Chapter 30 The Difference Love Makes

Caelan watched Luke, again showing off his family life and cuddling his kid, and couldn't help but feel a little jealous. Sure, he admired that life, but he really loved being on his own. "Why rush things? I'll just go with the flow." Their conversation flowed smoothly, even as Caelan kept up his pace with his meal. He was a champ at multitasking, eating and chatting without missing a beat. "If you don't look, you won't find the right one. Maybe it's time to rethink things." "Are you trying to sound like my mom now?" Caelan laughed. Luke understood Caelan's love for his carefree life. He was always surrounded by women but never seriously involved with anyone. Luke hoped he could influence Caelan to find something more stable, to change his playboy ways. "You know, there might be some truth to what they say. Trying a new way of living wouldn't hurt." But Caelan wasn't easily swayed. He knew himself too well - his freedom was what he treasured the most. Luke finally gave up. "Alright, I won't nag. You're too headstrong anyway." He thought about his own path; he would have been just like Caelan had he not met Charlotte, in no hurry for a serious relationship. Caelan shrugged nonchalantly. "Never thought we'd catch up like this. I'll make it up to you with a dinner invite once things settle down for me." "Deal." Luke smiled. Caelan had thoroughly enjoyed his meal at their place, complimenting Charlotte's cooking non-stop. As he was leaving, Caelan delighted Andy and Lilya with a surprise – he handed each of them a new toy. Their eyes shone with excitement as they eagerly unwrapped them. Meanwhile, Sofia and Charlotte were busy tidying up after dinner. Luke was outside, engaging in playful antics with the kids. Sofia glanced at Charlotte and teased, "There's something about being in love, isn't there? It even makes chores seem enjoyable." Charlotte tried to suppress her grin. "Not at all." Sofia, with a knowing look, teased further, "Oh, I definitely saw that smile." "You saw nothing." She hastily exited the kitchen, eager to avoid any more of Sofia's playful jabs. Charlotte walked out to find Luke and Andy deep in a Rubik's Cube showdown. Andy had effortlessly solved the mixed-up cube and passed it to Luke with a playful challenge in his eyes. "Want me to try?" Luke took the cube from Andy's expectant hands. He felt a bit rusty, his skills not as sharp as they once were. Lilya joined in. "Andy is awesome with the Rubik's Cube. Can Daddy keep up, I wonder?" Luke felt a spark of competition. He used to be a whiz with the cube as a kid, but it had been ages. Spotting his father's hesitation, Andy asked, "Daddy, can you solve it?" Luke was still studying the cube. "I'm just working out the strategy." Andy nodded. "Yeah, it takes some figuring out. At first, I found it really hard, but now I love it." "It's about that feeling of achievement, right?" "Exactly." Luke's fingers finally found their rhythm with the Rubik's Cube, albeit with a bit of struggle due to its small size. Andy, quick to observe, sprinted upstairs and soon returned with a bigger cube, perfect for his father's hands. "Here, Daddy, try this one." Grateful for the thoughtful gesture, Luke smiled. "Thanks, buddy." "No problem." After about five minutes, Luke managed to solve the puzzle, earning some light-hearted teasing from Andy. "Guess Daddy isn't as smart as we thought, huh?" Luke playfully tousled Andy's hair. "I guess I'm not as quick as you youngsters. Age does slow down the brain." Andy nodded. "It's cool you're honest, Daddy." Charlotte sat nearby, silently observing their joyful interaction. Lilya, engrossed in her world of dolls, paid them no mind. Then, Luke shifted the conversation. "Aren't they supposed to start preschool this fall?" Charlotte's expression changed slightly, revealing a hint of concern. "Yeah, they are. But I'm not sure if we'll be able to send them just yet." Luke's understanding shone through as he addressed Charlotte's worries. "Getting married might seem soon, but if you're ready, I am too." Charlotte's heart fluttered with surprise. She had been trying to find a way to discuss this very topic, and here was Luke, bravely stepping forward. "Is this because you love me? I don't want the kids to be our only bond." "Absolutely, I love you." Luke held her close. "Your past doesn't matter to me. It's about us now. The kids have taken to me, too. We can build a happy life together, if you're up for it. I want to be with you." A playful tone entered Charlotte's voice. "So, is this a proposal?" "Well, not quite." A grin emerged on Luke's face. "I'm planning something more formal, a real surprise. I wasn't going to say anything yet, but I wanted your thoughts first." "This is surprising enough. You could have remained the carefree Luke. But if your feelings are real, I'm ready to say yes." With the kids momentarily preoccupied, Luke leaned in for a tender kiss, whispering just for her ears, "And do you love me?" "I do, Luke. I really do." Sofia, catching Luke and Charlotte in a tender moment, feigned distress. "Really, you two? Your lovey-dovey act is a bit too much. I walked in on the whole scene." Luke responded with a light laugh. "Well, you can always pretend it never happened." Sofia, playing along, rolled her eyes. "Forget it? I don't have amnesia, and I certainly can see." Luke then turned to Charlotte with a proposal. "Now that we're clear about our feelings, why don't I take you back to my place?" Sofia, half-teasing, half-serious, seemed somewhat relieved. "Please do. The daily dose of romance here is a bit overwhelming for me." Charlotte mockingly acted wounded. "Are you trying to get rid of me again? What happened to the plan of me buying the house next door?" Sofia, ever practical, suggested a different approach. "Why bother buying a house now? Wouldn't it be wiser to save or invest that money?" "That's actually a good point to consider."