Epilogue | Theo
Two Years Later
“I think they look good, man. I’ll go grab the hot dogs from Savannah.” Shane claps my shoulder and I nod in agreement.
I never would have imagined that things would work out the way they have, but I also don’t think there is a better possible outcome than the reality of what our family looks like these days.
Savannah and Shane were able to come to a better understanding and co-parenting relationship quite quickly after Kyle Clark was no longer involved in the process.
We discovered that he had been manipulating Shane for years to turn him against his wife and encouraging him to behave as difficult as possible.
Without his games in the mix, Shane and Savannah were able to focus on their mutual goal of keeping their daughters first. Someone asked if I was worried about Shane trying to woo Savannah back after Kyle’s manipulation was discovered, but the thought never even crossed my mind.
Maybe that could have been possible if it had been a few years before the divorce was filed, but bells were rung that could never be silenced.
It has not been a field of daisies, and it took work and therapy on both of their parts, but they are able to co-parent well.
I would even go as far as saying they’re friends at this point, which is definitely better for the girls’ sake than them being enemies.
My relationship with Shane took some time, but within the first year of our marriage, Shane and I had some straightforward conversations that allowed us to finally settle the bullshit of our past, including clearing up some serious misinformation that was the foundation of his beef with me.
The summer after our second year of law school, we were both up for an international law internship, and he was livid when I was chosen for it over him and many other applicants.
A few weeks after my acceptance was announced, we were at a fundraiser with our families and Shane overheard his father say something to Bill, the person who made the final decision about who received the internship, that he should pick me over Shane.
His father said something along the lines of, “Shane is great, he is going to be a great attorney and a tiger in the courtroom. But he’s no Theo Smith-Harrington. ”
Overhearing his father say that became a driving force for Shane to be better than me in anything and everything, but his hatred was built on misinformation.
I received the international law internship because my GPA was three tenths higher than Shane’s and they wanted a candidate that was fluent in multiple languages.
Shane is fluent in English and Spanish, but I am fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Italian.
Growing up, our parents regularly would hire international tutors in those languages to help Pippa, Van, and me learn directly from native speakers.
My getting selected for the international law internship had nothing to do whatsoever with Shane’s dad telling anyone who they should pick, but Shane didn’t know that, and unfortunately his father passed away two years after that incident, so in Shane’s eyes he was never able to prove his father wrong.
It finally made sense why we went from friendly competition to arch nemesis in such a short time frame.
And honestly, it’s too bad he held on to such a misinformed grudge for so many years.
But what matters now is that we agree on the common goal of taking care of their daughters and loving Savannah well.
Was it awkward the first time he came over for family dinner?
Absolutely. But we had to push through that so their girls could see that we are a united front when it comes to being the best parents we can be—together.
It’s probably good we had the really awkward ones out of the way before Shane brought someone with him.
He first brought Lena to a dinner last summer.
She’s an attorney with the District Attorney in Nashville, specializing in domestic violence cases so she works just as much as Shane, if not more some days.
Lena is a divorced mother of a ten-year-old boy, George, who joins us for family dinners if it’s Lena’s week to have him.
George is a quiet boy but loves to read, so he and Olivia get along great—without talking and just reading next to each other most of the time.
Shane and Lena make a great couple, and the girls seem to like her.
Savannah appreciates there is a mutual respect between her and Lena, so as long as my girls are all happy, I’m good with all of it.
They recently bought a house in a historic district in Nashville—and yes, this time there are enough bedrooms for all of the children.
Shane hinted at a proposal soon, and I’m happy for them.
My phone vibrates and I slide on my glasses before pulling out my phone to check it.
Pippa
Please tell Gigi that I’m stealing her tomorrow night. My kids miss her!
Me
On it. Gigi will be thrilled and may not want to come home.
Pippa
Trust me, one night with toddlers will change her mind!
After years of infertility and multiple failed rounds of IVF, Pippa and her husband were going to pursue adoption, but then fate had an interesting turn of events. The way everything came together was kismet, but what matters is that they are now a family of four .
“If you overcook those steaks, I’m going to be pissed.” Jack hands me a fresh beer and scowls at my grill.
“Then it’s a good thing they’re resting, damn. I burn the steaks one time—the first time I ever used this grill in fact—and you act like I’ve done it a thousand times.”
Jack shrugs. “I think once was enough, don’t you?”
I ignore his question. “Weren’t you supposed to be in New York or Denver or somewhere far away this week?”
He hums and takes a drink before looking out at the chaos of the birthday party barbecue in our backyard. “Yeah, uh, Paris, actually. But some things came up and what’s a man if he can’t keep his priorities straight, right?”
“Is she coming today?” I ask softly, just in case anyone is listening, because if she is going to be here, that would be a big deal, especially to the preteen and little girls running around the backyard. Okay, and maybe to the mamas too.
Okay, fine, I listen to her music too, but I can play it cool.
“I don’t think so. I know Emily would have loved it, but we just couldn’t make time in her schedule.”
Before I can ask him any follow-up questions, Shane comes out with the tray of hot dogs for the kids.
“Hey, Jack.” He nods at his former brother-in-law who returns the cordial hello.
We may have worked things out with Shane, but I don’t think Savannah’s brothers will ever consider Shane a friend.
Finn punching Shane in the face after the divorce probably didn’t help anything either.
Sometimes there is too much history to overlook, and I can’t blame them; they think Shane neglected their sister in their marriage, but I think if they had an honest conversation with Shane about it, he would be the first to admit they were right.
Today is not that day, though. Today is about celebrating Emily’s birthday.
And there is no way I’m going to allow any drama or fights to rain on her parade. She is the sunshine that can break through anyone’s rainy day, and she deserves to be celebrated and spoiled like a princess .
I knew I was a good dad to Gigi, but it has been so fun being a stepdad to Savannah’s girls.
They all have various interests and our home is never boring, and rarely quiet.
I’m proud to be a girl dad and I don’t think of Savannah’s girls as step anything, they’re my daughters and I will be the first in line to go after any asshole dick that breaks their hearts.
I’ll have The Brigade at my back if that day ever comes.
After cake and presents, Shane and Lena say goodbye, and the girls and their friends all head down to start a movie in our theater room.
Savannah stocked the snack bar with enough candy and popcorn to rival an actual movie theater.
If anyone were to call Savannah extra, she would treat the potential insult as a compliment.
She is unapologetically extra in everything she does when it comes to loving her people.
We knew when we built this house, we wanted to have the cool house to hang out at so we could keep a closer eye on our girls and have a good grasp on who their friends are.
Our basement is more like a kid zone at a five-star resort.
In addition to the movie theater, there’s a pool table, foosball, and shuffleboard tables.
When Lucy discovered a new favorite hobby this last winter, we added the rock-climbing wall on the far side of the gym, which also includes an area for the girls to practice for ballet.
Our backyard has a basketball court, fire pit, and pool with a water slide that winds through the rock landscaping.
Most of the time, Savannah and I hang out on the deck, watching our girls play, and rocking side by side in the matching handmade chairs Murphy gave us for our wedding gift.
Our wedding was nine days after I proposed, and that was eight days too long for me.
We had to wait for schedules to align so everyone from our families could come, and while I should be impressed we pulled it off that fast, I didn’t like waiting.
As the sun set over the white sandy beach on a random Tuesday evening, I got to marry the love of my life and the feistiest kitten I’ve ever met.
She still rolls her eyes at the nickname, but I think she secretly loves it .
As we sit with our family and friends on our deck, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I had a good life before I met Savannah, but now I have an incredible one.