When last we left the happy couple, Rizzo had decided to stay in Minnesota to be close to Krista until he figured out what he wanted to do with his life and she found a job that was more stimulating than waiting tables. She went home with him to visit his family, and he went home with her to visit her family, but both are still living in Minnesota.
"What's the matter sweetheart?" Krista asked as they walked hand-in-hand through the park. "You look like you've got something on your mind."
"I do," Rizzo told her. He hesitated before continuing, "I was offered a job this afternoon."
"That's great! What's the job?"
"Coaching a high school hockey team," he replied.
"You'd make a terrific coach, and I know that's something you were thinking about," she said.
"It's in Boston..." he started.
"Oh."
"…and I want you to come with me." He stopped and took her other hand. "I won't go without you."
"When do they need you there?" she asked.
"Not until September."
Krista looked into his brown eyes and easily made a decision. "Take it," she told him. "I'll go."
He threw his arms around her. "Really?"
"Yes," she laughed. "I can save up enough money by September to move, and I don't want to be here if you aren't with me."
He looked down at her, smiling his shy I-can't-believe-she's-really-my-girl smile, and her heart skipped a beat.
"I am the luckiest guy in the world," he said quietly, leaning in to kiss her.
"Yes you are," she grinned.
Noah was trying very hard to put the applesauce Krista was feeding him in his hair. Krista was trying very hard to keep him from putting the applesauce in his hair, and was having little success. Rizzo watched her from the kitchen where he was working on dinner.
"We've go this domestic thing down, don't we?" he said smiling.
Krista laughed. "Yeah, I guess we do. We'll have to thank Tracy and Nathan for letting us practice with their son."
"How do you know them again?" he asked.
"Nathan was a hockey player in my hometown," she said, "a goalie for the local junior team, and we went to high school together. I actually introduced him to Tracy when he moved out here."
"And they went where?"
"Just out to dinner and a movie…" she said.
"…which is why we're babysitting tonight," he finished.
She gave up on the applesauce and cleaned Noah up, picking him up out of his high chair and carrying him into the kitchen. He giggled and cooed, and held his arms out to Rizzo.
"He's really quite attached to you," Krista said.
"I've only known the kid for three hours," Rizzo replied, taking Noah from her.
"He knows good people when he sees them," Krista said kissing him lightly. She finished up dinner while Rizzo set the table with Noah in his arms.
After dinner was eaten and the dishes washed, the three of them set up shop on the living room floor. Noah played happily with his toys for a while, before starting to get a little cranky.
"He's getting tired," Rizzo said.
"Yep. Time for a storybook and a bottle. Which one do you want to do?"
"I'll take the storybook," he said. "I'm not sure I can get the bottle right."
Krista smiled. For all his natural abilities with children, he really didn't have that much experience with them. She went into the kitchen to warm up Noah's bottle, mixing the formula with water and placing it in the microwave. She then peaked around the corner to see how the boys were doing. Rizzo was seated on the couch, book in hand, with Noah on his lap. As he was reading, he leaned down and nuzzled the little boy. Krista felt her heart flutter, and thanked God he was hers. The microwave beeped and she removed the bottle, carrying it into the living room and sitting down beside the pair. Rizzo wrapped his arm around her, and she leaned her head on his shoulder, smiling softly.
When Noah started to fidget again, Krista took him and stood up, walking slowly around the living room a bit to give the bottle a little more time to cool off. When he didn't settle down, she decided not to make him wait any longer.
"Want to help me feed him?" she asked Rizzo.
"How?"
"Sit down there on the floor and spread your feet out so I have someplace to sit," she told him.
He found a spot on the floor leaning against the couch, and Krista sat down in front of him, cradling Noah.
"Okay, now put your arms around mine and help me hold him," she said.
Rizzo smiled. No one had to tell him twice to embrace the girl he loved. He slid his arms around hers and helped her support Noah, resting his chin on her shoulder. He felt his heart flutter as he watched her feed the little one, and thanked God she was his.
When Noah fell asleep, Krista and Rizzo quietly rose and put him to bed. They stood beside his crib, Rizzo with his arms wrapped around Krista, watching him sleep.
"He's amazing," she said softly.
Rizzo kissed her neck. "So are you."
She smiled and pulled his arms tighter around her. "I wouldn't be half as fantastic as I am without you, though."
He kissed her neck again and smiled. "I'm glad you're going to Boston with me."
"Me too. I don't know what I'd do without you," she told him.
An idea that had been floating around in his head for months suddenly surfaced, and he couldn't wait any longer.
"Marry me," he whispered in her ear.
She didn't say anything for a moment, trying to absorb his words.
"I love you, and I don't ever want to be apart from you," he continued. "Will you be my wife?" He took her left hand in his and slid a ring on her finger.
She looked at his hand holding hers, and folded her fingers around his, smiling.
"I'd love to."