, setting my coffee down. "There's something really important I want to talk to you about."

Her eyebrows raised slightly, a curious but warm smile on her face. "Go on, Jamie. You've got my full attention."

I took a deep breath. "I love Madi. She's the most amazing person I've ever met, and she's been incredible with Maria. I couldn't ask for a better partner or a better person to be in Maria's life. I want to ask her to marry me, and before I do, I wanted to ask for your blessing."

Her face lit up with a smile, and for a moment, I saw a little shimmer of emotion in her eyes. She reached across the table, placing her hand on mine. "Jamie, of course you have my blessing. You've been a wonderful father to Maria, and it's clear how much you love Madi. You make her so happy, and that's all I could ever want for my daughter."

Relief washed over me, and I smiled, feeling like a huge weight had lifted off my shoulders. "Thank you, Mrs. Torres. That means everything to me."

She squeezed my hand gently before sitting back. "You've already become part of our family, Jamie. This is just making it official."

Next up was the hard part - talking to Xavier Torres. I knew Madi's dad wasn't an easy man to impress. He was protective, a little intimidating, and always looked at me like he was still deciding whether I was good enough for his daughter.

He was in his office, reading when I knocked on the doorframe. "Mr. Torres?" I asked, stepping into the room. "Do you have a minute?"

He looked up from his book, his expression unreadable. "Of course, Jamie. Come in."