“Don’t worry. I’ll do whatever needs to be done, Beauty.”
A gentle tug on my tuxedo jacket interrupts my thoughts. “Daddy?”
I look down at Anders, our youngest child, who’s only four years old, and notice his wide-eyed curiosity. He bears a striking resemblance to my mother, except for his head full of dark curls, dark eyes, and brown skin.
I reach for him and pick him up. He wraps his arms around my neck, and a huge smile crosses his face. “I want to do that.”
He points to the stage, and I ruffle his hair. He wants to do everything his sister does. He’s even started watching both his mother and sister as they dance in the studio at home. It’s not exactly the path I thought a son of mine would take. However, if he wants to dance, I won’t stand in his way. I’ll give my children everything my father didn’t allow me to have. He has a choice of which road he decides to take when he gets older.
“You can do anything you want, Anders. Just say the word.”
His smile is so captivating that it takes my breath away. All I can ever ask for is to see the joy lighting up his face. I didn’t have the best childhood. My father refused to let me live the life I wanted to live. But I refuse to be that with any of my children. They are allowed to become anything they want to be in this life. If I can provide it for them, then they will have it.
As our fingers interlace, Arabelle’s smile lights up her entire face. “I love you.”
I give her a playful wink. “I love you, too.”
This is only the beginning of our journey together. My mother would be happy to know that I found happily-ever-afters do exist.
