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I grin when the door opens and I see Jilly poking her head out.
“Are you supposed to be answering the door, missy?” I ask, bending a little to look at her.
“I knew it was you.” She giggles. Then she stares at Abraham and smiles. “Hi.”
“Hello,” he says. “You must be Jilly.”
She nods, her smile widening.
“Are you here for our date?” she asks, just as Penny walks out, holding Peter’s hand. He did and amazing job, getting them ready. They look adorable in their little dresses and their hair is neatly brushed.
“She’s nervous,” Peter mouths when I look up at him. Penny wears a pout and when she sees me, she lets go of Peter’s hand and runs to me.
“Hi, baby,” I exclaim, bending to hold her. “I missed you guys.”
“She’s not a baby,” Jillian whines as Penny holds onto me.
“You’re both my babies,” I answer. “Forever and ever.”
It takes a moment for me to get Penelope to stand on her own and she peers up at Abraham. I pray to whatever is listening that she doesn’t say something awful to him. She doesn’t know who he is, doesn’t know that he’s her biological father. We decided it’s best to have them get to know each other and take it from there.
“What’s your name?” Penny asks him, her face screwed up with confusion.
“Abraham,” he answers, his voice hoarse. “My name is Abraham and I heard you are Penelope.”
“Mommy, why does he talk like that?” Jilly asks and Penny looks at her.
“He’s an alien,” Penny announces and laughter bubbles out of my throat.
“An alien?” I ask. “Where did you hear that?”
“On the news,” she answers, shrugging. “A legal alien.”
Shit.
“No more news,” I say, glancing up at Peter. “And no, Abraham isnotan alien.”
When I glance at Jilly, she looks like she’s on the verge of tears.
Fuck.
“Okay, guys. Let’s get going,” I start, clasping my hands together. “Peter, I will call you when we’re on our way back.”
He nods and hugs both the girls before Jilly takes off running to the car, Penny walking beside Abraham behind her.
I’m about to walk away when Peter says my name.
“Everything okay?” I ask as I search his eyes, waiting to hear what he has to say.
He nods, staring past me at the girls and Abraham.
“I’m happy for you,” he tells me, a melancholy air to his tone as he continues to watch them. “And it’s been an honor to share a life with you. To have two beautiful children with you.”
I don’t know what to say as I look at him, unable to think of anything worth saying in response.
“Have fun tonight,” he says before turning to step back into the house.
Maybe there won’t ever be a right thing to say, nothing to smooth over our past. But now we’re just three adults trying to do the best for those two little girls. All while attempting to maintain our own happiness.
As I walk toward the three most important people in my life, I stare up at the night sky with a sigh.
I think of the day I prayed to the stars, and I can’t help but think that they heard me. That in some way, they led me to my happy ending.
