My life may not have turned out the way I planned, but that’s okay. In many ways, it’s better than I ever could have hoped for. We’re an unconventional family—Camille, Lizzy, and me—but we’re a family, nonetheless.
We have regular calls and video chats with Lizzy. It’s become our Saturday evening ritual. Hearing about Lizzy’s week—her job, friends, and even occasional dates—has really made me feel like she’s a part of me. I’ll never replace her dad, and I don’t expect to, but it’s nice to know she looks at me like a father figure.
It’s more than I ever could’ve hoped for.
“Uncle Adam.” Emmie comes barreling toward the table and jumps into my arms.
“Hey munchkin” I kiss the top of her head. “Having fun?”
“Yep. Daddy let me play the balloon popping game. I won a stuffed horse.” She holds a small horse up for me to see with a huge smile on her face.
“Did you win that all by yourself?” I ask.
“Mostly, but Daddy helped.” Her smile is contagious, and I can’t help but grin from ear to ear.
Before I have a chance to make room for her on the bench beside me, she squeezes between Camille and me. She leans in and hugs Camille with the same excitement she hugged me. God, I love this kid. It makes me so happy that she’s taken to Camille.
“See what I won, Aunt Cami?” Emmie holds her horse up, and Camille’s jaw drops. Emmie has had lots of questions about my relationship with Camille, but this is the first time she’s called her aunt.
“Emmie.” Matt’s voice whispers from behind us as he sets her lunch on the table in front of her. “What did I tell you about that?”
Emmie shrugs and starts playing with her stuffed horse. “I know what you said, Daddy. But I don’t care. I like Cami and I want her to be my aunt.”
“But—” Matt starts to speak, but Camille stops him.
“It’s okay. She can call me Aunt Cami all she wants.” She glances at me with a smile before she pinches Emmie’s nose. “I’m honored you consider me family.”
Emmie wrinkles her brow and looks confused. “Of course you’re family. Why else would you be with Uncle Adam?”
That earns a round of laughs from the table, and Matt shakes his head. “You can’t argue with the logic of a four-year-old.”
“I’m almost five, Daddy.” Emmie frowns.
“Sorry, sugar. Almost five-year-old.” He pushes her plate closer to her. “Now eat or I won’t take you to play any more games.
Emmie sits up straight and picks up her corndog and takes a huge bite earning another round of laughs.
I glance over at Camille. She’s smiling at me with a longing in her eyes. We talked about kids and her concern over not being able to give me any. It took some convincing, but I finally gother to understand that I’m okay with not fathering my own. All I need is her. And who knows, maybe one day Lizzy will make me a grandad.
I lean over Emmie and pull Camille in for a quick kiss. Emmie groans and pushes me away from Camille. “That’s gross Uncle Adam.”
I laugh and lift her up to kiss her cheek. “But that’s what aunts and uncles do. They kiss.”
Camille’s face lights up and my heart warms. We’re unconventional for sure, but we’ve got enough love between us to fill this entire valley.
By the timewe make it back to Camille’s house, we’re both exhausted.
We hung out with Matt and Emmie for the afternoon. Emmie was determined to win a prize from every game, and dragged us from one to the next. Matt groaned with every dollar I spent, but I didn’t care. I love spoiling that kid. I didn’t win her a toy every time, but I did manage to earn the title Uncle of the Year when I scored her a giant stuffed unicorn that was bigger than her.
“Are you hungry at all?” Camille asks as we plop down on her sofa. She curls into my side, and I wrap my arm around her. This has become my favorite place for her to be—tucked in next to me.
“Not really. I’m still full from all the junk food we ate.”
“Me too.” She smiles. “Maybe I can make us something light later. Want to watch a movie and drink some wine.”
“That sounds good. But I may need a nap first.” That earns me a laugh.
“You always need a nap after a day with Emmie.” She runs her hand over my chest and up around my shoulder.
