EPILOGUE
Carter
One year later
“In your face!” I say as I make a three-point shot while Steven tries to guard me.
“Lucky shot,” he says.
I give him a high five. “Speaking of lucky shots, thanks for giving me a shot with your daughter. I appreciate it more than you could ever know and I’m glad we were able to remain friends.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Come on man, you were mad at first,” I tease.
“What did you expect me to do?”
“Ask us how many people we were inviting for the wedding so you could start saving up?”
“Okay, man. Enough is enough.”
“But seriously. I’m glad everything worked out. Sorry to give you a hard time, but looking back on it now it's kinda fun.”
“And the wedding was fun too. I never thought I’d give my daughter away to my best friend. That’s for sure.”
“But you feel fine about it now, right?”
“Yeah, it’s cool now. You know, I was thinking back about it the other day. I think it’s normal for me to react the way I did, but I think it’s amplified even more because I was a single dad and Alyssa was my only daughter. She was my only female connection to my wife, and she reminds me of her so much.”
“I’m sorry about what happened.”
“We can’t go back in time unfortunately, but all things considered it’s great that she’s just next door now so I can see her anytime I want. And Brooklyn too.”
“Yeah, it’s good to be back in town full time. And I’m super lucky the station let me transfer out while Alyssa finished her education.”
“But they got a good deal out of that arrangement.”
“A great deal. The best deal. Everybody at the station loves her and it’s perfect for everyone that she can give twenty hours a week down there to help out. Plus none the officers like to do paperwork and Alyssa’s very organized, has great handwriting, and has way better written communication skills than I’ll ever have. And not just me. She’s much more succinct than just about all of us. Our reports are done quicker and read better.”
“Plus I bet it’s nice that she’s bringing in some extra spending cash.”
“Sure is, but we don’t actually spend it. We just put it towards Brooklyn’s education.”
“Just Brooklyn’s?”
“Well we’re going to have to start another education fund now that Alyssa is pregnant.”
“You know I couldn’t imagine thinking a year ago that she’d be pregnant now. If you would have told me I would have thought it was a disaster. But being that it’s the two of you it’s a completely different story. I couldn’t be more excited.”
“Me either.”
“Have you picked out a name yet?”
“We still don’t know the sex.”
“Please don’t say sex when you’re talking about my daughter.”
“My bad,” I say, punching him playfully in the arm. “Another game?”
“Sure, but no dunking.”
“No dunking. It’s a deal.” I say.
I offer my hand to Steven to shake. He takes it and then quickly slaps the ball away with his other dribbling quickly for the basket and laying it in.
I probably could have blocked it but it’s more fun to see him make it because it makes him happy.
And thanks to Alyssa and Brooklyn I’ve come to realize that’s what life’s all about.
Making others happy.
Because that’s what makes me the happiest.
Nothing is as exciting as seeing Brooklyn say her first words or take her first steps. Or the moment when Alyssa told me she was pregnant with our child.
Nothing beats that.
Alyssa has changed me more than she’ll ever know, and I’m extremely grateful.
And I’m also grateful we get to share this right next door to Steven and Alyssa’s brother.
We’ve got our own little station right here at our two houses.
And although I’ll always do everything I can to protect my family and loved ones, this isn’t exactly a police station that we’ve got.
It’s much more like a diaper changing station.
Or a bottle-feeding station.
Or my personal favorite…a station where we come and go whether we’re creating memories here or on one of our many weekend road trips.
Together.
Always together.