After Sonja left for work, Chris cleaned up the dishes in the kitchen. There was nothing better than how his life had turned out - he had a great job, amazing friends, a son he couldn't be prouder to have and a wonderful woman by his side. He had his family, close and distant, surrounding him. Maybe this was what pure bliss felt like.

Chris was knocked out of his thoughts as he heard a car pull up outside. He went to the door, coffee cups in hand as he greeted his mother.

"Hey Mama."

"Is she still here?" Celia said, taking the cup from her son and handing him her bag. Chris took it inside and Celia followed him in.

"No she went to work but she should be home tonight."

"Should?"

"Sometimes our cases keep us out a bit."

"Well I hope I get the chance to meet her before I have to head back to 'Bama."

"You will and if nothing else, we got some vacation time coming soon. We'd love to bring Caden out to the farm."

"Oh I'd love that Christopher. He would love the farm."

"I know he would."

"So since Sonja isn't here, maybe now we should talk," Celia said sitting down at the table. Chris sat with her.

"Talk about what?"

"Christopher, I'm not so old that I don't understand your relationship. You love Sonja. You have since you met her which I know makes you feel guilty but you have nothing to feel guilty about."

"What do you mean Mama? What am I guilty of?"

"You were with Savannah when you met Sonja, weren't you?"

"Yeah, so?"

"I can tell by the way you used to light up talking about Sonja when you first met her that you loved her. Even though Savannah was still in the picture, you still loved Sonja and that's okay. I know how much you loved Savannah and I'm not quite sure where you would be now if she hadn't been murdered but you can't let that get in the way of the future."

"You have got me so lost, Mama," Chris said, rubbing his temples. His mother sighed.

"Christopher, I talked to your sister before I came here."

"Is Corrine okay?"

"She's fine. But I wanted to let her know I was bringing it with me."

"Bringing what?"

"My mama didn't have much when I was growing up but my daddy always made sure she had whatever her heart desired. On their 50th anniversary, he bought her the ring he thought she always deserved. My mama passed it down to me when I married your daddy and told me to pass it on to one of my own children someday. Obviously I can't pass it on to Cade now that he's gone and Corrine doesn't want it. She says the stage is her true love so that leaves you Christopher. I would be honored and so would my mama if you used this ring to propose to Sonja," Celia said, placing the ring in his hand.

Chris had seen this ring a bunch of times throughout his life. He always had a feeling that he would be the one to end up with it since Corrine left town and Cade had his mental disorders. He was the only stable LaSalle kid left. He remembered that he once had hoped Savannah would wear this ring but now that he had a chance to think about it, the ring was a much better fit for Sonja.

"Thanks Mama," Chris said, hugging his mother.

"Anytime baby," Celia said, kissing his cheek.

They heard a car door shut in the driveway.

"That must be Mama Percy," Chris said, getting up and suddenly very nervous. Celia could sense something from the look on his face.

"What's wrong?"

"I have never met Sonja's mom and now the first time I do is after she finds out that I knocked up her daughter and wasn't around to take care of her during her pregnancy or the first 3 months of Caden's life? I'm a dead man."

"Just be honest with her. She's a mother, she will understand how much you love Sonja. I'm sure she only wants whats best for her daughter as you only want whats best for your son."

"Thanks Mama."

Chris and Celia went outside. Celia waited on the porch as Chris went down to talk to Mama Percy.

"You must be Christopher?" she asked as he approached her.

"Yes Mrs. Percy."

"Call me Greta. I haven't been Mrs. Percy for a long time."

"Greta," Chris repeated.

"So this is the man that my mija loves," Greta said, taking in Chris. He gulped noticeably and tried to smile.

"I know we might have done things a little out of order but I want you to know that I love Sonja more than life itself. She and Caden are the best things to ever happen to my life."

"You didn't even know about Caden."

"No I didn't but I love him just the same. He brought Sonja back to me and I'll be damned if I let her go now."

Celia walked up. "I'm sorry to interrupt but I just wanted to introduce myself. Celia Lambert," she said offering her hand.

"Lambert?" Chris said, looking at his mother.

"I took back my maiden name after your daddy and I divorced. I'm surprised you never knew," Celia said to her son. She turned back to Greta.

"I'm Greta Hawkins, Sonja's mother," Greta said, taking Celia's hand. The two older women smiled at each other and Chris wondered what exactly they were saying with their eyes.

"How about I take Caden inside while y'all talk?" Celia said and Greta got the car seat out.

"Sounds like a wonderful idea, thank you Celia," Greta said, handing over the baby. Celia took him, smiled at Chris and disappeared into the house. Chris turned back to Greta.

"Greta, I love your daughter and nothing will ever keep us apart."

"I believe you Christopher. What I want to know is where do you see this leading too? I have asked my Sonja what she wants, but now I want to know what you want."

Chris thought for a moment and took in Greta's words. What did he want for the future?

He was silent so long that Greta thought he had gone mute. But finally he cleared his throat and spoke.

"I want to wake up every morning with Sonja in my arms. I want to go to bed every night knowing she is right there beside me, feeling her fall asleep with her head on my chest. I want to raise our son together, watching him grow up and become an upstanding young man. I want to have more kids with her, expanding our family and watching her get more beautiful everyday as she carries our children. I missed out on seeing her pregnant with Caden and I bet she was the most beautiful woman in the entire world. I want to grow old with her and spend our days spoiling our grandchildren. I want to be next to her when I take my last breath and spend eternity in Heaven together. I want her to be a LaSalle."

Greta looked at the young man in front of her. He truly was everything Sonja said he was. He was the type to look danger in the eye and truly enjoy himself. Chris didn't scare easily and Greta knew he could challenge Sonja in every way that she needed to be challenged. Sonja was her baby but if truth be told, Greta knew that Sonja would rather run in head first than ask for permission. Christopher could challenge her.

"I want to tell you a story, Christopher. There was a boy in Sonja's life when she was younger. His name was Ty Tarpley. I couldn't stand that boy. I could tell he was using my Sonja but she convinced me that she loved him. They were going to get married, she said. Well, wouldn't you imagine her shock when she sees pictures of him on the Facebook with his new wife. Well, my Sonja doesn't back down, especially when she's been wronged. But when the officers who responded to the fight Sonja got into with the new wife, they blamed my Sonja. Sonja took it to heart and it changed her inside. She became a vegan and changed her outlook on her life. I want to know that you are not like Ty Tarpley."

"I would never want to change anything about Sonja. She is perfect to me just the way she is. Besides, there is nobody else for me. She's it."

"Has there been anyone else in the past?" Greta asked.

"I was in love with one other person, her name was Savannah. She was a childhood girlfriend of mine that I found again after she moved to New Orleans and began working at the clinic my brother Cade was at. I really thought Savannah and I would get married someday."

"Then how do I know you won't leave my Sonja for her?"

"Because Savannah was murdered several years ago by a guy nicknamed Baitfish. He used her as a message to our boss, Dwayne Pride. Sonja actually helped me work through her death, got me to laugh again. Granted, I went through a rough patch after Savannah was murdered, sleeping my way around town but I wised up when I realized that I loved Sonja. She still doesn't know how much she changed me. I don't know if she ever will."

Greta walked forward and put her hands on Chris's cheeks.

"You are the one for my Sonja. You are meant to be her husband. I give you my blessing."