NATE
While we are driving, the girls keep going over ideas on what they will want where and what style they are going to decorate the house in. The guys and I just roll our eyes because we couldn't care less.
When we pull up to the driveway, we see a large wrought iron gate thatâs open and a security building right next to the entrance. We make our way down the gravel road for a few minutes and the house gradually appears. Itâs a colonial-style three-story mansion and all the girls gasp at the sight of it.
When we park with our convoy of cars, I see the realtor John with all his documents ready to go. We all unload and slowly make our way inside. All the girls go running off to look around.
When we enter, there are white marble floors everywhere and gray walls. White marble staircases are on each side leading up to the second and third floors.
The two upper floors are all bedrooms. The first floor has the kitchen, dining room, and entertainment room, with exercise rooms down the hallway to the left. To the right are offices and a meeting room.
Walking straight back, we see a pool area and a courtyard. The U-shaped mansionâs sides wrap around the pool area. I see there is some furniture left behind, which is fine. We will see where Mandy wants it to be put.
I walk over to a couch, sit with John, and quickly sign all the paperwork. The girls come running back downstairs to announce that they marked the doors indicating whose rooms are whose, so when stuff comes it can go straight into the rooms.
As Mandy starts directing the guards where to move stuff that was left in the house, delivery trucks start arriving. The first truck seems to be linens and rugs to go in all the rooms.
The girls start directing where stuff is going while guards start quickly getting the furniture boxes in rooms. All the rooms are pretty much the same, with white marble floors and gray walls.
As the rugs are rolled out, guards start assembling the beds that have arrived. We are still missing half, but at least it gives us a start. We might even be done before the week is up.
The next few days are filled with more deliveries and people running everywhere. The house is in chaos, and we seem to have stuff coming faster than we have workers.
I put a text out, and within twenty minutes, I have another convoy of cars pull up to the back and unload with about thirty more men.
Itâs perfect timing, too, because the mattresses just showed up along with extra-long tables for the kitchen. Everything is going like clockwork, and as soon as it settles down, the trucks roll in from the apartment.
Everyone is running everywhere as I pull out my phone and call our favorite restaurant about a party. I set up a party in two weeks for the guards and their families. I think it will be a great way to help with the healing after whatâs happened.
I also asked if by chance they have someone that would like to be a chef for the house. They stated their Aunt Carmen was recently widowed. Her kids are grown and she is on her own and would love the job. Perfectâsend her over!
The chaos continues in the house and goes on for hours into the afternoon as people are assembling items. Food is brought in, and the girls are putting it where Mandy wants it for now.
I make some calls and a cleaning crew will be here in the morning to clean everything. We cleaned as best we could but want professionals to come in.
When the evening comes around, almost everything is done and the guards are all sitting around with beers, relaxing.
I will have Mandy order some thank-you baskets and have them sent over to the cleaning crew for coming on such short notice.
The kitchen has a huge walk-in pantry with two side-by-side fridges and a ten-burner stove because we will definitely need it. I have a surprise for everyone because they donât know who is coming to cook and live here.
I get a call from a guard at the building out front that a food delivery truck is here. It slowly drives up, and we all meet it and start unloading. A car pulls up behind it, and Carmen gets out. I am thrilled to see her.
Jocelyn and I go running up and hug her tightly. She has helped out at all our events, and Iâm thrilled she wants the position. We walk with her into the kitchen, and she is taken aback by the sheer size of everything.
The girls show her the pantry and what we have so far. She directs them where to move stuff so she can easily cook the food as my guys take her luggage to her room.
Before long, we have a home-cooked meal, and everyone is sitting around eating. Mandy had two long tables set up so everyone could sit and chat while eating. Even Carmen sits and eats while we take care of all the dishes.
After everything is cleaned up, I walk up to the third floor and stroll around till I find our room. I see Mandy has found one with a small extra room attached and set it up as the babyâs room.
Weâve decided to not find out what we are having so it can be a surprise.
Mandy is looking out the window with her arms crossed, and I can tell she is deep in thought. I slowly walk over to my duffel bag and grab a box I have been carrying around for weeks.
I place it in my pocket and walk up behind her, wrapping my arms around her and rubbing her gorgeous belly. She turns around to me, smiling, but even I can see itâs hard for her to do.
âMandy, love, whatâs wrong?â
âJust thinking about everything that has happened in the last week. All the services and the ones to come. How our world has been turned upside down. What will happen next and will we be ready? What to do about the babyâs birth certificate.â
âMandy, I told you, I am the father. Put my name down as the father and never think twice.â
âNate, why me? You didnât have to offer to get me out, let alone stick around knowing Iâm pregnant by Craig. You could have had anyone. Especially someone without baggage.â
âMandy, you are my one and only! I know you have had a hard time being with me because of the pregnancy and your past, but I am okay with that.
âI understand you have been through a lot and will give you as much time as you need. If that means after the pregnancy, also, so be it. I will survive. I love you more than anything.â
âI love you too, Nate.â
I step back, reach into my pocket, and get down on one knee. I slowly open the box. Tears are falling down her face as she covers her mouth and lets out a gasp.
âMandy, from the moment I saw you in my office, I knew you were mine. You are my everything. You own my mind, my body, and my soul. There will never be anyone else ever. I want you to be mine forever if you will have me. Mandy, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?â
âOh, Nate, of course!â
I instantly stand up, placing the ring on her finger. I toss the box and cup her face in my hands, kissing her lips ever so slightly. I can still feel some hesitation, but I will do everything I can to make her understand that Iâm not going anywhere.