Five Years Later
“Like this, Grey!” Navie yells at her brother, demonstrating a cartwheel that has definitely improved over the last few weeks since she started gymnastics.
Greyson, in all his two-year-old strength, drops to the grass and rolls over, his little feet waving in the air as he attempts to right himself again.
Callie buries a laugh in my chest, where she’s cuddled into my side, and we watch them play in the front yard from the couch on the deck.
“Good try, Grey.” Navie nods encouragingly at her brother before glancing up at us, blue eyes wide as if to say that was actually terrible.
This has become our Sunday morning ritual every summer since we moved in.
When Callie and I were building our house, building our future, these were the exact kind of days I was imagining.
Ones full of a love that held me in safety, loyalty, and joy.
Something that I could dedicate myself to without a shred of doubt.
Every day is one where we grow together, and this house has seen it all.
Where Navie took her first steps on this very porch. The moment Anna called to confirm my adoption of Navie had been granted. Sitting in front of the fireplace when Navie called me Dad for the first time. Callie finding out she was pregnant with Greyson.
“What are you thinking so hard about?” Callie’s eyes are waiting when I look down at her.
Tucking a strand of her soft, brown hair behind her ear, I press a kiss to her forehead. “How lucky I am.”
Callie grins, turning her head to kiss my palm where it cups her cheek. “And still the sweetest guy I know.”
“Daddy. Daddy,” Navie calls, taking the stairs one at a time to join us on the porch.
“Yes, Blue?” She climbs onto the couch, settling herself between her mum and me.
“Can you tell us the story about the letters again?”
After we found Florence and Greyson’s family, we gave up the letters.
They weren’t ours to keep, but they always felt a part of our story.
Before my and Callie’s first anniversary, I reached out to their great-great-granddaughter and asked if I could make copies of the letters.
I had them printed in a book along with the original house plans, photos that had been taken during the renovation, and photos of Callie, Navie, and me.
“I’d love to. Do you want to go get the book?”
She nods her head, jumping off the couch and running inside as Greyson finally stumbles his way over to us. He reaches his hands up for Callie, and she lifts him, sitting him on her lap, my heart bursting with pride as I simply take them in.
“I got it!” Navie comes bounding outside again, climbing onto my lap and flipping to the first page.
“It all started on October—”
“No, Daddy.” Navie stops me, an authoritative little finger pointed in the air. “Happy stories go like once upon a time.”
“Okay.” I chuckle, kissing the top of her head, before locking eyes with my wife. “Once upon a time…”
Thank you for reading Untroubled Heart.
I hope you enjoyed Mason and Callie’s story!