“What’s up, kiddo?”
She pulls my head down so she can whisper into my ear. “Will you stay here tonight?”
I kneel next to her bed. “Are you scared?”
She shakes her head. “No, I love Chance. I just love you too. Can’t I have both of you?”
I look up at Chance, wondering what I should say. We agreed I’d be giving them some space aside from fun outings, but we think it’s crucial for Zooey to get the time she needs to get adjusted. “Well,” Chance says. I’m not sure he has anything to follow it with, though.
“Best friends have sleepovers all the time, right?” Zooey continues.
“They do,” I tell her. “But, not tonight, Zooey. You need to adjust to your new home. That’s what’s important right now.”
“I guess, but this is nice,” she says with an easy smile.
“I’m glad you’re happy.”
“Me too,” she sighs.
“Goodnight, kiddo. Chance is going to say goodnight now, okay?”
“Okay,” she says, seeming complacent.
I press my hand against Chance’s shoulder on the way out of the room and tend to the dining room to clean up the dishes from dinner.
This feels good. I pray it works out the way it should.
After a few minutes, Chance meets me in the kitchen and starts drying the dishes I’ve washed. “I like this,” he says. “I love this.”
“Me cleaning your dishes?” I joke.
Chance hip-checks me gently. “No, goofball. All of this.”
“It’s pretty amazing.”
“Did I throw a monkey wrench at you with everything I said earlier?” Chance asks.
My mouth falls open with surprise. I thought I responded to his statement with sheer happiness. I wouldn’t want him to question anything I said.
“So, do you think this could be the beginning of our happily ever after … because it kind of feels like all of our broken pieces are falling into place together. Is it just me feeling this way?” he asks as he needs to confirm it all. I think he’s had one too many conversations about princesses today.
“I’d say I’m also seeing signs of a happily ever after with my—Chance—of a lifetime.”
“Wow, that was the corniest joke I’ve ever heard.”
“No, it’s not,” I argue.
“It’s up there, darlin’.”
Epilogue Part I
Chance
Four Years Later
“Dad,do you have the soccer ball? I can’t find it in the closet?” Zooey asks.
“I got it, sweetheart. I already put it in the car. Your breakfast is on the table,” I tell her.
