I hang back, waiting, watching as he steps into the roomand notices the new addition. He stops in his tracks, dropping our suitcases at his feet before slowly walking over to the painting.
Theo follows, clearly understanding exactly why I needed him to come inside too.
He had to, because I painted them both.
They’re standing side by side, eyes on each other, their faces relaxed but engaged, like they’re having an easy conversation. They’re outside, the sun shining overhead, casting long shadows behind them, but the way they’re standing, their shadows blend into one. If you look from just the right angle, the shadow doesn’t look like them—it looks like the outline of a different man altogether.
“That’s Dad,” Carter says softly, looking over at his brother. “Do you see it?”
“Yeah,” Theo says. “Wait, can you see his eyes?”
Hecansee his father’s eyes. Only faintly, and only from certain angles, when the light hits just right. There are a lot of little details like that. Places where the edges of the scene dissolve into fragments of shapes that represent some part of Theo and Carter’s shared history. If you aren’t looking for them, you won’t see them. But they’re there. A hockey puck and stick. A bundle of bluebonnets, which is the state flower of Texas. An Appies logo, to honor their first pro team.
“I see his eyes,” Carter says. “And look—there are pennies on the ground.”
I wasn’t sure they would notice the pennies. There are only a couple scattered around their feet, but it felt like an important detail to include.
Kim moves up beside me and loops her arm through mine. “It looks even more incredible in person,” she says.
I nod, grateful for the compliment and happy to have herstanding beside me. But I can’t take my eyes off my husband. He’s still standing, staring, and I suddenly hate that I’m behind him, that I can’t see his face.
Finally, he turns, eyes locking on mine, and walks across the room. I step forward to meet him and he scoops me into his arms, crushing me in an enormous hug.
“This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me,” he says.
I bite my lip. “You really like it?”
“I love it,” he says. “Almost as much as I love you.”
Theo comes over next and gives me a hug. He looks a little raw around the edges, which I expected might happen. Carter’s had a lot of practice talking about his dad, but Theo’s still getting used to owning his feelings in the same way. “Thanks for including me,” he says.
“I actually ordered a print for you,” I say. “I don’t think it’s arrived yet, and it’s not quite as big, but I thought you might like to have your own copy as well.”
He nods. “I appreciate that.”
“Will you stay for dinner?” Kim says to Theo. “I cooked enough for all of us. And Anna and Miles are bringing the girls over too.” She looks at me. “I hope that’s okay. I asked Miles when he was here yesterday to hang the painting. I thought one big family dinner might be nice before I head back to Texas in the morning.”
“That sounds wonderful,” I say, but Theo seems less certain.
“Maybe you could run out and grab us some drinks,” Carter says to his brother. “Then come back in an hour for dinner?”
Theo nods. “I can do that.” He walks over and gives his mom an enormous hug, then lets himself out the front door.
Carter watches him go, then looks back at me.
“Do you think he’s okay?” I ask, and he nods.
“He will be. He just needs a minute.” He holds my gaze. “It means a lot to me that you did something for us both.”
“I love you both,” I say. “Theo will always mean a lot to me because of how much he means to you.”
After a week away, it’s fun to have the whole family together, plus Holly and Charlie, whom Carter invited at the last minute. Theo comes back, seeming more like himself, and becomes everyone’s favorite when he’s willing to get in the pool with the girls and make sure Olive, who is afraid of absolutely nothing, doesn’t drown trying to be just like the older girls.
I stand in the shade, close to the house—summers in Atlanta are brutal—and rock baby Fiona, who has fallen asleep in my arms, her chubby cheek pressed against my shoulder.
As I look around the patio at all the people I love, I can’t quite believe this is my life. That I took a gamble marrying a man I barely knew and wound up with this. It feels like a miracle that I get to be so close to Miles and Anna, to watch their girls grow up.
But even that pales in comparison to how it feels knowing that when everyone goes back to their own lives, their own homes, I get to stay here.
I get to go inside and clean up the kitchen, maybe watch an episode of something on TV. Then I get to crawl into bed beside the best man I know and fall asleep with my head on his shoulder.
Carter comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around me and letting me lean against him, my head resting on his chest.
“Penny for your thoughts,” he whispers, his voice close to my ear.
I tilt my head up to look at him. “Just that I love you,” I say.
He smiles softly, then leans down to kiss me. “Love you too.”
Who would have ever thought I’d marry Carter Williamson and finally findhome.
