Cole. Me. Gabbi’s grandparents. Cole’s parents came too.
I did think about inviting some of the Guardian Hall people, but I said I would visit tomorrow instead.
Because this small celebration was all the better for being quiet.
Margaret and Edward brought a pile of brightly wrapped presents; plus, an envelope they said was legal papers for Gabbi’s place in their world. Security, if she ever needed it. They already had college funds set aside for Gabbi, promises of everything she’d ever need, but every single time they saw me they told me that I was her father and I had to do what felt right. They were determined to avoid the mistakes they had admitted to. Too many nannies, too little family time, too much money, and not enough love. I didn’t want their money, not for me, butI would never turn down the possibility of a college education if that is what Gabbi wanted.
Eleanor and James had another pile of gifts and another envelope.
I swear if both sets of grandparents had given me money…
And yeah, Cole’s parents were also very much in the role of grandparents to Gabbi, and they’d become good friends with Margaret and Edward through me and Cole being together.
There was a cake on the counter—banana, because Gabbi loved it, and because no one needed frosting in their hair—and a single candle we didn’t even bother lighting. She was more interested in the cardboard box the cake had come in, clapping when I pushed it across the floor as if it was the best gift she’d ever received.
Cole took photos from the doorway, half-laughing, half-trying to pretend he wasn’t getting emotional about it. He failed. Spectacularly.
“She’s walking,” Margaret said as Gabbi held her hand and took a shaky step. “Did you see that, Edward?”
Edward was on his knees, tears in his eyes as he held out his hands. “She’s so clever! Aren’t you, Gabbi… so clever?” He swung her into his arms and smooched her belly, and she laughed so hard that he kept doing it.
Neither set of grandparents had her overnight like they wanted—I wasn’t ready for that yet—but all of us were going away for a vacation to Cole’s family’s place for a summer break, which was only a few weeks away, and I was working hard to relax my control as a nervous first-time dad.
They never forced me, though, and that was everything.
We’d gone to Annie’s grave last weekend on what would have been her birthday, and I held Gabbi the entire time, and listened to stories of better times, the ones they would want Gabbi to know for now. It was cathartic for us all, I think.
“She’s doing it again!” Margaret exclaimed as Gabbi took a single bumpy step toward Eleanor.
“This morning, she went three steps on her own,” Cole said with unashamed pride. “Then she sat down, all surprised.”
That earned a laugh, and Gabbi grinned as if she knew she was the reason.
Cole had mentioned adoption, marriage, more kids, the works. Not directly, but a few hints about a sibling for Gabbi and a home that would be open to a big family.
I caught Margaret and Eleanor whispering in the tiny kitchen, and I swear I caught the word wedding, but they pretended they’d been talking about coffee, and I let them get away with it.
A wedding?
One day. Maybe. Soon.
Later,when the dishes were done and the apartment had settled back into its normal quiet, Cole sat on the floor with Gabbi leaning against his chest, her fingers tangled in his shirt. She trusted him completely. That still caught me off guard sometimes.
I leaned in the doorway and watched them.
Last Christmas, when I’d reached rock bottom, when Annie had died, when Gabbi had been everything, I’d been afraid of taking up space. Afraid of staying too long. Afraid that if I leaned, everything would fall apart.
Now there was a home that held us safe, and in a while, maybe I’d move upstairs, because Cole spent every night down here anyway. He said it was because it was cozy and this was where Gabbi was, and that it had nothing to do with me, but then he’d kiss me and tell me he was joking. The kissing always led to more.
I crossed the room and sat beside them, pressing my shoulder into Cole’s. He glanced at me, smiling, the easy kind that didn’t ask for anything.
“This is good,” I said quietly.
He nodded. “Yeah.”
Gabbi lifted her head, blinked at us both, then settled again, safe and warm.
And when everyone had gone, the apartment felt smaller in the best way.
