“Yes. And you and Maria. I used to tease him because he told me the same stories about you two that I’d already heard a dozen times.”
“Like what?”
“The day you were born. That was a doozy of a story. There was a storm. Trees falling everywhere.”
She smiled for the first time. “Yeah, he loved that story. He said I was so small I fit in his hands.”
I fought the sting of tears in my eyes. “I have a photo of him holding you the day you were born. I’ll find it and send it to you, okay? He sent it to me when you were only about an hour old. You looked like an old man, but he thought you were cute.”
She giggled. “I looked like an old man?”
“Totally. But he didn’t see it. He only saw his baby angel. When he got back from leave, he wouldn’t shut up about you. Constantly showing everyone the latest photo your mom sent. He had them all taped up on his bunk.”
I tapped my temple. “You’re not alone in remembering him because he’s with me too. He’ll always be with me. And I miss him every day.”
Luci started to sob. I put my arms around her and let her soak the sleeve of my suit jacket. When she was done, she looked up at me. “Were you sad? When you were walking my mom down the aisle today?”
“I missed your dad, yes.” I paused, remembering the distinct feeling that Nate was there. “Actually, I felt him there with us.”
“You did?” Luci asked, wiping her eyes with her forearm.
“Yes, there was this moment where I had this weird feeling that he was there, holding me up.”
“Really? Thatisweird.”
“I know. I can’t share that with anyone but you,” I said.
“I won’t tell anyone.”
“But don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for your mom. Even though I’m sad too. There’s this thing that happens sometimes—when you realize two opposite things can both be true.”
“So you’re happy and sad at the same time?”
“Exactly.”
“I don’t feel at all happy.”
“That’s okay. You don’t have to. But you must remember, your mother loves you very much. Please, try and be kind. Your dad would expect that of you. He was a very kind person.”
“Yeah, he was.”
“Come on, let’s go up and get our photo taken together,” I said. “For your dad. And then, if you think you can handle it, you’ll be in one with your mom and sister and stepdad.”
“I don’t want a stepdad, but I’ll do it. For my dad.”
I gave her shoulders another squeeze. “Then we can have cake.”
We walked back up the trail to the reception. Becca clearly had been waiting for us to come back, because she was not far from the gate.
“Luci.” Becca came forward and Luci fell into her arms. As they embraced, Becca looked over the top of Luci’s head and mouthed a thank you.
“I’m sorry, Mom. This is hard.”
“I know, baby. I’m sorry too.”
“Do you think of him at all?” Luci asked.
“Every day,” Becca said. “I remember so much of the good stuff. And I’m grateful he gave me you and Maria. I see him in both of you all the time.”
