“What if she doesn’t get better, Daddy? What if she tries to take us again?”
I pull the roasting stick out of the fire and set it aside, wanting my full attention on my daughter.
“If she doesn’t get better, sweetheart, then there’s not much we can do about that. I wish I could snap my fingers and make everything right again, but that’s not how people work. As for her taking you again, I’m not worried she’ll do that, but if something were to happen, you already know thatthe watch Gia and I got you will tell us exactly where you are anytime we need to find you.”
“And I can press this button”—she points at the watch—“if there’s an emergency.”
“That’s right, baby. Daddy will always be there when you need me, okay?”
She wraps her arms around my neck, squeezing me hard enough to choke me, but I don’t make her loosen her hold. Soon she’ll think I’m too embarrassing and won’t want anything to do with my hugs. Until then, I’m going to soak in the affection.
“Love you, Daddy.”
“I love you too, monkey.”
She loosens her grip and giggles. “Let’s go help Lee Lee and G. I think they’re about to set their hot dog on fire.”
I turn just in time to see Gia’s eyes widen as Leah starts cackling.
Epilogue
GIA
“This feels awfully fancy for dinner,” I say as I twist in the mirror to take in my long-sleeved red dress. The tight material hugs every curve and stops mid-thigh. My legs look a mile long now that I’ve slipped on my red heels. I take a quick picture to send to Holt. He’s having a guy’s night with Knox, Gray, and Emmett, while us girls go out to the Chateau for dinner.
“That’s the point,” Gwen teases me. “How often do we get to dress up and go out on the town?”
I concede her point. The past year has been insane for us both. Her book took off like a rocket on social media and she’s been working like crazy to finish the series for her very avid readers. And because of her success, I have been booked solid for character art, not to mention all the other graphic design projects I usually do.
I walk into the closet to grab some earrings, running my hand over Holt’s clothes that are hanging next to mine. It’s been almost eight months since I moved in with him and the girls. I’ve loved every single minute of our days together, eventhough they’ve gone by way too fast. I still can’t believe the school year is already over.
Lauren decided to give soccer a try, and I learned that the life of a sports family is not for the faint of heart. These kids are only eight, and they’re already taking it as seriously as if they’re professionals. Thank god she decided to quit at the end of the season, although I have no doubt her next interest will revolve around another crazy schedule. I just hope it’ll be indoors this time.
Leah fell in love with the piano after her first-grade music teacher taught her to play. She’s taken to it like a fish in water and plays for us most nights. She’s not Mozart, but it doesn’t sound like nails on a chalkboard when she plays, so we’re taking the win.
Over the last year, Holt and I have only seemed to grow closer. He’s taught me how to communicate openly with him when I’m annoyed, and I’ve learned to listen instead of getting defensive when he tries to share his frustrations with me. There are moments when I watch Holt and the girls in disbelief that this is my life now. They’ve brought so much joy into my life that I can’t even begin to describe. And every single day that I get to wake up in Holt’s arms makes me the luckiest girl in the world.
As I’m getting my earring back into place, my phone buzzes with a message.
Cowboy
Jesus woman. You look incredible.
Me
Thank you, Cowboy. I can’t wait to show you what I have on under this dress.
Now that was just mean.
“I think I’m finally ready.” I come out of our closet to find Gwen in a black, lowcut dress. “Damn, woman. You clean up good.”
She laughs, her cheeks flushing. “Thank you. I’m ready too.”
We walk outside to get in Gwen’s car. I offered to drive so she didn’t have to take me all the way back home later, but she just waved me off as if it wasn’t a big deal.
The sun is starting its descent, and the summer air is cooling off. This has become my favorite time of year. I love the snow around Christmas, but it becomes more of an annoyance than anything when you have to be somewhere and there’s a pile of it on the roads. Summers, on the other hand, are the perfect, tepid temperature. It’ll get a bit hot sometimes, but it’s never stifling like it was in North Carolina.
Gwen and I chitchat the whole drive over to the restaurant. I tell her about all the plans for the Independence Day extravaganza. I think it’s going to be even bigger than last year’s event.
