She and Lucas exchange an exploding fist bump.
Little shits.I can’t help but grin, though, because they areourkids.
“Onebirthday, kiddo,” I say.
Katie runs over to hug me, then Nolan. She looks up at him. “You don’t mind if I call him Daddy, too, do you?”
“Daddy Two? Does that make me Daddy One?” Nolan jokes.
She plants her hands on her hips and shakes her head at him. “T-O-O, Daddy. Not T-W-O.Sheesh.”
I look at Nolan. “Sheesh, Daddy One.”
“I thought I was the whippersnapper?” Nolan quips.
“Who’s on first?” Zoey teases from the doorway.
“I don’t know. Third base,” Nolan and I both chime in unison, making Zoey laugh.
I have to admit there were times right after Lucas went to live with Bill that I wasn’t sure if we’d ever be able to get Zoey to smile, much less laugh. It physically hurt me and Nolan both to know how much emotional pain she was suffering.
This is a different woman, and she’s healed and thriving, the way our family is healthy and thriving.
It was a rocky road, but I’m glad we’re here.
And I’m glad I’m here with these two amazing spouses of mine.
Even if they are making me install IKEA kitchen cabinets.
“Yes, you can call him Daddy, also,” he says, kissing the top of her head. “Because he is your Daddy, too. T-O-O.” His gaze meets mine and when he winks, it makes me want to reach down and adjust myself.
Maybe I can nail him later. We’re still breaking our house in.
For right now, I want a damn kitchen.
* * * *
Zoey
At the end of another long day of trying to put the house together, hours after Katie and Lucas have gone to bed, I finally call it quits, grab a shower, and collapse in our bed to stare up at the ceiling. Lucas and Nolan are still hard at it in the kitchen and trying to get the rest of the cabinet doors hung and adjusted so I can begin the process of unpacking and arranging the kitchen tomorrow.
Ireallywant to reach that point because I still can’t find half my kitchen stuff. Meaning the guys and the kids better get used to grilling, or eating out of the electric skillet, or having pizzas, until I’m up and running again. We still have some other work to do, like painting, unpacking, and arranging everything in the living room and den. The main bathrooms are complete, though, and the kids’ rooms are done.
That’s what’s important.
The other stuff is annoying, but within a couple of weeks, we’ll have it finished and be unpacked.
And…we have ahouse.
Wehave a house.
Thethreeof us.
Together.
I cannot tell you how happy that makes me.
I turn the TV on and lie there, exhausted and happy.
