Velyn pulls at my arm. “Let’s get moving before Jordan eats all the meatball subs. I’m starving, and we all know if we don’t get there soon, it will all be gone.”
I let out a laugh. “All good, babe. Your dad has got you covered. He made a side plate and told Ava to hide it away.”
She smiles. “My dad rocks.”
“Hey, what about me, I’m the one that asked him too?”
Velyn lays her head to my shoulder as we make our way to the car. “Then, you rock too.”
Here, here.” Jordan calls out as he stands to his feet, commanding everyone’s attention. “I would like to make a toast to the last of us to graduate and make a move toward adulthood finally.” He turns to Velyn. “That means you have to get a big girl job now, little one.”
Velyn rolls her eyes, then rubs her belly. “Apparently, if you ask Dylan, I’m going to be too busy raising his brood for the next decade.”
Jordan looks to me and smiles. “Brother, I am four ahead of you...I’ll bet you that I have more kids than you.”
“Game on,” I reply.
Velyn slaps my arm. “Make the wager small, because there is no way I am having that many kids; them two are like rabbits.”
I let out a laugh and lean in with a whisper. “That’s okay, as long as I’m not cut off completely, we’re good. It’ll just be funny to watch Jordan running around after kids well into his fifties.”
“I heard that,” Jordan comments, then clears his throat. “Anyway, Vel, I just want to say, you done good, kid. And I’m sure I speak for everyone here when I say, you’ve made us all proud.”
A round of congratulations sounds, then her father stands. “I couldn’t agree more. I’m proud to be your father. You’ve had to live through some rough times, and for that, I apologize, but to see what you have come to be, well, you know the expression turns lemons into lemonade—sweetheart, you are the master. This is all you, and you should be proud. A graduate, a wife, and soon to be a mother. You have it made, don’t take any of it for granted and enjoy it, sweetheart.”
Velyn smiles, lifting her glass of water in a toast. “To living our best lives.”
I look down to her with a knowing grin at her words—the same five words we made a promise to keep true to every day.
Jordan stands. “Okay, now that the eats are done, Ava and I would like to invite everyone back to our place to finish out the day. We can’t just end this now when we have everyone together.”
I look at Jordan and Ava. “Thanks, guys.” I stand, then offer my hand to help Velyn to her feet. “Velyn and I have something to do, but we will meet back up with everyone at Jordan and Ava's shortly.” I turn to Velyn. “Are you okay to make a quick stop?”
“Sure, where are we going?”
I smile. “Our spot.”
“Our spot?”
After that day at the cabin where Sarah had told me everything, she did as she said she would and transferred the property back into my name. I never mentioned it to Velyn because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with it, or really what I wanted to do about Sarah. So, I just let it sit. But after the past four years of building up a relationship with Sarah again, and now with the baby coming into our lives soon, I knew exactly what needed to be done.
“Trust me.” I take her by the hand, sending out a quick wave to everyone, then lead her to the car.
Velyn recognizes where we are as soon as we hit the road. “This is the way to your old cabin.”
“Yes and no,” I reply.
She looks to me, puzzled. “No, I remember. This is the road.”
I look to her quickly, then back to the road, slowing and veering slightly as the turn to the cabin comes up. “Yes, but it’s not the old cabin.”
“Huh?”
I pull into the long driveway. “It’s not the old cabin, Velyn; it’s our new home.”
“Excuse me?”
“Baby, this is our new home. The story is long, and I will tell you all about it, but right now, I want to take you inside to the place I’m hoping we can create some of the best memories that are yet to come.”
I put the car in park, jump out and help Velyn out, ushering her toward the door. When we step inside, it’s just how I had pictured it in my head. Connie outdid herself with fresh cut flowers, pictures of the day Vel and I got married. More photos of us with her pregnant belly, and a wall dedicated to just family, filled with memories of her mother and Chase and many more memories throughout our years together.
“Dylan, when did you do all this?”
I stand behind Velyn, so as not to block her view, and wrap my arms around her. “I will confess, the decorating was mostly Connie and Ava, but there is one thing I did all on my own.”
I move in beside her, taking her by the hand and leading the way up the stairs. Coming in front of the door that was
