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I’m glad that the children are here.
Mauling her at work would hardly make the best impression on her employees.
I pick up the shovel and wrap my arms around my son, helping him with the task.
The twins are tossing out fresh bedding, working together like they always do. Yona and Aaron, seven year olds who have grown up as the best of friends and are showing no signs of that fading, both of them with a glint of Sadie in their eyes.
In fact, even though everyone constantly tells me that this or that feature comes from me, when I look at my children I can’t help but see Sadie in their every move, their every gesture, every tiny tic of their expressions.
“See?” Sadie says. “Even Daddy knows how to get his hands dirty.”
Oh, you taunting little minx. As if you don’t know how capable I am of that.
She blows me a kiss and walks toward the enclosure exit.
“In fact, since you’re all doing such a great job, Mommy’s just going to check on Uncle Aaron and Micah real quick.”
We share a smile at the mention of our youngest child. Micah, our nine month old with the habit of melting my heart every time he makes a cooing noise or paws at my hand.
I watch Sadie turn and leave, my eyes lingering on her ass in those cargo pants, the thick fabric showing me an outline of her flesh that makes me want to make another baby all over again.
“Daddy,” Zack says, as together we shovel.
“Yes, son?”
“How come Mommy calls you Flame sometimes?”
“What?” I laugh. “Where did you hear that?”
“It’s because she loves him,” Yona giggles, sounding so much like her bestselling writer aunt another unstoppable smile spreads across my lucky-as-hell face.
“Ew,” Zack laughs. “I’m never gonna be in love.”
“I thought that once,” I murmur.
“Well, what changed?” Lacey says, pausing in her work to look up at me.
I realize that all four of them are looking at me now, even Zack stopping his perpetual can’t-stay-still bobbing to tilt his head up at me patiently.
“Your mother changed me,” I tell them all. “You’ll understand when you’re older, maybe, but sometimes there are people who come into your life and make it so you can’t ever remember a time when they weren’t there.”
“Like you, Daddy,” Zack grins. “I can’t remember when you weren’t there. But when we play hide and seek you’re not there, and, and—but you always come back and what’d you say, Daddy?”
I grin. “I tell you I will always come back, little man. And I mean it.”
A cooing noise causes me to look up, Sadie stands there with Micah cradled in her arms.
I wish I had my cellphone on me to capture this moment, the way she stands there framed by the winter sunlight from outside, her hair shining gold, pure maternal love drenching her features wonderfully.
She looks up and mouths, I love you, Flame.
I smile, blinking.
I love you more.
