Braxton
Five-years later…
Bailey jumps from puddle to puddle, giggling in delight. Her yellow raincoat is slightly too big. It’s strange how such small things fascinate children. I had a great childhood, and most of my best memories happened right here in this garden. Chasing Bryce around, beating Bryce up, throwing him into puddles until he ran inside to tell on me. He was such a cry baby back then.
Eliana dances in the rain with Bailey. Bailey squeals in delight when El scoops her up, and swings her around before setting her back down.
“Uncle, Brax. Can Rora come out to play?” my niece looks over at me, sticking her tongue out to catch a raindrop.
“Rora is far too little, Bailey, but I bet she’ll join you at your next birthday party.” I shout. Bailey has olive skin and big brown eyes that match her mother’s, but she is all Bryce. She reminds me so much of my brother, it’s adorable.
“Kay,” she says, running to her father. I bounce Ro on my lap as she giggles, watching the others have fun playing in the rain we so rarely have.
“Those two are going to catch a cold, and then I’m going to be up all night,” a heavily pregnant Nadia complains. “And so will, Eliana.”
“Make him stay up,” I suggest.
“Bryce sleeps like the dead,” she tells me. I know what she means. He’d sleep through a hurricane and literally did when we were on holiday once.
My mom walks out onto the covered porch with hot cocoa. “Hey, you three, how about some cocoa?”
Bailey runs in, and Eliana and Bryce race each other. My wife and brother are peas in a pod. I could not believe how well they got along. It’s always them against Nadia and me.
Mom takes Aurora from me, giving her kisses that have her giggling. Eliana drops onto my lap and places a kiss full on my mouth which has Bailey shouting, “Ewww!”
“You’re freezing, and your damp dress is shrinking my balls,” I murmur into Eliana’s ear.
“Your balls shrunk a long time ago.” I tickle her, and she giggles. “I do love them though,” she whispers. “But, I do admit that I’m cold, so I’m gonna go up and change.”
She stands and disappears inside the house after giving me a wink. I know what that wink means.
Three years ago, I married the love of my life, and I have never been happier. She still tests me the way she always has, and we argue a hell of a lot more than I’d like because she fights me at every turn. I will always be her protector, though, no matter how fiery she is. Rora as Bailey nicknamed my daughter is just as bossy as her mother and has me wrapped around her little fingers. I look up at the most beautiful girl in the world as she cuddles with her grandmother. Her hair matches her mother’s, her eyes match mine, and I realize I’m probably the luckiest man in the world.
My soul was fragmented for the longest time, but Eliana put me back together, piece by painful piece.
When it is socially acceptable and Bryce isn’t smirking knowingly at me, I stand and follow my wife up the stairs to my old bedroom. I open the door and find her standing at the window, her dress already dropping from her shoulders.
THE END
