I smile at Isabelle before looking around the room. At the last second, I let my focus fall on Beth.
“This is Briony Beth.”
My sister’s eyes widen as they fly to mine. Her face crumbles as she carefully leans down, bringing a hand to Briony’s back. I feel the tears as they drip down my arm. She wipes them away with one hand before wrapping it around my shoulder and holding me.
“Love you,” I whisper.
“I love you, too,” Beth says, then heads over to Isabelle, squeezing herself into the sliver of space left on the mattress.
“I’m so glad you banged my brother.”
Grandpa throws his head back and laughs, making Briony flinch in my arms briefly before sinking back into the warmth of my chest.
“That’s a Heart mouth for you,” Grams says.
She and Grandpa have been quietly observing in the back the whole time. Watching over as their family continues to grow and thrive, just as they always hoped.
“I can’t believe how lucky you were to get your vows in before your waters broke,” Beth says, rolling onto her back and getting comfortable beside Isabelle.
I lean forward, bringing my knees together so I can lay Briony down, swaddling her like Shanna showed me.
I nod to Mum, inviting her over. Her hands come under mine, cradling her new granddaughter, and with a content smile, she brings her up to her chest and starts swaying.
“First to be married and have a baby. You’re setting records in the Heart family, Gage,” Caleb says, his head resting on top of Lex’s, where she stands in his arms.
“I wonder who will be next?” says Lex.
Caleb scoffs. “Obviously us, Siren.”
Lex giggles while Grandpa hums in thought. “I don’t know. Anything is possible.”
“Yep. It only takes one day, one moment, to change your life,” Grams says. “It could be Mason, for all we know.”
“Oh no, no, no.” Mason tuts, shaking his head with a disbelieving smirk. “I wouldn’t know what to do with a kid.”
“It doesn’t take long to learn,” Dad says, looking over Mum’s shoulder.
“And life doesn’t always give you what you want,” I say. “Sometimes it gives you what you need.”
“Sometimes it gives you everything,” says Isabelle.
As I look around the room full of my family, my wife, and my daughter, I realise that life might not have gone the way I expected, but I wouldn’t change it. I wouldn’t trade a moment of my journey if it meant I wouldn’t be sitting here now.
Dark days will still come. Some might be scattered with rain, but after every storm, light finds its way through. Sun seeks out the shadows, like a hand reaching out in unity to walk with you.
I smile at Isabelle, my heart beating so erratically when she smiles back at me, it feels like I could take flight.
In the dark, I’ll always reach for hers. An untouched heart deserves to be held.
Because one.I deserve to find the light.
Two.I deserve this kind of love.
Three.I deserve to live for why, instead of why not.
Four.Life can be so beautifully unexpected, so make the most out of every step.
Five.Whoever’s watching over you, you gotta make it worth it. And I promise to make it worth it. For August. And for me.
