Six months later
“Bra! Bra!” Paislee’s chubby hand reaches out toward Brad. That’s how she says his name—half-formed, but full of love.
“Well,fine. I see who her favorite is.” I sarcastically roll my eyes as I pass Paislee to Brad. He chuckles beside me as we sit on our front porch swing.
“I’m happy you’re not confused.” He winks at me.
I can’t help but laugh, as he tickles his nose against hers. “I’m going to miss her when we go.” He sighs.
I nod my head. “Me too. But, I mean, she’ll be okay. She always is.” This will be our first trip overseas together.
Now that the winter is here, we’ve been aching to get away and there’s one place we want to go the most.
There’s just nothing like seeing him out in the sun.
“You’re right, you’re right.” He groans, bouncing her on her knee. “It’s just…I get scared she’ll forget me.”
A pain hits my chest at that very real fear of his.
A couple weeks after the truth came out, we learned Paislee wasn’t Brad’s by blood, but Kevin’s.
Itwas a big blow that nearly broke him. It took a long time to calm him down. Truthfully, I don’t think that’s a betrayal anyone can ever truly get over.
“What will I be to her now?”
“You’ll be what you’ve always been. A protector. A guide. Support. Love. That’s all she needs and a kid can never get enough.”
Sometimes I worry that he sees it as karma for what we did. Cheating on my mom wasn’t something we had planned on. But I’ll continue reminding him, everyday, that we are not a mistake.
Neither is his relationship with Paislee.
He was there at the birth, took care of her as a newborn and he will be there for her for the rest of her life.
Webothwill.
“She willneverforget you. Forgetting you isimpossible,” I say, grabbing ahold of the back of his hair at the nape of his neck. He closes his eyes, leaning his head into the pull. “And as she gets older, who knows. Maybe next time, she can come with us.” I wink.
He opens his eyes and I see that knee-buckling smile peek out.God, he’s handsome.
The sound of tires against the gravel driveway breaks our quiet, serene moment.
They’re here.
Brad and I exchange a look, before we get up and make a move to greet them.
I take Paislee from his arms and pick up her overnight bag.
She had spent the weekend with us at our place, which was a great time.
After the truth came out, Brad and I left my childhood home. It hasn’t been my home for a long time, anyway. Frankly, Kevin and Veronica can have it.
There was nothing there for Brad and I.
We were done moving backward. Only forward.
Kevin turns off his truck’s ignition and they both hop out.
“Hey,” I say, handing Paislee to my mom. Brad stays back on the porch, hands in his pockets, leaning on the porch pillar. We only live an hour outside of town, so thankfully it’s not too far between us for drop-offs like this.
