Epilogue
THREE YEARS LATER
There was nothing better than a football game in the fall.
The leaves had changed, and there was a cool bite to the night breeze.
The stadiums were full of folks who’d traded their shorts and flip-flops for sweatshirts and jeans.
And while the metal bleachers weren’t exactly comfortable, I had my girls next to me, and that was about as good as it gets.
Hannah, the little tornado in my lap, had just turned two, and she wasn’t exactly thrilled about having to stay put.
She didn’t understand that tonight was about Thomas and not her.
It was his senior night, and he was being recognized as player of the year.
It was a big deal for him, and Rae thought his sister should be there to see it.
She could’ve cared less and was squirming and yapping through the whole damn thing. I wasn’t surprised. Truth was, she ran the show. She was too cute not to. She looked exactly like her mother, right down to the dark hair and crooked smile, and she had the sweetest, most innocent little face.
She was sweet and innocent.
But she was also a bit of a menace with a fiery temper.
She got that shit from me, along with a stubborn streak a mile long.
Oh, and if she ever got quiet, it meant destruction was brewing, and she was quick about it.
Hell, last week she managed to color the pantry wall with ketchup while Rae was folding laundry.
Didn’t cry when she got caught.
She just stared at us like we were the problem.
Knowing she was reaching her limit, I leaned down and whispered, “You better not be plotting in that little head of yours.”
She blinked up at me, looking her usual sweet and innocent, and before I could stop her, she had a hold of my beard, tugging it. “You better watch it!”
That earned me a giggle. That’s right. A giggle. She knew she had her father wrapped around her little finger, and I was okay with that. Rae leaned over, laughing softly as she straightened Hannah’s tiny cheerleading top. “Hold still, baby. It’ll just be a few more minutes.”
I glanced down at the little number Rae had put on her and grimaced. “I don’t know how I feel about this getup.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a cheerleading outfit.”
“I know. I’m the one who put it on her.”
“I don’t know if it’s appropriate.”
“Appropriate?”
“The skirt’s a bit short.”
“It’s got shorts under it.” She motioned her hand toward the other little girls who were dressed the same way. “Just like everyone else.”
“It feels like we’re setting a precedent here.”
“It’s a little outfit on senior night.”
“And?”
“She’s supporting her big brother.”
“It sends the wrong message.”
“Oh, good grief.” She shook her head. “You’re impossible. All the little girls are wearing them.”
“Doesn’t make it right.” I shrugged. “Raising girls is hard enough. Don’t need to start making my job harder.”
“Your job?”
“I’m her father. I’ve gotta protect her from every dumb boy within a hundred-mile radius.”
Rae cocked her brow. “She’s two.”
“Exactly. You gotta start early.”
Before Rae could fire back, a shadow appeared, blocking the stadium lights.
I looked up and found Thomas towering over us in full football gear, and the dude was massive.
And he had a protective streak that made me proud as hell, so I wasn’t surprised when he huffed, “Mom, seriously? Why do you have her in that?”
“Oh, no. Not you, too.”
“She’s too little for this.” Thomas reached down and lifted Hannah right out of my arms, tucking her against his chest like she belonged there. “She’s gonna be a handful as it is.”
Well, how about that? I couldn’t hold back my smirk, and of course, Rae noticed it right away. She nudged me with her elbow. “Don’t you sit there looking all smug.”
“I didn’t say a word.”
“You don’t have to. It’s written all over your face.”
“Come on, Mom.” Thomas adjusted Hannah protectively on his hip. “She’s just a baby.”
“Thank you,” I muttered under my breath.
“Okay, fine. You guys win. No more cheerleading outfits until she gets older.” I shook my head. “The poor girl doesn’t stand a chance.”
Thomas kissed the top of Hannah’s head, then offered her back to me. I pulled her close and rubbed my beard in the crook of her neck, making her giggle. “Nah, she’s gonna be the toughest girl on the block.”
“Pfft. She’ll be a nightmare with you three hovering the way you do.”
“Unstoppable.” I looked down at Hannah, and something in my chest tightened in that way only happiness could. “Just like her momma.”
Rae went quiet for a second, and then her hand slid into mine. And there beneath the stadium lights, watching our boy on his senior night, I couldn’t help but think that I almost missed out on her and this beautiful, ordinary life.
Thank God I didn’t.
~The End