West
Two Years Later
I was manning the grill while my beautiful wife made the rounds, refilling glasses and making sure all the kids were wearing water wings in the pool. It was our daughter Hayley’s first birthday party, and she too was making the rounds, charming our family and friends with her few sweet words.
“You need a hand?” my father-in-law asked, coming up beside me.
“I got it covered, thanks.”
I’d gotten to know Paul quite well in the year since he and his daughters had reconciled. Something about giving birth to our daughter had convinced Shani she was ready to bridge the gap, and since her big sister had made the effort first, it was easier for my wife to reach out to him.
Paul brought his soda can to his lips. He’d been sober a long time, but he’d confessed to me sobriety was an ongoing battle he’d likely fight for the rest of his life. He was just grateful he finally had his family’s support.
He glanced at his two youngest children, smiling when he saw Shani throw her head back and laugh at something her kid brother said. “I know I don’t deserve this, but I sure am happy to be a part of it.”
“We all make mistakes. No one’s holding yours against you anymore.” I knew he still needed reassurance. He was having a hard time letting go of all the mistakes he’d made. “Shani told me just the other day that seeing you with Hayley reminded her of the way you’d been with her when she was a little girl. She said she idolized you.”
His smile was sad as his green eyes filled with tears behind the lenses of his silver-framed glasses. “I get a second chance to be that guy with my grandchildren, and I’m never going to screw that up. That’s why I stay sober. For them and my kids.”
I nodded. “And soon you’ll have a grandson.”
Shani was six months pregnant, and we’d learned she was having a boy. I couldn’t wait to have a son. I was crazy protective of my baby girl and couldn’t imagine what it would be like when she was old enough to date. My gorgeous wife wanted one more baby, but I told her maybe we should stop at two. A second daughter might kill me.
“I can’t wait for that,” Paul said, beaming.
I flipped a row of burgers before I slipped my sunglasses up on my head. “Me neither.”
“How’s it going, Grill Master?” Katie asked, hip checking me. “I’m getting hungry.”
I laughed. “There’s a whole table of food over there. How can you be hungry?”
She rubbed her flat tummy. “I’m eating for two now, remember?”
Katie had been clean for over two years now, and after rehab, she’d fallen in love with a drug and alcohol counselor. He’d inspired her to go back to school for the same. They’d gotten married six months ago and were expecting their first child. Shani and I couldn’t be happier, or more relieved, that she’d finally found her way.
“How could I forget?” I teased. “Between you and your sister, I can’t keep ice cream in this house. How can you both crave the same thing, by the way? I don’t get it.”
Paul laughed. “That has nothing to do with their pregnancies, son. They used to eat ice cream like it was going out of style when they were growing up too.”
Katie grinned at her dad. “And we’d still beg for change every time the ice cream truck drove by, remember?”
Paul chuckled as they shared a smile. Now that they were healing their relationship, there were more stories about the good memories and fewer about the bad. “I sure do.”
“I love what you guys have done with the house, West,” Katie said, taking in the pool and landscaped grounds.
“Thanks, we love it here.” I plated the burgers and placed them on a nearby table.
We’d busted our butts renovating the thirty-year-old house we’d bought eight months ago, but it was finally perfect for our family. It had been a long time since Shani had lived in a real family home, and I loved that I’d been able to give her that.
We were on a cul-de-sac of twenty homes surrounded by acreage, and the neighbors had all welcomed us into their tight-knit group. There were a bunch of kids that ranged in age, so there was always someone for Hailey to play with. The next step was a puppy, since our baby girl squealed with delight every time she got to play with one of the neighbors’ dogs. Anything that put a smile like that on her face was welcome in our home, as far as I was concerned.
Katie chuckled. “I can’t believe it. My bad-ass sister is loving life in suburbia. Who would have thought, huh?”
I barely remembered the badass cop I’d fallen in love with all those years ago. She’d had impenetrable walls that kept me and everyone else at a safe distance. My wife was nothing like that scarred and scared girl. The new Shani wasn’t afraid to love openly and freely because she knew I sure as hell wouldn’t hurt her and I’d never let anyone else hurt her either.
“Keeping my husband company?” Shani asked, slipping her arms around me from behind.
The baby kicked, and we both laughed. I was getting used to my son kicking the shit out of me. Every time Shani curled up in arms at night, he’d thump me, as though we needed a reminder he was there.
“I think I’m going to try some of that nacho dip everyone’s been raving about,” Paul said, squeezing Shani’s shoulder as he passed her.
“Wait,” Katie said, linking her arm through her dad’s, “you have to try the wings I brought first. It’s a new recipe and I want your honest opinion.”
Their voices drifted away, and Shani stepped in front of me, touching my face. “I never thought I’d get to be this happy. I owe that to you, you know.”
She slayed me when she said shit like that. Making her happy gave my life purpose.
“Goes both ways,” I said, bending to kiss her. “What we’ve got… there are no words, baby.”
It was the kind of love my parents had, the rare type that survived even death. When we lost my mom, my old man was heartsick, but he refused to grieve. He said he had no right when he should be celebrating having had the kind of love most people only dreamed about. I had that sort of love with Shani. Love our kids would someday aspire to.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked, laying her head on my chest when I slipped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close.
“My parents.” I never had to censor my thoughts with her. She always understood. “I wish they could have had more time together.”
Shani’s gaze strayed to my father, who was having a heated debate with hers, likely about sports, their favorite topic. “I guess that’s why we have to make the most of every day, right? Because we never know how long we have.”
Just thinking about the possibility of losing her made me sick. My father was undoubtedly the strongest man I knew, weathering the storm the way he had and raising four hell-raisers on his own.
I kissed her temple as I watched my sister-in-law curl her arms around our daughter. “Yeah, but sometimes life gives us a second chance when we least expect it.”
She laughed. “Thank God for social media, right?”
“You should be thankful your husband is a dumbass who’s not afraid to make a bet he’s bound to lose.”
Her eyes twinkled when she looked up at me. “There are no losers here. I’d say we both won.”