Anna and Liam were going to spend the week with Melanie’s folks in North Dakota, on her Grams' property, and we would join them for a long weekend at the end of our vacation. Her parents had sold their house a year after they got the beach house, and stayed at Barb's house when they were in North Dakota. Something that was happening less and less as the years passed.
Mr. Walsh and Melanie had hired an incredibly competent operational manager to oversee all of the pharmacies, which had basically resulted in an early retirement for Mr. Walsh. The most unexpected part was that Mrs. Walsh discovered she LOVED traveling. They had been all over the world in the last few years, but they always made sure to stop between trips and spend time with their grandchildren.
“Mommy, Dad wake up!” Anna yelled as she jiggled the locked bedroom door.
“I think they found us.” Melanie whisper-yelled, and we heard both kids giggle.
“We aren’t home, try again later…” I called out. I could feel the muscles in my face stretch to accommodate the giant smile onmy face. A smile that was on my face so often, I was already starting to get wrinkle lines.
Wrinkle lines that would one day tell the story of a man who got every single thing he ever dreamed of, all because the woman of his dreams fell in love with him.
Epilogue-Ben
10 years later.
“Daddy!” As soon as I stepped outside I was greeted by an excited little voice.
I shielded my eyes from the sun as I stepped into the parking lot and looked for the owner of the little voice.
There she was… my daughter. Jumping up and down next to her mother’s SUV while waving frantically.
“Daddy! Over here!” She yelled again. Melanie and Griffin were leaning against the car with easy smiles on their face as they watched our beautiful girl light up.
It had been ten years since I had tasted freedom, ten years since I blew up my entire life, ten years since I was given a hands-on education in what ‘fuck around and find out’ meant. Yet, the woman whom I’d hurt more than anyone in this world and the man who put her back together were standing here, with my daughter, to celebrate my release.
An early release that I had gotten, in part, due to her and Griffin’s character references. Both had repeatedly shown up to say that they believed I had been rehabilitated and would be a productive member of society and an active father for my daughter if released. Between my cooperation during the investigation, time served while waiting for trial, and their actions, the twenty years that I could’ve been sentenced to had been whittled down to ten years.
My heart ached, overwhelmed by the love and gratitude I was feeling.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” I said, as my girl leapt into my arms and squeezed me tightly. She was about to celebrate her tenth birthday in a couple of months and was growing like a weed. I almost couldn’t believe it had only been three weeks since our last visitation. “Did you have a growth spurt?” I scowled down at her as I placed her on her two feet again and measured where her head was coming to on my chest.
She rolled her sassy pre-teen eyes, her beautiful green eyes—her mother’s eyes.
“You ask that every time you see me, Daddy.”She huffed.
“Right, but this time I’m positive that you did.” I replied and crossed my arms. “We had a deal.”
“Daddy, I can’t control if I grow.” She threw her hands up and then turned to her mother, who had an amused smirk on her face. “Do you see what I deal with?”
I gasped. “What YOU deal with? What about me? You’re the one who keeps breaking our deals.”
“Daddy, your deals are ridiculous.” Anna put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot on the pavement. I tried and failed to hide my smile.
“I’ve missed you.” I whispered and pulled her in for another hug.
“I missed you too. Mommy says that we are going on a family vacation.” She tilted her head up to look at me, and I shot a curious look at Melanie.
“We are?”
“Mhmm.” Melanie nodded. “It was a surprise…” she quirked an eyebrow at Anna, who gave a sheepish grin in reply.
“Oops.”
“My fault entirely.” We said at the same time, and Griffin snorted. I swallowed the tiny burst of bitter pride that tried to work its way up. I owed the man more than I could ever repay; the least I could do was get the fuck over myself.
“Hey Griffin, thank you for being here.” I stuck out a hand for a friendly shake.
“Anna has been planning this day for months.” Griffin replied with a sincere smile.
