Six Months Later
Kiyan.
“That was the last of them, Pops.”
We’d just finished loading the last of Ava’s birthday presents in the back of my truck, and he was going to drive it back to the house for me while I took my girls downtown for ice cream.
Leila fussed about it, claiming that Ava already had plenty of junk food, but it was her day, so she could get what she wanted.
“See you back at the house,” he said before pulling me into a hug.
Leila, Ava, and I took turns hugging my mom, aunt, sister, and cousins before we watched them all get into their rides to leave.
“Ki. Up.” Ava lifted her arms.
Chuckling, I leaned down to scoop her into my arms.
“Kiyan. No,” Leila frowned. “You can walk Ava.”
“I’m tired,” she pouted.
“She’s good, baby. She’s been jumping and running around all day. Besides, she’s the birthday girl, so she gets special treatment.”
“You give her special treatment every day.” She playfully rolled her eyes.
When she slipped her hand in mine, we started our journey down the sidewalk to the ice cream parlor. The Chill Factory wasn’t too far from the Children’s Museum where we had Ava’s party, so we didn’t have a long walk ahead of us.
My family had come into town to celebrate with us and some of Ava’s classmates from Atlyn Academy.
We also invited some of her friends that kept in touch with Leila after she transferred Ava out of her old school.
We heavily researched who would be the best academically and provide baby girl with the most help before settling on Atlyn Academy.
They provided all of the necessary resources that she’d need in house, so it was an easy decision.
She adjusted to them quickly too. She’d gotten into a good rhythm and was excelling. I was proud of her. Leila had been true to her word and started new courses at ACU as well. After winning her divorce settlement, she’d become even more motivated to keep going and keep elevating.
In the settlement she was granted child support, spousal support, and her ex was mandated to pay for Ava’s health care coverage, but after having a conversation about it, she chose to only make him honor child support which she put into an account for Ava to have and use later.
I took great care of them and had a lot better insurance, so it was a no brainer to me.
She’d only gone to the extent that she did because we wanted to teach him a lesson and show him that if she wanted to or was as evil and vindictive as he had been, she could ruin him, but Leila wasn’t like that.
He already had enough rope to hang himself with.
“Today was so perfect,” Leila gushed. “Thank you so much for helping me with everything and making sure things ran smoothly.”
I smiled down at her, releasing her hand to wrap my arm around her and pull her closer. “What I tell you about thanking me? You and Ava are my babies. I’d do anything for you two.”
“I know,” she simpered. “That’s why I love you so much.”
“Not nearly as much as I love you,” I replied.
The last six months had been the best times of my life.
Leila and Ava were the two things that I never even knew I needed.
Finally, when I came home at night, my house actually felt like one.
Dinner was ready, my clothes for my shower were waiting in the bathroom—despite me telling Leila it wasn’t necessary for her to do that—and I had a standing appointment for a movie or book every night.
They just added a lot more light to my life and I couldn’t imagine ever being without them again.
We were passing Blues Boulevard, the bar we went to on our first unofficial date, just about at the ice cream parlor when someone stumbled out in front of us. I had to quickly pull Leila into my side in order for them not to hit her.
“I-I’m sorry,” the man stammered but we kept it moving. “Wait, Leila?”
Our strides paused as we glanced back to find Aldrick slouched forward a little, obviously drunk and it was only three in the afternoon.
Ava buried her face in my neck and tightened her arms around me, so I released Leila briefly, rubbing her back to sooth her, assuring her everything was fine because it was.
I would put this man right on his back if he tried anything out of line with either of them.
“I-It’s her birthday.” He pointed to Ava. “That’s why I came out here,” he slurred and pointed to Blues, “just to have a drink.”
“You came to drink to celebrate your seven year old?” I frowned.
“Y-yeah.” He nodded slowly, eyes squinting. “Damn, I hardly recognize you two. You look… different.”
“They look happy,” I corrected, “because that’s what they are, and I suggest you get used to seeing them this way because anytime you’re fortunate enough to lay eyes on them, this is what you’ll get.
Now excuse us.” I captured Leila’s hand, and we walked away, finishing the short journey to the ice cream parlor where I let Ava down.
She ran over to the counter, completely forgetting she’d just been scared a few seconds ago, which was what I wanted. Neither of them had to ever worry about anything else because as long as I had breath in my body, I was going to make sure they were straight.
THE END!!!
Happy Holidays!!!