Ryder

“Daddy, I peed my panties.” My beautiful daughter of four announces.

“Jules, you’re a baby.”

“Screw you, bubba.” She flips him her pinky finger.

I pull Drew by his ear gently reminding him that it’s not okay to harass his twin sister. If they’re not sleeping, then they’re either fighting or scheming. Life hasn’t paused for one single moment. I was drafted to Seattle then ended up in Denver. Our two mini versions of us came sliding out into the world screaming.

“Ryder Prescott?”

I freeze mid-stride with Jules tucked under my arm and her wet bum in the air and Drew by the ear.

“Yeah.” I look up to the stranger.

“It is you, Ryder Prescott.” The fan smiles ear-to-ear. “Can I get a picture with you?”

I look down to my two bundles of joy, take a cleansing breath of air, and then muster up a smile. “Sure man.”

I set Jules down on her feet, lean in for the selfie making sure my kids are out of sight and then dart for the bathroom.

“Daddy, mommy said I can’t go into the boy’s bathrooms.”

“Jules, I need to change you, and she’s not here.”

“Mommy said.” She stomps her foot.

Drew’s intrigued by my phone for the moment not contributing his two cents in this conversation.

“Sweetie.” I kneel down in front of her. “I need to get you into clean clothes so we can catch our flight to go see Mommy.”

“There are wieners in there, Daddy. Mom, said wieners are boys.”

And like my guardian angel smacked inside of the head, I spot a family bathroom next to the men’s. I gather her in my arms not even caring her soaked pants are now soaking the side of my shirt.

“Look, it’s a family one.” I point to the sign of the stick figures.

“Perfect, no weenies.”

Noting this topic to bring up with Shayne. I used to shake my head at the men who’d sport around the manly diaper bags and dote on their children. Karma. It’s a funny bitch. Because now it’s what I live for. These two hellions have made my world complete. Playing football in the NFL and juggling family time is not for the weak of heart that’s for sure.

“Need anything else?”

I look up to a flight attendant with a kind smile on her face and then down to my children who are both out, cuddled into my side. I shake my head side to side to not wake either of them. That’s the first thing I learned about being a dad. You never ever under any circumstance wake a sleeping child. You do anything to protect that solace of time, and I do mean anything.

* * *

“Mommy,” both kids squeal in unison and take off down the jet bridge.

They haven’t seen Shayne for the last month, and it’s been rough. The nine-hour flight torture to their souls. Shayne kneels down with happy tears streaming down her face and arms wide open. Both of her parents standing by her side.

It was their turn to be with Shayne during these moments. The proudest ones. They’ve been by her side while she’s been at the Olympic village preparing for her first Olympic games. She’s beaten all the odds, every single last fucking one. She’s the oldest member on the team, but that hasn’t stopped her.

Shayne is projected to bring home the gold, and I have no doubt that she will with her entire family cheering her on. It’s her turn for the spotlight.

“Mommy, Jules peed her pants at the airport and did wiener talk again,” Drew announces with a smile.

Shayne stands with a child on each hip and a permanent grin on her face. She doesn’t have a chance to respond before Jules is giving her twin the smack down.

“You peed the bed all the time and have said bagina before.”

I’m exhausted. Tapped out and have nothing left in me. There’s a point in parenthood where survival is key. It’s not my proudest moment in life, but sometimes they just have to battle it out.

“Hey now. Look what grammy and poppy brought you two.” Shayne’s mom hands both of the kids a big bag stuffed with goodies.

Her dad takes Jules kissing her entire face and tickling her while her mother takes Drew and does the same thing. They exchange kids after a while. It’s not until then I realize the love of my life is standing before me and I haven’t moved an inch. She comes to me glowing in her success.

“I smell like Jules’s pee, have had to ref endless numbers of fights, and am on my last nerve.” I pull her to me by her slim waist.

“Yet, you’re sexy as ever.” Her lips kiss away every ounce of exhaustion fueling my body to the core.

“You excited?” I ask between our pressed lips.

“Nervous. Scared. So fucking nervous.”

“You’ve got this, babe. You thought this dream was gone and look at it.”

“Because of you.” She kisses me again.

“They always kiss.”

“Yeah, it’s nasty.”

We look over to Jules and Drew peeking through their fingers at us. And we both burst out laughing.

Shayne

The tears don’t stop. My body trembles like it never has before. It surreal. Sweet. Mind-numbing. The stripes and stars fly high over my head with the sweet words of our National Anthem tickling every inch of my skin. The weight on my chest is heavy. I did it.

Four gold medals. Another blown knee. The silver lining…going home to have Ryder nurse me back to health and giving Jules and Drew more siblings. It’s our way. Our story.

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