I was talking with Lola, but I got a peek of Reed's brother and sister welcoming him to teenage life with family kisses, which I thought was sweet. 

Here, Reed gets his arm stuck in his brother. Maybe he wanted his piece of cake instead of the one he had? 

Reed turned out to be a fine looking teenager who decided to follow the Knowledge aspiration, like his brother and granddad (that would be me). I was very honored by his decision. 

As the sparkly transition lights started, Reed's sister, Jade finally came in from the pool, just like Green used to do. You know, I see him in his kids all of the time! 

But we had another reason to celebrate that day, too--it was Reed's birthday! See how clever I am, Grey? I can't forget me and Lola's engagement anniversary now! 

Well, Grey, Lola said yes! We started planning the wedding right away, since we didn't want anything too big. Lola is still a little freaked out about weddings, which is understandable. 

Since I knew the kids were okay with me and their mom being together, and that was the only thing I was really worried about, that day I went out and got a ring! I was going to wait for just the perfect time to do it, but the next morning, I remembered what Lola had said that first night we were together about not wanting to waste anymore time. So, I dragged her out of bed right before sunrise, brought her to the piano room where I had first declared my love for her, and got on one knee and proposed to her, while we were both in our jammies! I told her that I didn't want to waste another minute either and that I wanted her to be my wife, if she'd have me.

For Lola's answer, you'll have to wait for the next update! (I'm so mean!)

I remembered then that it was Jade who had suggested I move in in the first place and wondered if she had the idea ever since she was little. I'd believe anything now, since I never would have believed I'd end up with anyone, let alone be hopelessly in love with the mother of my son's children! 

Thankfully, she wasn't upset or traumatized or anything like that! She was kind of embarrassed, she said, but she and the other kids had actually picked up on the vibes between me and Lola even before we did, so they saw it coming! She said that they were all okay with it, that they saw how lonely we were after her dad died and wanted us to be happy again. Wow. Kids can be so mature sometimes, can't they? 

However, it wasn't to be a secret for very long! Lola and I were making out in the bathroom one morning, when, unexpectedly, Jade walked in on us! 

And before Lola left for work, she showed me that she still wanted more, giving me a long, passionate kiss before heading off. It's a good thing that Xavier the maid is discreet! We weren't ready for our relationship to be out in the open yet. 

Then, she joined us, along with the girls, for breakfast and I was still hungry (yeah, from all of the activity the night before, ha ha Grey, very funny) so I had a bowl of cereal, too. She just talked with the kids about their studies and acted completely normal, so I sighed a breath of relief. But was last night just a one time thing, I wondered. I hoped not. 

The next morning, Reed was enjoying a muffin he had just made with his little oven and I had just finished my breakfast, when I felt Lola watching me. I hoped she didn't have any regrets about what had happened. 

But later, I could hear sounds from the piano in the room next to the bedroom and knew that Aspen was working on his creativity skills. That boy loves to learn! And he always has! 

Meanwhile, (as I found out later) Aspen was having a first time experience of his own, his first kiss, with Justine Smith. I don't like to gossip, but I think that girl is a little floozy! 

I'll just tell you that it was incredible. I know it was my first time, so I had nothing to compare it with, but I don't WANT anything else to compare it with. Being with Lola was so perfect, because we love each other so perfectly. And I really know her, everything about her, not like that puppy crush I had with Trista. I was so glad then that things never went that far with her. Lola is truly my soulmate. 

I'm sure you can guess how I responded . . . No, I'm not giving you any details! A gentleman does not tell tales about his lady, you know that, Grey! Then Ice smiled. 

"Oh, life is too short," Lola suddenly said. "I know that now. I wasted too much time with Green and I'm not wasting any more time, dammit. Make woohoo with me. Now." Yeah, that's what she said! I could hardly believe it, either! 

When we went to bed that night, things were different than before. Instead of our usual comfortable lying next to each other, we lay beside each other, not talking or looking at each other, wanting something to happen, but not sure if we should. 

In fact, she started crying and I was afraid I'd done something wrong, but she reassured me that she was just so happy. She said she had been afraid that she had scared me with the flirting and the kiss, but now that I had initiated things, she knew that I felt the same way she did.