15. Ava
fifteen
Ava
It’s been three years, and Sebastian and I are still going strong. We’ve been building our careers while navigating the joys and challenges of raising a family.
Last year, we moved to Chicago. Our daughter, Mia, is now two years old and the absolute light of Grammy Edna’s life. The move was partially for her benefit; being in San Jose made it hard for Edna to spend time with Mia, and she welcomed the change with open arms. Truthfully, I’ve fallen in love with Chicago myself. When Sebastian signed with a team here, and I was able to get a transfer, the decision was easy. Now, Edna and Mia get to see each other whenever they want, and I couldn’t ask for a better mother figure than Edna. She’s been more like a mom to me than anything else.
After the success of my project, I traveled to Africa to oversee its implementation. Though illegal logging of endangered trees hasn’t fully stopped, hefty penalties have been enforced, sending a clear message that there are consequences for such actions. Knowing I’ve made even a small difference in a world where many turn a blind eye fills me with pride .
Annie, my best friend, moved to the U.K. to be with Stewart. Even though we’re miles apart, we talk on the phone at least once a week. She’s now a mother to twin boys, who are about six months younger than Mia. We exchange stories about motherhood and laugh at how much our lives have changed.
Sebastian, too, has been thriving. Season after season, he’s had incredible success, often joking that I’m his lucky charm. His inheritance, which once seemed like the finish line, became the starting point for something bigger. He’s been using it to fund environmental projects, making a real difference in the world—something I never imagined when we first met.
Life in the spotlight has become something I’ve learned to accept. Mia, however, loves it, especially when she sees her photo in the newspaper, captured while cheering for her dad. Though I’ve never craved attention, I’ve grown used to it, understanding that it’s just part of the package.
Our house in Chicago is a short twenty-minute drive from Edna’s. Mia often spends weekends with her grandmother, and the bond they share is heartwarming.
Motherhood has been more rewarding than I ever imagined. From the moment Mia entered my life, she became my number one priority. Watching her grow has been an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.
“Edna, we’re running late!” I call from the bottom of the stairs, grabbing Mia’s sippy cup and the bags by the door.
Edna comes down the stairs with Mia in her arms .
“Look, Mama!” Mia says, beaming as she points to the bow in her hair.
“You look absolutely gorgeous,” I say, kissing her cheek. “Who’s excited to see Daddy play?”
“Me!” Mia cheers, throwing her little fists in the air.
Sebastian absolutely dotes on Mia. From the moment she was born, she’s been the center of his world. He was right all those years ago when he said we’d have a little girl. Mia is not only her daddy’s twin in looks but also in her fiery personality.
We make it to the stadium just in time to grab our front-row seats. As soon as Sebastian steps onto the field, Mia starts cheering, her voice rising above the crowd. Sebastian searches the stands, as he always does, and waves at us when he spots us. He blows Mia a kiss, and she giggles, clapping her hands in delight.
It doesn’t take long for him to score his first goal, which doesn’t surprise me. He’s still one of the strongest players on his team. After ninety minutes of intense play, Sebastian scores the winning goal, and the crowd goes wild.
From the sidelines, I catch my dad’s eye. Despite being on the opposing team now, I know he’s proud of Sebastian. He gives me a knowing look, and I can’t help but shrug playfully and smile.
After the match, Sebastian runs toward us, pulling Mia and me into a warm embrace.
“Well done, Daddy!” Mia cheers, her little arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
Sebastian looks at her with so much love that it makes my heart swell.
“We did it!” he cheers, kissing both of us before heading back to celebrate with his team.
That night, as we celebrate his victory, I share some exciting news. “Rubin just called!” I say, barely able to contain myself. “He wants to expand the project into three more regions!”
I can’t stop smiling as Sebastian pulls me into his arms.
I feel so proud to be a part of his life and the mother of his child. Sebastian and I have considered tying the knot in the future, but it doesn’t seem to be a priority. We know we will make that decision when the time comes. For now, we are just happy to be deeply in love with each other.
My life has changed in these three years. Sebastian and I have managed to put our past to rest, determined to focus on nothing more than the bright future that lay ahead of us.
I am grateful to have such a loving man in my life. Though he has made mistakes in his life, I choose to keep my eye on everything he did right instead of the mistakes he has made. That, to me, is the reason we are still going strong.
Love is not defined by the mistakes we make; it is defined by how we choose to grow from them. I know we are growing every day, one step at a time, and I couldn’t have asked for it to be any other way .