Chapter 48
CHAPTER 48
JACE
I almost lost her. Again.
Two days ago, my world was moments from falling apart. And since then, it’s been the worst game of ‘what if’ going round and round in my mind.
What if I hadn’t gotten there in time?
What if she didn’t pick up the phone?
What if I didn’t leave her?
What if they never went to the park?
What if I’d listened to her and the gut feeling she had that something was wrong?
What if Angie hadn’t missed that first shot?
I don’t ever want to think about the possibility of that last one. I can’t.
I can’t picture a future without Kinsley. Without either of my boys.
And two days ago I almost lost them.
After they took Angie away and we gave our initial statements, we rushed to the hospital. Kinsley walked away with a concussion and a few scrapes and bruises, but she didn’t care. Her entire focus was on the little boy who refused to leave the safety of her arms.
The doctors checked her out as she held him plastered to her chest, only moving when they needed to do a couple different tests. But the moment they said it was okay, he was back in her arms.
I held onto Cooper just as tight as we watched his mum and brother get patched up. He was the first to sign Beckham’s blue cast for his broken arm.
When we got home, it was to a house filled with covered dishes. Mum and Dad walked out of the spare room, hugging each of us and telling us that they were there to help with whatever we needed.
Kinsley and I washed up the boys together before handing them over to my parents with the promise that we were right down the hall. When I was sure they were okay, I led a barely awake Kinsley up to our room.
She didn’t say a word as I helped her out of the scrubs the hospital gave her to change into. She soundlessly followed when I guided her into the warm spray of the shower.
I gently washed away the dirt and dried blood from her body. When we were both clean, she curled against my chest and I whispered to her that everything was going to be okay and that I was there and nothing would happen to her ever again.
She immediately broke down and we stayed in that shower until her eyes had gone dry. I carried her to bed and held her close as my parents took care of the boys. Only to wake up to them snuggled between us.
It’s been our new normal the past two days. I go to sleep with Kinsley in my arms, only to wake up with all three of them there instead.
Except this morning.
My hand searches blindly, feeling around the cold sheets. Shooting up in the bed, I look around the dim room. The morning sun is kissing the horizon, early light mingling with the darkness as it slowly chases away the shadows.
I slip out of bed and pull on a pair of sweatpants before padding down the hallway. I poke my head into the boys’ room to find it empty, but a clatter and whispers from downstairs catches my attention.
Quietly sneaking down the stairs, I peek across the living room to the open kitchen and see Kinsley standing between our boys on their stools. They’re all covered in a white powder, and the island is covered with what looks like baking supplies.
“Daddy is going to love this surprise,” Cooper whispers excitedly.
My heart stops along with every other function I need to live.
Daddy.
Kinsley looks down at him. “Did you just call him your daddy?”
Cooper nods sheepishly. “Is that okay?”
“Is that what you want? You want to call him your dad?”
“Yeah. I’ve wanted him to be my dad for a long time.”
I hear her sniffle. “Okay, baby. You know, I think you should ask him.”
“Today?”
“I think that might be the best gift you could ever give him.”
“You think he’ll say yes?”
I want to run down and scoop him into my arms, but I don’t move. Not wanting to ruin the moment.
“Of course he will,” Beckham chimes in. “He loves you and you’re my brother. So he’s Dad and,” he wraps his flour covered arms around Kinsley, “this is Mum.”
She laughs through her tears, leaning down to kiss both of them on their heads. “Okay, let’s hurry before Daddy wakes up.”
“Can we take it up to him and have breakfast in bed?” Cooper asks and Beckham ‘oohs,’ saying that’s a good idea.
“I think that would be fun, yeah. But we have to hurry.”
As quietly as I can, I make my way back up stairs and climb back into bed. I don’t want to ruin the surprise.
Almost an hour later, I smile as I listen to soft voices getting louder as bare feet pad across the floor. I quickly shuffle back down in bed and close my eyes, acting as if I’m still asleep.
The door creaks open and seconds later two little bodies catapult onto the bed.
“Happy birthday,” they cheer.
I make a show of cracking open my eyes and yawning. Sitting up in bed I wrap my arms around our boys and wrestle them into the mattress. They giggle, pushing back and copying me as I settle with my back against the headboard.
“Who’s birthday are we celebrating?”
“Yours silly,” Cooper laughs.
“Mine? I don’t think so.”
“Yeah, you’re forty!”
“I am not forty,” I choke on my laugh as the boys roll over, cackling. “I’m twenty nine!”
“That’s almost Grandpa’s age.”
“It is not.”
“Need me to go get your walker?” Kinsley tucks her lips to smother her laugh, her words sending the boys into a fit of hysterical laughing.
“Har-har. A bunch of comedians, the lot of ya.”
She sets the tray down on the nightside table and climbs into the bed on my side, snuggling into me. I smile down at her and lean in, kissing her softly.
“What?” she asks when she sees me staring.
I lift my hand, cupping the side of her face and brushing my thumb over her cheek. “I’m happy to see this smile again.”
She laughs under her breath, pecking my lips. “We’re going to be okay.”
I nod, pulling her tighter against me.
It’s not that I didn’t think I’d ever see her smile or make a joke or hear her laugh again, but they’ve been hidden since the events at the park.
“One day at a time,” I whisper against her forehead, kissing the bruising there.
“Well, today is an extra special one.” She turns, reaching for the platter of food and sets it down in front of me. “Happy birthday, handsome.”
“Happy birthday, Daddy.” Beckham hugs my arm and Cooper inches closer.
“You okay over there, Coop?”
He fidgets with the blanket. “I was wondering if I could maybe, if it was something you wanted too… maybe I could call you Dad? Maybe you could be my dad?”
Beckham scoots over and I pull Cooper in for a crushing hug, tears threatening to spill. “I’d love nothing more than to be your dad, Coop.”
“Can we eat the cake now?” Beckham asks and we all break out laughing.
“Oh wait!” Kinsley reaches over and picks something up. “There.” She smiles, lighting the candle in the biggest slice of cake. “Make a wish.”
I look around at my little family and smile. Closing my eyes, I lean forward and blow.
“What did you wish for?” Kinsley asks, taking the candle out before the wax can melt onto the frosting.
“Now you know I can’t tell you that.”
Because I didn’t make one for myself. My wish, the wish I had on this day eight years ago and have wished for every year since…
It’s finally come true.