Chapter Twenty One #2
Evelyn starts to cry again.
“I love them like they’re my own,” I say, voice rough. “They’re my sister’s babies. They’re all I have left of her too. And they’re my responsibility, and I promise you, I will never fail them.”
Dennis looks out the window, and I follow his gaze. Remy’s chasing Rhyan across the yard while she swings a foam sword over her head, shouting something none of us can hear clearly.
“I know they need you too,” I say quietly.
Dennis turns back to me.
“So, let’s make a plan together,” I suggest. “We set a consistent visiting schedule and phone calls. We work out school breaks and long weekends. You’re welcome to come up to see them anytime.
I’ll bring you up during the season, if you’d like.
I’ll cover all your travel costs. I’m trying to keep all doors open without ripping their lives or ours apart. ”
Evelyn looks at Dennis. “We really didn’t intend for this to hurt them in any way. And we can see how happy they are with you, and it seems like they are healing.”
“I know,” I say. “And yes, they are as happy as two young children can be who just lost their parents. But we talk to them, we cry, we laugh, and we get through the pain together.”
She nods. “I just miss my son.”
“I know,” I say, quieter this time. “And I’m sorry for your loss, and I would do anything to have my sister back.”
Dennis coughs. “When they’re here”—he looks out the window again—“it feels like Chris is still close. Like I can still hear his voice in the house.”
Evelyn nods, crying softly. “Remy laughs like him.”
“And Rhyan argues like him,” Dennis adds, a faint broken smile touching his mouth.”
Presley smiles through her tears. “She’s very persuasive, like a tiny attorney.”
That draws a laugh from Evelyn.
I lean forward, resting on my elbows. “You can have that. I want you to have that. But I need them to have stability too, and despite your concerns about my career, I can give them that.”
Dennis looks at me then and nods once.
“Let’s make a calendar,” he says.
I feel like all the air in my lungs whooshes out of me.
Evelyn grabs his hand tightly.
He exhales slowly. “I’ll call our attorney and stop contesting the guardianship.”
Presley’s hand tightens around mine.
“Thank you,” I say, letting out a breath I feel like I’ve been holding since January.
Dennis nods stiffly. “Just don’t shut us out.”
“I won’t.”
“If we feel like it’s not working—”
“You can call me anytime, Evelyn,” I say. “Or you can call Presley. We’ll talk and figure it out together.”
Evelyn reaches across the table with a shaky hand.
I cover it with mine.
“We want them to be happy,” she whispers. “And they very clearly love you both.”
I look out the window in time to catch Remy tackle Rhyan into the grass. She immediately pops back up and holds her arms in the air.
“They are happy,” Presley says. “And Saint has a great bond with them that goes beyond being the fun uncle. They look to him when they’re sad or need to talk. Remy watches his every move. And he talks to them about Savannah and Chris and encourages them to remember their happy family moments.”
“That’s all we want,” Dennis says. “We never wanted to rip them from another home or schools, and they already call your house home. Seeing them this weekend, we can see how loved and well-cared for they are. So, thank you. Both of you, for taking care of our grandchildren.”
I look at Presley and see she’s watching the kids, too, her hand still around mine.
And for the first time since we lost them, it feels like maybe we’re not building a battle plan. We’re building a family.
We get back to the house, and I notice Rhyan has smeared frosting on her cheek.
“Did you sneak a cookie before you left?”
Her eyes widen. “No.”
“You didn’t eat a cookie?”
She shakes her head dramatically. “No.”
“Rhyan, you have frosting on your cheek. He knows you ate one.” Remy rolls his eyes.
“Okay, fine. I had one.”
I raise my brows.
“Two.” She admits.
I grab her in a hug. “Go upstairs and get in the shower, silly.”
“I couldn’t resist. The pink frosting tasted extra good.”
Presley walks up to us. “Who can resist good frosting?” She smiles at me. “Let’s go get started on clean up. We have to go back to New Jersey tomorrow, so you two need to get to bed soon.”
Rhyan throws her head back. “I’m not even dirty though.”
“It’s still a good idea to clean up,” she wraps her arm around Rhyan’s little shoulders and steers her toward the stairs.
“You too, Remy.” I ruffle his hair.
“I’m going. Can I take a shower in Mom’s bathroom?” he asks.
I smile sadly. “Yeah, buddy. You absolutely can.”
An hour later, I’m sitting on the bed in the guest room when Presley comes in.
She sits next to me and puts her hand on my leg. “You did good today.”
“You think so?”
“I do. You listened, you offered solutions, you didn’t place blame. You put the kids first, which was the most important thing.”
I turn enough to grab her around the waist and put her on my lap. Her arms wind around my neck.
For a second, I just hold her, breathing her in.
“I miss her,” I say.
Presley lays her head on my shoulder. “I know you do.”
“I can’t stand being in this house. I thought I might be able to hold on to it for the kids, but I just … it hurts, being here. I can still smell her, and it’s been months.”
“It’s not something you have to decide today, though.” Her hand runs up and plays with the hair at the nape of my neck.
I let out a breath.
“Yeah, it is.”
“Well, you can’t do it tonight, so let’s worry about it tomorrow.”
She’s right. Today we’ve done enough.
Today, we kept one more piece of the kids’ world from falling apart.
We came together as a family. It might still be a little messy and broken, but we’re standing together now instead of across the battle line.
And I meant every word I said to the Harts today. I won’t let the kids forget them. I’ll make sure they have contact with them anytime they want, and I’ll encourage the kids to reach out to them too.
I’ll make sure they carry Savannah and Chris with them always, no matter where we are or what new piece of life we build.
Yes, we will grieve, but we will remember the happy times too. Together.