Thethreeofthemstayed outside for hours—playing, laughing, and getting lost in a rhythm that felt like they’d been doing it their whole lives. It was effortless. Healing. Jaxon and Sara reconnected like no time had passed, years of silence bridged with every shared glance, every joke that still landed. But the most beautiful part was watching the way Jaqueline warmed up to him—how the shyness faded and was replaced with giggles and spark.
“Sara, can we go out to eat tonight?” Jaqueline asked, hair wind-tousled and eyes sparkling.
“Where do you want to go?” Sara asked, brushing a strand of hair from her daughter's face.
“Can we go to that place you always talk about?”
“What place is that?” Jaxon asked, brow raised.
“Tides Rising,” Sara said gently, locking eyes with him.
“Yeah! Can we go there?”
Jaxon’s smile was soft, almost nostalgic. “We can go anywhere y’all want to.”
As the girls darted upstairs to get ready, racing up the steps like it was a game, Jaxon stood at the bottom for a moment, frozen. Just watching. Letting the moment settle on his chest like a weight he didn’t want to shake. It felt surreal—like he’d stepped into someone else’s life. But it was his. And it was good.
Then it hit him.
How the hell do I explain walking into Tides Rising with Sara and a child who looks exactly like me? People talk. And here? They never stop.
He sighed, shook his head, and headed upstairs. “Let’s see how this goes.”
Once they were dressed and out the door, Jaxon turned to Sara. “How about after we eat, we show Jaq the Point?”
“Ooh, that sounds good,” she replied with a smile.
“What’s the Point?” Jaqueline asked from the back seat.
Jaxon chuckled. “We can’t tell you. You’ll just have to see it for yourself.”
Pulling into the parking lot of Tides Rising felt like stepping back into another lifetime. And walking in with Sara and Jaqueline only magnified that. The welcome they received was a mix of warm smiles and confused stares. Of course it was. People notice things here—especially when the things walk through the door holding hands.
They were seated quickly, and not long after, Mike emerged from behind the bar. “What the hell is this, Jax?” he whispered, leaning in with a grin.
Jaxon just smirked. “Long story. I’ll tell you later.”
When they settled in, Jaxon noticed the looks. The glances. The whispers. Sara leaned in and whispered, “You might as well let them know. You know how people are here.”
Jaxon sighed and motioned for Mike to come over. When he reached the table, Jaxon nodded toward Jaqueline.
“Mike, you remember Sara. I want you to meet Jaqueline.”
Mike knelt slightly and smiled. “Hey there, Jaqueline. How are—”
Then he froze. He blinked. And then his expression softened in a way Jaxon hadn’t seen before.
“She has your eyes, man.”
Sara laughed softly, and Jaxon explained. Mike stood there, arms crossed, listening intently. The disbelief was written all over his face.
“Jaxon... you... you have a daughter.” He said it like he was saying congratulations and I’m sorry all at once.
“Yep. Found that part out not long ago.”
“EVERYBODY—JAX HAS A DAUGHTER!” he bellowed across the restaurant.
Jaxon’s eyes went wide. “Really, man?”
