“Thanks. No, I want to wear my mask again,” he says as he takes the mask from me.
After he slips it on, he takes his lightsaber, and we start walking toward the coolers the club put out. The kids each grab a bottle of water, and we head to the face painting booth. As we wait, I wrap my arms around Jane’s shoulders, pull her body against mine, and rest my chin on the top of her head.
“You’re so tall.” She giggles as she wraps her hand around my forearms.
“Hate to break it to you,a mhuirnín, but you’re just short,” I tease.
“I am not.” She laughs.
“You kind of are, Mom,” Tanner tells her.
“Hey, I thought you were supposed to be on my side!” she protests.
“I’m always on your side, but facts are facts.” He shrugs, making me laugh.
“You guys are so mean to me.” She pouts.
I squeeze her shoulders. “Never.”
After Emily has half her face painted to look like the ocean, with a conch shell and all on her cheek, we move on. We grab way too much food from the food trucks and watch the live band play. I don’t miss the way Jane scans the crowd from time to time, checking those around us, always cautious. Emily and Tanner get pulled into a game of tag with some other kids, and I can’t help but watch with a smile.
Their laughter is fucking infectious and such a contrast from when I met them. When I look at them now, I barely see the kids who were scared of their own shadows.
Now they are happy, healthy, and unafraid.
I did that. Well, not just me, but I was part of it.
I helped them remember how to be kids, and it’s a heady fucking feeling.
“Mommy, my tummy hurts,” Emily whines as she runs over to us.
“I’m sorry, baby. It’s getting pretty late. We should probably head home,” Jane tells her as she brushes Emily’s sweaty hair off the side of her face.
“Okay,” Emily mutters, not putting up a fight.
“Tanner,” I yell.
When he looks over, I wave for him to join us. I watch as he says bye to everyone.
“Is it time?” he pants as he comes to a stop in front of us.
“It is. You guys need showers before bed,” Jane tells them.
“Will you carry me, Mac?” Emily asks quietly.
“You got it.”
Letting go of Jane’s hand for a moment, I scoop her daughter up before taking her hand back. As we walk back to my truck,I look over and see that Tanner is walking so close to Jane that their hands bump into each other. The kid is growing up and is embarrassed to hold her hand in public, but wants to be close. It’s pretty fucking cute.
We make the short drive back to their house, and I park the truck in the driveway. I follow them up the front steps and unlock the door for her before handing her back her keys.
“I’ll be right in,” she tells the kids.
“Night, Mac,” they murmur as they pass by.
“Night, guys,” I tell them before turning back to their mom.
“Thank you for going with us,” Jane says quietly.
