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Joey murmurs as her voice rings out softly. She purposefully picked one of her quieter ones to protect Joey’s hearing, hence the earmuffs. People might say we’re a little protective of our little man, but we value him so much. We love him so much. He is our everything.
“I found you in a sea so bright…”
My woman sings and the crowd falls silent, the room filling with a sense of awe at her clear, unbroken voice. Soft piano keys lace the air, but her voice is the main attraction.
“We said it would be a night…”
And on her voice flies on, as I cradle our son to my chest, the happiest man alive.
Extended Epilogue
Ten Years Later
Kelly
“How many you got, boys?” Kane says as he does push-ups on the tiles next to the pool, his body is glistening and wet. I sit back and stare over at him, as Joey does push-ups next to him, and Ryan and Alex do them on the other side of the pool.
Our three boys – ten years old and two five year olds – are just like their dad, following him everywhere with such looks of love in their eyes it melts my heart at times.
I laugh as Joey does a couple more, and then hops to his feet and does a backflip into the pool.
“Careful,” I say, doing that mom thing where I keep my voice low because I’m holding Emma – but loud enough for my children to hear.
“Mom, I always nail that flip.” Joey laughs.
I laugh, shaking my head, meeting Kane’s gaze for a moment as he climbs to his feet. Water dripping down his torso and his hair glistening even more silver when it’s wet.
“You know what he’s like,” my husband says. “A thrill seeker, aren’t you, kid?”
“Do you remember how gentle you used to be with him?” I say, stroking my hand across Emma’s head. I’ll never get used to how beautiful newborns look as they sleep, cradled in my arms, their little eyes closed and content. “You used to handle him like he could break.”
“That was before he got so big. Right, son?”
Kane laughs and runs toward the pool.
“Uh oh, a tidal wave.” Joey laughs and runs over to Ryan and Alex. “Get down, bros.”
Like they always do, the two younger ones follow their older brother’s command, dropping down into the water with a giggle. I love how they giggle, my sweet black haired boys, with their father’s eyes and their father’s smile.
Looking past them, I check on Lacy, sitting in the shadow of the tree with her paperback balanced on her knees. She reads so quickly, our precious precocious eight year old, moving her head a little from side to side as she quickly scans the pages.
“She’s going to be an artist, like you,” Kane said to me last night. “Just you wait.”
I think he’s right, except she’ll fill bookshops with her work instead of theaters and clubs and – yes – even stadiums with people. I still can’t believe it sometimes, as a mother of five, that I get to walk out on stage and sing, and fill the air with my voice and music, and people’s hearts with warmth.
They can feel what I feel through my songs, just for a moment – the love that marks every moment of my life, the love that comes from Kane and Lena and her husband and her family, and Mom and Dad, and the children. It comes from my Joey, Alex, Ryan, sweet Lacy, and now from Emma, perfect Emma.
I look down, stroking her precious cheeks. “I love you so much. You’ve got a lot to look forward to, little lady. You’ve got brothers and sisters waiting for you. You’ve got a father and mother who will always, always be there.”
I lift her to my lips and kiss her forehead tenderly.
This is my life. Full of love and joy.
