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Epilogue
Ten months after I moved in and started contributing to the ‘swear jar,’ we were finally going to Disney World. It was a toss-up who was more excited about it: Tristan or Juliette.
We could have done the trip sooner, but we’d wanted Tristan to be old enough to really appreciate it, and Jules had wanted to see the place all decorated for the Christmas holiday.
“You ready to get on the road?” I asked.
Juliette smiled.
I would never grow tired of putting that expression on her beautiful face. Nor would I get tired of seeing my ring sitting comfortably on her left hand. We hadn’t set a date for the wedding yet. Instead, we’d discussed that she wouldn’t take my name until Tristan could have the same one. I more than understood. It was my hope that someday, once he was old enough to decide for himself, he’d want me to be his dad. Then they’d both take my name, enabling us to become the Hines family. It was also our plan to add to it someday. But all in good time. As it was, we were now about to go on our first of many family vacations.
“I’m ready, but are you? You must be tired since you just flew in.”
For the last couple days, I’d been up in New York with Josh for business. I’d only returned this morning. The travel had been strategic as I had an early Christmas surprise to show Juliette, and I was anxious to see her reaction to it. “Yep, got plenty of sleep last night, so I’m well rested for the drive.”
If you’d told me over a year ago I would ever have been this happy, I would’ve called you a liar. But Jules brought me back to life. Gave me a reason to live it and thank God for every day I had her in it. Her and Tristan. I might not be Tristan’s biological father, but I loved him more than I ever thought a heart was capable of loving.
“You said the condo at Disney has a washer and dryer in it, right?”
I smiled because she’d already asked me these questions. But how could I fault her for wanting to ensure everything was organized? At least one of us was that way. “Sure does.”
“And Internet?”
“Yep.” I knew it was important because she continued to take classes. I was so proud of her for sticking with it. Not because it made a difference in how I felt about her if she had a college education, but because I knew how important it was for her to complete her degree.
“And it has a kitchen, so we can get groceries. I already packed the snacks you bought for the drive. And last week I loaded a couple of movies onto Tristan’s iPad to keep him entertained.”
“You’re always good with this stuff. Too bad you’re still a slob, though.” She kissed me playfully.
We’d moved into a larger townhome and made the basement my office. And, well, with that space—old habits die hard. I was in fact a slob. “Only my desk is a mess. And maybe the floor next to it.”
“If I ever wonder where all the glasses and mugs have disappeared to, I only need to go downstairs. But I cleaned it up while you were gone. Hung a picture on the wall above your desk, too.”
“What picture?”
She busied herself putting the last of the smaller bags by the door. “Tristan drew you one, and I framed it. It’s your Christmas gift from him.”
I looked toward the couch where Tristan was working to put on his tennis shoes.
He had his Mickey Mouse shirt on in addition to a Disney World magic band around his wrist. He’d evidently slept with both, anxious to get down there.
“Did you make me a picture, bud?”
“Yep. It’s a surprise.” At three-and-a-half, he was starting to string together complete sentences. It was adorable.
I bent down and helped him with his last shoe. “Do I get to see it before we leave?”
He hopped down and took my hand. “Yep. Come on, Mommy. You come, too.” He waved his hand for his mom to follow.
The first thing I noticed was that Juliette had indeed cleaned up my desk. I smiled as I remembered the first time she’d organized my files in Connecticut. I’d been absolutely mesmerized by her.
She flicked on the light, and I could see the anticipation on Tristan’s face. As I studied the eight-by-twelve frame holding the hand-drawn picture above my desk, I expected to see an animal of some sort. Those were his favorite to draw. Instead, I saw three stick-figure people.
First was me, the tallest with glasses; then came him in the middle, holding my hand; and Juliette stood on the end with long brown hair. But when I looked closer, I realized they were labeled with letters in crayon. ME was below him, Mommy below Juliette, and Daddy was written below my likeness.
My eyes hit Juliette’s.
She answered my unspoken question. “He drew it and then asked me to write the words to go under each person. He wanted yours to say Daddy.”
