“People. The smaller ones are people who have come and gone in our life, the bigger ones are people we’ve known for a long time, and the ones that are just beginning to form are the people we’ve just met. All of them intersect in some way or another, shaping us into who we are, giving the flowers amongst them the foundation to change and grow.”
His smile was almost angelic as the bright sunshine that shone behind him casted a halo effect around his face. “I like that. And which crack am I?” he asked.
I pushed a piece of hair behind my ear and moved closer. “You and Thomas are no longer cracks, you’re the entire foundation—because you’ve both become the biggest part of me.”
His eyes lit up and he gave me that boyish grin I had grown so accustomed to. The one that was part surprise and part knowing. “And you are the biggest part of me.” His lips pressed gently against mine, and I was filled with a rush of contentment. Theo and that sweet little boy running around without a care in the world were living proof that there were no mistakes. Life shouldn’t be planned out using only one map, but instead by many. And in that journey, there may be detours and bumps in the road, but as long as we’re guided by the love in our hearts and the people we meet along the way, we’re bound to end up right where we belong.
EPILOGUE
Two years later…
THEO WAS GETTING such amusement watching me frost cupcakes. I’d take a step back after each spread of the spatula, ensuring my peaks were perfect. “You know, it’s just going to be a bunch of preschoolers eating them. I don’t think they’ll care if the frosting is out of place,” Theo remarked, taking a sip of coffee.
“I know, but I care. I’m a tad bit obsessive, what can I say?”
“You, obsessive? No way!” Theo joked. I playfully swatted him with the dish towel as he grabbed one of the cupcakes and popped it into his mouth.
“Aww...would you like me to make some cupcakes for you to bring into work to share with your coworkers too?”
“You can make them, but I’m not sharing them.”
Thomas came traipsing down the steps with sleepy eyes and wild curls.
“There’s the birthday boy!” I exclaimed.
It was so hard to believe he was four years old. He was growing so fast. He was such a kind and gentle little boy who seemed mature beyond his years. His preschool teacher would always remark about how helpful he was to others and how well-behaved he was in class. Like Theo, who reminded me of a little boy trapped in a man’s body, Thomas was the opposite, a gentleman trapped in a kid’s body. The two of them were my entire world, and there wasn’t a day that went by that I wasn’t thankful for having them in my life. Both of them had mended my heart back to its original form. A heart I wasn’t even sure existed before they came into my life.
Little did I know that when I stepped on that plane a few years ago, I was going on a journey that would change me forever, shaping my future into something I never expected. So much had happened in the time that passed. I had moved to England, and we were living in Kate’s house. This was Thomas’ home, the place where Kate had intended him to grow up, and I oddly felt a strange connection to it as well. I presented all these facts to Theo as to why we should stay here, and after a little convincing, he put his house up for sale.
The three of us had made ourselves into the perfect little family. It wasn’t your textbook family like I had envisioned my entire life—mother, father, and two kids who were biologically their own. Instead, it was something unique, which made it even more beautiful.
Theo wanted to make it official and proposed to me a year ago. We married one month later in Kate’s favorite spot in her garden on a beautiful autumn afternoon. The gorgeous vintage dress Kate had left me finally got to experience something special. It was as if Kate were there with us, watching it all take place.
There were days I had to pinch myself to believe it was all real—I was Theo’s wife, and along with that title, I was Thomas’ aunt and guardian. I didn’t stress anymore about not being able to have a child of my own, because I had learned through my mistakes that all that matters is having the ones we love.
I adored this new life I had created. I still missed home, but we made sure to visit often. My mother and stepfather had been over to visit, as well as DeAndre and Louis. It seemed as if I saw the people I cared about more now that I was an ocean away.
I had made some new friends as well. Jo and David went without saying, and also some moms from Thomas’ preschool who I immediately clicked with. I video chatted with Evan’s parents twice a week, making sure they didn’t miss out on their grandson growing up. They were planning a visit at Christmastime, and I was super excited for them to be able to give Thomas a real hug and kiss instead of virtual ones. I was still doing marketing work remotely for two companies in New York and had also picked up a few businesses locally who requested my services. Theo had scaled back greatly with his business travel. He was still dedicated to his work, but he had shifted his main focus of importance to Thomas and me, and I was so thankful for that.
“Happy birthday, little guy! Look at the cupcakes Gee made,” Theo said, raking his hand through Thomas’ hair, messing it up even more, if that was
