Epilogue
My godson was perfect. Ryan Greene had his mother’s eyes and his father’s brown skin.
I ran my index finger across his little hand placed on my chest. He snuggled on my shoulder as I bounced him slowly while humming “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider”.
He smelled of milk and softness. Every time his scent wafted into the air, I melted inside.
In just a short time, he’d gotten fatter, his skin had browned, and his eyes opened wider.
I wasn’t afraid to admit how much I loved babies.
They reminded me of the beauty of life and how precious time was for us.
For the last six weeks, I’d visited him every single day.
During my visits, I rarely spent time with him.
I tackled his laundry, washed his bottles, and whatever other tasks Summer and my mom would conjure up.
Not to mention the pans of food Robyn sent twice a week.
Plus, with his grandmas alternating visits, spending time with him was impossible.
Now that they’d returned home, he was all mine.
“He’s asleep, G’Daddy,” Summer said from behind me.
I cradled his head while leaning him back. Sure enough, his eyes were closed and drool ran from the corner of his mouth. I walked over to his crib then lay him flat. Summer stood next to me as I peered down at him.
“Wow. You’re a mom,” I whispered, careful not to wake my baby boy.
Summer sighed. “Crazy, right? I thought I had good practice with Bri, but as it turns out, I wasn’t prepared.”
“You’re doing great, Sunny.”
“Having you here has helped us a lot. You bringing food and doing house chores has made my life ten times easier.”
“I can’t take credit for the food.”
“Oh, I know. Robyn gets a lengthy text from me at least once a week. But seriously, I can’t thank you enough. Especially since Ry is already back at work.”
Throwing an arm over Summer’s shoulder, I pulled her into my side. As I kissed her temple, Summer gasped.
“Careful.” She pushed me then held her chest. It was then that I heard the soft whirr of her wireless breast pump. I rolled my eyes. I still hadn’t wrapped my head around her pumping anytime, anyplace.
“My bad. I’m gonna head out so you can do that in peace. If y’all need anything, call me.”
“Good luck today.”
I placed my hand over my heart. “’Preciate it.”
In the car, I drummed the steering wheel, considering my next move.
A week ago, Valerie hit me asking if I wanted to see Avery.
For the last seven days, I went back and forth about accepting the invitation.
This morning, she reached out again, noting Avery would be leaving for Seattle soon.
In the same message, she sent a picture of her exchange with Vanessa approving the visit.
I hadn’t realized that was what I was waiting for.
It wouldn’t feel right sneaking behind Vanessa’s back to see her child.
The anxiety of seeing Avery after all this time almost caused me to cancel.
But my desire to see her prevailed. After leaving Summer’s, I stopped by Seed and Soil to pick up a small arrangement to go with Avery’s gift.
I clutched the daisies and a single pink rose as I neared them at the playground.
I spotted Valerie first, sitting on the bench with a kindle in her hand.
She glanced up at Avery and her girls then went back to what she was reading.
I inhaled a deep breath, held it for a second, then released it.
“Hey, Nadir. I’m so happy you came.” Valerie stood to hug me. I didn’t know why, but this embrace offered me a little relief. My heart raced as I thought about Avery’s reaction to seeing me. It was possible she wouldn’t even remember me. After all, it had been a year and a half since they’d left.
“How is she?” I looked at Avery as she chased her cousins. Her hair was in ponytails adorned by pink ribbons blowing in the wind. She’d gotten taller, leaner, and looked just like Vanessa. My heart ached; I missed her so much.
“Great. Avery is still the ball of sunshine she’s always been. All she talks about is Ms. Leela, her dance teacher. I'm glad you sent her those ballet slippers. She loves them.”
I smiled. “Me too.”
The familiar tune of Peaches’s ice cream truck caught the attention of the children playing at the park.
Avery and her cousins looked at Valerie expectantly.
The moment Avery’s eyes met mine, there was a glint of recognition then a slow smile covered her face.
My heart swelled with pride as she ran to me with outstretched arms.
“Dir!” she shrieked as I tossed her into the air.
“Hey, big girl!” I hugged her, smiling wide at her giggles. “I can’t believe you remember me.”
“Vanessa says she asks about you every once in a while.”
“What does she tell her?” I asked with furrowed eyebrows.
Valerie stared off in the distance. “That you had to stay here.”
“Mommy, can we get ice cream?” the oldest of the trio asked.
Valerie looked at the girls then sighed. “I don’t know.”
“My treat,” I said as the girls' expressions morphed to disappointment.
The trio jumped up and down with excitement.
Valerie stayed behind with her kindle and Avery’s flowers.
After sampling nearly every flavor and debating if they wanted cups or cones, the girls returned to the bench to eat their ice cream.
I stood to the side, holding a stack of napkins.
Valerie watched them eat their cones; concern etched on her face.
“What’s new with you, kiddo?” I asked Avery, still in awe at how much she’d grown.
“Mommy got a house. My room is pink and yellow.”
“Your favorite colors. I hear you’re a ballerina now.”
She nodded. “I dance with Ms. Leela. She’s nice to me and my friends.”
“Good. I got you something, wanna see?”
“Yeah!” Her eyes danced with excitement.
I reached into my back pocket and retrieved the small velvet box. She wiped her hands with the napkins I knew they’d need, then took the box from me.
“It’s so pretty,” Valerie cooed at the necklace I'd gotten for Avery’s birthday.
The girls agreed with wide eyes and smiles of approval.
I was so glad to not have returned it all those months ago.
The twinkle in her eyes as she held up the sun-shaped pendant with a diamond center made the decision worth it.
“Want to put it on?” I asked Avery.
She nodded while handing me the chain. After clasping the necklace, I stepped back to get the full look. She was too adorable.
“What do you say?” Valerie warned lovingly.
“Thank you very much.”
I laughed and hugged her once more. After the girls finished their ice cream, we went to the swings where I pushed them until their hearts’ content.
Avery was still the ball of sunshine I remembered and never ran out of things to say.
We talked about her school, her new friends, and her favorite activities to do in Seattle.
It was a relief to know not much of her routine had changed, I just wasn’t a part of it anymore.
An hour went by before I knew it. A dark cloud covered the sun, prematurely ending our time at the park.
“Alright, girls. It looks like it’s about to rain.”
Their whines earned a stern look from Valerie.
“Nadir, thank you for coming. I’ve finally caught up on my book club read.”
I chuckled then embraced her. Kneeling to eye-level with Avery, I cupped her cheek. “You be good, kiddo. Listen to your mom.”
Avery nodded fervently then hugged me. My eyes squeezed shut as I prepared to say goodbye.
I waved as they walked to Valerie’s car.
My throat dried and my eyes stung, prompting me to start toward my car.
It was a no-brainer where I’d go next. Brie black pants, white T-shirt, and a scarf covering her hair. Adrienne sat at the bar.
“What did I just walk into?” I instantly sensed tension between the two.
“Tell him,” Robyn said to Adrienne.
With reddened cheeks, Adrienne sighed. “I’ve been seeing my ex, Q, for a few months. He wants me to visit him in Paris next month.”
My eyebrows shot up and my mouth bunched.
“No, there’s more,” Robyn chimed in. She explained how they’d been in touch since bumping into each other at the Springville Festival and how he’s coming in the fall.
“What’s giving you pause?”
“I’m just scared that I will get invested and the same thing will happen again.”
Robyn groaned. “You guys are older, more experienced in the love department, and understand how to handle things better now. All you do is text and talk to him. Enjoy some in-person time, for once.”
“I agree with Robyn,” I said once I could finally get a word in. These two fought like sisters sometimes.
Adrienne rolled her eyes. “Of course you do.”
I held my hands up. “My answer was bound to piss someone off.”
“I don’t fault you for siding with your girl. Let me call him and set the date.”
Adrienne left the tasting room, holding her wine glass in one hand while texting with the other.
“How’d it go?” Robyn poured white wine into a glass then slid it over to me.
I smiled. “Avery is everything, G. She’s still as sweet and curious as I remember. It was good to see her.”
“Did you give her the necklace?”
“I did. She loved it.”
Robyn grinned. “I’m so happy you got to see her.”
“Me too.”
I shared every detail of our playdate from the ice cream to me pushing the girls on the swings. We’d wanted to go to the slides next, but the threat of rain changed those plans. At the end of my story, Robyn came around the wine bar and hugged me.
“You’re such an amazing person. And you deserve everything you want in this life and more.”
“I’ve got everything I’ll ever need right here.”
Robyn feigned annoyance. “Why can’t you just accept the compliment?”
I chuckled. “My bad. Thank you.”
“That’s more like it.”
We kissed until the sound of my stomach grumbling interrupted us.
Robyn smirked. “Come on, let’s see what I have in the kitchen.”
My fingers interlocked with hers and I followed her.
A smile covered my lips as I recalled this past year and how I’d found everything I needed in our friendship.
I hadn’t expected it to become what we were today, but I was grateful.
Robyn was like the gift you waited all year to open on Christmas Day.
The more time we spent together, the stronger our connection became.
She was my best friend, my heart, and most importantly, the love of my life.
I was eager to see where life with Robyn would lead me.