Page 149 of Heavy
“It’s just fun that way.” Peeking quickly to see Sofia staring and then waving at us. Both Cal and I raise our hand, gesture back. “Also, how do you know it’s for ‘apologizing’ purposes, baby girl?”
“I’m resourceful…” I look back down at her. “Okay, okay, Evelyn...”
Rolling my eyes I sigh. “Of course, Echo Ridge. You know, you’d think with a profession like hers, she would be theleastlikely to gossip.”
She swats my chest, causing me to chuckle. “And…” She turns to wrap her arms around my waist. “Mia and Amy both agreed to watch Sof for our anniversary. I got the time off... So, you know what that means, right? I’m booking the cruise.”
I grin. “What if I can’t get the time off?”
She rolls her eyes. “Alright, self-employee.”
We chuckle together. “Our fans will be so disappointed with us going on such a long break. It’s a good thing they are so dedicated to us, and that we have so many babysitters to give us our camera time.”
“Yourfanbase. What are you up to now, two-point-three million subscribers?”
Squeezing her tighter to my chest, I give her a coy, innocent smile. “They may come for me, but oh how jealous they are of your beautiful—”
Her face turns a bright shade of red as she swats my chest again, cutting me off. “Ronan Sanderson!”
“Yes, wife?”
When she bites her lip, dear god, I have to remember we are in a public place that I donotwant to give a viewing to. “I love when you call me that,husband.”
“Daddy is better for me,” I jest, leaning down and placing a brief kiss against her lips. “Cruise sounds perfect, my love.”
“Cal!” The last of our family we were waiting for shouts, and she eagerly turns to face her best friend.
“Gene!”
It took some time, but after a year of being apart, Genevieve reached out to Calista to rekindle their friendship. I was grateful, because I could tell it weighed on my girl more than she wanted to admit. Nearly two years later is when we had Sofia. To say that she was glad her friend could be with her during that time, is an understatement.
That isn’t the same for her mother. I won’t say it aloud, and that woman hasn’t been brought up since Sof was born, but I’m glad she stayed out of my Cal’s life. She’s far happierandsafer—which is the most important thing.
I release my wife to greet Gene, just as her husband circles around holding a baby carrier.
Sometimes I still find myself thinking I’ll wake and all of this will be a dream. Or I truly died that day in the cabin, and Calista took her own life to be with me in a place only described as Paradise.
It could be the latter of those, but as long as I don’t wake up or my life changes, I’m okay with that.
This is the life I’ve deserved and will keep it safe until I stop breathing.
“Dad!”
Turning, I watch as Sofia jumps from the trampoline and rushes toward me. I kneel down just enough for her to jump into my arms, attaching herself to me like a koala, and I’m the tree.
“Yes, Munchkin?”
“Uncle Eamon told me boys are gross.”
“We don’t agree on much…” I put my hand on the back of her head and smother her cheek with kisses before continuing, “But that I do agree with.”
Her giggles echo as I turn us back toward her mom. “Auntie Gene is here with your cousin, go say hi.”
“Okay! Love you, Dad.”
“Love you, too, Sof.” I place her back down and she runs off.
The moment she makes it to Cal’s side, her mom puts her hand onto her head and turns her gaze back to me. That bright, beautiful smile that I love telling me all I ever need to hear.
She’s happy, and I’m glad I could make her so.
Thank you, Cal, for bearing my heavy and lifting it where I couldn’t.
The End.
