Tyler
Five years later...
"Maxine Channing, come put your shoes on! We have to get going!" Avery shouts from the entryway of our cabin home. Our little girl is in our living room, in her own little world with her many toys. We love her so much and spoil her lots, but nottoomuch. Avery says there’s a delicate balance there, but I struggle not to pull the stars from the sky just to see her smile. I’m smitten with my girls.
I’m in our kitchen, smiling to myself as I listen to the noise of family life as I sip my morning coffee. Then I set it aside and head into the living area to help Avery corral our willful daughter—a trait she got from her mother, I’m sure.
"Come on, Maxie, Mommy's waiting for you. You're going to see all your friends at day-care, remember? Don't you want to go play with them?"
Maxine lifts her head from the Duplo tower she’s building, her big green eyes so full of adventure and promise,. "But Daddy, I haven't finished building the princess castle yet! Where will the princess stay while I'm gone?"
"Well…" I pick her up high and blow raspberries into the side of her neck. She shrieks at first, then bursts into a fit of giggles, melting my heart in the process. "How about you bring Princess Amelda with you to daycare, so you know that she'll be safely near you while her new home is under construction?"
She wiggles in my hands, signaling for me to let her down before she runs to her princess doll and picks her up. Maxine makes a show of whispering into the doll's ear, then has the doll whispering back into hers before she nods in determination, "Princess Amelda thinks that's a good idea, Daddy!"
I smile then pick up her little backpack that's leaning against the sofa, unzipping it as I bring it to Maxine. "Let's make sure she's all comfortable in here, OK?"
"OK, Daddy!"
Avery stands by the entrance to the living room. Her previous frustration melted into love and admiration. “You’re such an amazing father,” she says with a smile.
“That’s because I had you in my life to teach me what love and patience really is,” I say as I walk up to my goddess of a wife and plant a deep kiss before I twirl her around into the living room, dancing to a tune only we can hear. Her laughter only serves to make my heart swell even more. "I love you, Ave."
“I love you too,” she whispers, before planting another deep kiss on my lips.
If we didn’t have anywhere to be, I’d take her straining back to bed. But grownups duties tend to get in the way of that. Avery has her real estate business to attend to, and I have my tattoo clients. Together, we’ve found happiness and success, even if it means we’re always crazy busy during the day. Luckily we always have the nights, and the early mornings, and the special stolen moments in between. Everything about being with Avery makes my life better. I’m so glad we waited for each other. The struggle made the reward worth it.
Our little girl giggles as she runs up to us. "Daddy, Daddy, spin me around like Mommy!"
Avery's eyes glance over at the clock on our living room wall, and I completely understand the message—we’re running late. "One spin, baby girl. Then it's straight to Mommy's car, right?"
"Right!" she says as she grabs my hand. "Spin me! Spin me!"
I comply, slowly twirling her around while she bursts into another fit of giggles. Once, twice… Then I quickly pick her up and spin her around in my arms, which only causes her to giggle harder. I plant kisses all over her squishy little face. She’s a perfect blend of me and Avery. Her luscious blonde hair and my emerald green eyes, a button nose and Avery’s full-lips.
And with Avery growing our second child in her belly as we speak, I can't help but wonder what mix of us this next one will be. I had my reservations about my ability to parent our children after my own tumultuous upbringing, but I needn’t have worried because when Maxine was born, I was utterly in love. Fatherhood feels good to me. And I wait to meet our next child—and make many more. I love how Avery looks with my child in her belly, all curves and glowing skin. I can barely keep my hands off her.
It's been five years since we fell through the floor in this very spot, in the middle of our living room. Five years since I finally manned up and claimed what was mine. And claim her I did, hard as it might have been that first day together, the caved in floor was a blessing in disguise. It forced us together until we worked through our problems and found our happiness in each other. And I've loved every minute of our life together ever since.
“Time to go, princess,” I say, carrying Maxine outside while making rocket ship noises and flying her to Ave's car. Maxie’s giggles are in full-force now, and I circle around the car a few times while Avery opens the backseat door, smiling to herself. I land Maxie in her carseat and continue making piston noises as I settle her in and secure her to her seat. I plant a big kiss on the top of her head. "Have fun today. I love you, Maxine."
She smiles a big grin at me, pulls my face to hers and kisses my forehead, just like I did with her. "I love you too, Daddy. Mommy, hurry up! I don't want to be late!"
"Oh,nowyou don't want to be late," Avery says, laughing as she shakes her head.
“Always the way,” I say, pulling her into my arms as I kiss her long and hard, taking as much as I can before we part for the day. I need it to tide me over until tonight. “Don’t be late tonight. I have plans for you.”
She grins as she slides into the drivers seat and starts the car. “Then I’ll be early,” she says with a wink. “Love you.”
“Love you too,” I say, pushing her door closed as I step back and watch her pull out of the driveway.
"Byyyyeeeee, Daddyyyy!"
I wave them off, and I don't stop until the car leaves my vision. A big smile is still plastered on my face, I feel like the luckiest guy on Earth. And I thank god every day for sending Avery to me. She saved me; she gave me purpose, and it’s from wanting her that I became a better man.
Needing to get moving myself, I walk back into the kitchen to finish up my coffee, lukewarm now, but I don't let that bother me. Life is too good to be ruined by room temperature coffee. I have the love of my life as my wife and with her, a beautiful daughter. I've opened a branch of my tattoo studio in Oakwood Falls calledFalkour Inkand business is going better than I could have ever expected. Oakwood Falls itself has been changing over the last few years, from an uptight, closed-up town, to a place that's accepting of people from all walks of life. I'm back where I belong, and proud to call this place my home.
I have my shop, my wife, my kid… With more on the way. And I'm happier than ever. Besides, the coffee still tastes great even when it's cooled down.
