“You know, I can’t help but think you’re saying that because you’ll have to see him face to face when you’re discharged. You feel safe carrying on with him while you’re in the hospital, but that’s about to change, possibly along with the rest of your life. There was a time you would’ve told me to stay away from Rod because of his past behavior. If I’d listened, we wouldn’t be where we are now. I believe everyone deserves a second chance if they’re truly repentant.”
“How do I know if he’s really sorry? How can I be sure he won’t run again?”
“Take it one day at a time, Jules. You don’t have to make a life-long decision today. You don’t even have to let him meet Isa until he’s convinced you he’s a changed man.”
“All right. One day at a time, then. I’ll try not to think about how I gave him all I had, and he threw it away like garbage.”
“Focus on the future, Jules. Think about all you have now.”
EPILOGUE
Rod
Six Months Later
“Nate, you get back here. Where do you think you’re going?” I scoop my baby boy up with one arm just before he reaches the stairs, and he giggles as if he’s thoroughly amused. Not that he’d get far since we have baby gates up everywhere, but it sure doesn’t stop him from trying his hardest.
My babies are crawling now and getting into everything in this house. Nate loves to explore and touch anything he can find. Lyra is more reserved, like her mother, but that precious smile of hers keeps me wrapped around her little finger.
Truth be told, I’m wrapped around all my kids’ fingers. Landen, Nate, and Lyra do no wrong in my eyes.
I carry him back into the den where the rest of my family is and put him down on his colorful comforter. With toys surrounding him, I thought he’d find one to keep him occupied, but he usually wants what he can’t have. This time, he picks up his toy car and repeatedly smacks it against the floor, cackling with every loud smash. At this point, I’m just glad he’s sitting still.
Lyra smiles as I approach and lifts her arms, signaling for me to pick her up. “How’s Daddy’s little princess this morning?”
She coos and pats my face with her tiny hand. Every one of her fingers and toes mesmerize me. There’s no way she doesn’t know how much she’s loved. Daisy and I tell all our kids multiple times every day.
“Daddy’s little princess is getting hungry. Here’s her breakfast.” Daisy extends her hand and I take Lyra’s bottle from her. Then she picks up Nate and settles into her comfortable chair, cradling him against her. “I’ll feed Harry Houdini here. He was in the playpen when I walked into the kitchen to get their bottles out of the warmer. In the thirty seconds my back was turned, he escaped from his little jail cell.”
“That’s my boy. I taught him everything he knows.” I beam with pride while she cuts her “mom eyes” at me. It’s the look that stops children in their tracks. Sometimes it works on me too.
“God help us if he’s learning tricks from you, Hot Rod.” She laughs, but the love in her eyes and in her tone is unmistakable. “So, are we still having that video conference with Chris?”
“Yes, I suppose we will. As long as he’s trying to make amends, I don’t feel right keeping him shut out of our lives. The video chat agreement was a compromise since I’m not quite ready for him to visit in person yet. Baby steps, but steps in the right direction, anyway. Our children deserve to have a huge, loving family. We’re fortunate to have so many relatives on your side.”
“For the record, I agree with letting him into our lives slowly and carefully. I’m protective of you and Jules, so if Chris hasn’t truly changed, I’ll be the first to cut him off again. But like you said, if he’s genuine, I’m thrilled for you to reestablish a relationship with your father. I think you’ve needed it more than you realize.”
“Just like Landen did?”
“Something like that.” She smiles at me, then turns her attention back to the bundle of joy in her arms. “Can you imagine not being in Landen’s, Nate’s, and Lyra’s lives when they’re grown?”
“Hell, no. That will never happen. One thing I’ve learned over the past six months is I’m nothing like my father was. This family is my entire world, and I don’t want to go more than a day without having all of you in my arms.”
Reflecting on the time that’s passed since the day Daisy and I met, I marvel at how far we’ve come and how much my life has changed. Before her, my life was cold and dreary. Now, I have all the love and life a man could ask for or want. She’s taught me more about forgiveness and charity in this short span than I’d learned over the rest of my thirty-six years combined. We’ve had a bumpy road getting here, but this is our life now.
Our family.
My family.
Finding Daisy has given me something I never thought I’d experience. A love of my own, a home full of laughter, and a desire to fill every empty room with as many children as my wife will allow. I’m still working on her to set a date of when we can expect the next set of twins. She accuses me of trying to kill her, but I’m just overjoyed with being a father. That’s something I never thought I’d say.
She decided not to return to teaching soon after the twins were born. I convinced her to take her full maternity leave, but she was anxious to get the My Heart of Stone venture up and running as soon as possible. She was far too concerned about all her “adopted”
