47. Hannah
Chapter forty-seven
Hannah
T he farm is a zoo. Not literally, but you get the idea. Santiago demanded to be taken home the next day. With a promise to buy a hospital bed, hire in home health care, and either a threat or a bribe from Rico later, and an ambulance is in the driveway, unloading Santiago on a stretcher.
The glares he's shooting the EMTs have even the seasoned pros swallowing nervously. On the other side of the house, by the barn entrance, and movers are unloading all of me and the kids' Earthly possessions.
Pickles howls from his carrier, which makes Diego and Lauren's dogs go crazy.
I'd asked my kids where they preferred to live, prepared to make a case for the farm, because it was the right choice, but the vote was unanimous. They all wanted to move to the farm.
Aiden has been acting more like his age. Vivian's come out of her shell and has engaged Jack and Matty in their goofiness. And living around so much love? Yeah, that's a no-brainer.
We claim Rico's room as me, Santi, Matty and Rico's room, but we need to order a bigger bed. There's no point in hiding our relationship, the kids clearly see us all kissing, and they couldn't care less.
I love this old house, and I love the farm, and I love knowing that if I could pick any place to live, this would be it. I'm pretty sure I have an old Pinterest board with a house just like this on it .
We direct the movers where to put things, locking Pickles in Aiden's library for now so he's not freaked out by the dogs. Aiden's in there, organizing his small manga collection, while Jack chases Viv around with slime.
It's a complete scene of chaos - movers, kids, pets, slime, men, and extended family - but my heart has never been fuller, and I've never been happier.
In a moment, it seems like the world stands still. This is the life I created with my choices. This is the family I created with my choices - men who love me the way I deserve - people to love my children the way I deserve.
And it occurs to me: Life is a matter of choice, and every choice you make - makes you.
And me? I'm really fucking happy.