Online relationship

Chapter 40

                                      Nights like this is what I craved most from my parents. Family nights, sitting together, two parents in one room actually loving each other and not arguing over who didn't do the dishes or who forgot to pick me up from school.  

            Dante was feeding Declan a bottle while we were watching some tv show. I kept sneaking glances at him. He knew so much about me, the good, the bad, the freaky, and he still loved me. He still was the man who I fell in love with, the man who swept me off my feet on an app. I always asked my self  if I am good enough and now, it's getting to the point where I rarely think I am any less of a human. Any less of a woman. I have to thank Dante for that. I always thought the thing I felt missing was love, but not from a man,  from my parents and while I don't have their love, I have Declan who has taught me how to love being a mom, taught me how to love a small human and enjoy the smiles, the tiny baby laughs, the poopy diapers. Then I have a man, a beautiful, gentle, rough when it's in the bed room man who makes me feel like there's nothing I can't do. I compensated for my parents not being around, doing the most activities, being apart of the clubs, now, I am enough. 

The next day  

Today is the day. The day I graduate from this hell hole and close this chapter to open a new one.  I have been living for this day since I was a freshman, I am going to be moving on with my life in such a direction that I won't be looking back on the past anymore. These last few months, especially this past year as a whole have taught me a lot. I have had to grow up fast my whole life, but now it's not just about me. I have a son to think about. A boyfriend who's in the military and deploying soon. Our lives together are messy since Dante won't be around for a while and has to go to lots of training and stuff. 

"Are you ready baby?" I sat in my gown and cap looking in the mirror when Dante walks up behind me 

"Yeah." I smiled at him in the mirror

He got Declan ready and had him in his carrier 

"Let's go, Graduate." 

2 hours later 

"Rebecca Lewis" The greatest feeling of success came when they announced my name and I crossed the stage. I walked back to my seat with a weight being lifted off my shoulders. I look up in the crowd seeing Dante holding Declan and him pointing at me and whispering in Declan's ear. 

I continued to look around the crowd as I waited for the last people to get called and I saw faces I least expected- my parents.  I looked at them and for once, they looked proud. 

I did it. No thanks to them, well partially because thanks to their inability to love any one but themselves I have a son and due to their guilt or whatever I saved up enough money to afford college and still be able to take care of the three of us. 

"WE DID IT BITCH!" Oreo ran up to me and screamed as we hugged

"HELL YEAH WE DID" 

"Declan baby you have got to stop growing! I will take him, thank you very much." Orianna took Declan from Dante and doted on the baby, he was going to be turning one in three months and it was freaking all of us out that time had flown by so quickly. 

" Congrats mi amor" Dante whispered and kissed me 

"Thank you" I was on top of the world 

"Maria you came!" I hugged the woman who had been basically a mom to me and had helped us raise Declan 

" Of course, I couldn't miss my favorite girl's graduation."

"Maria I wouldn't have been able to do this, be here if you hadn't come along, Gracias" Her eyes swelled up and she hugged my tightly 

"You are so strong my dear, more than you know. You don't ever have to thank me for helping you and loving you kids and that beautiful baby." 

"I don't know what we're going to do without you." I said sadly 

"You thought you going to college, meant you could get rid of me so easily?" She teased 

I looked back at her and Dante confused by what she meant 

"We were talking about it and since I'm going to be deploying soon and you're gonna be busy with classes, I thought it might be nice if you had some family close by." Dante stated 

"What does that mean?" At this point I didn't know if I was excited to be staying here close to them or mad that they discussed my future without me 

"Now mi amor we know that look. You are going to the college of your dreams and gonna kick ass. Me and my family decided that since you are an addition of our family, we couldn't help but come along with you. We're going to be 15 minutes away from you. Same city, I can watch the baby whenever needed and we will have you over anytime you guys need it." 

I looked over to see Dante on one knee and have a nervous look on his face 

"What are you doing?" I could only  whisper between my emotions

He cleared his throat and said " I love you. I love our life together, our son. I fell in love with you when you checked up on me, a complete stranger. I fell in love with a caring, beautiful women. Through our tough times and road blocks, you have been nothing less than amazing. More than I deserve. I want this, I want us to last a life time. Will you Rebecca Jay Lewis, marry me?" 

"Of course I will." 

I am going to be MRS  DANTE JAMES. For the first time in my life everything was falling into place. 

                                                                         THE END!