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“And this is for you,” Hayden says to Miles, handing him a box.
He snaps it open, and his eyes widen. “It’s like yours,” Miles says in awe. A lump fills my throat, choking me with raw emotion. The other day, Miles mentioned how much he loved Hayden’s watch. Hayden told him that his grandfather bought it for him for his high school graduation, telling him that he got him a watch to remind him how precious time is and to never waste it. To live life and make the most of it. A couple of months later, he passed away. Miles told him that he loved it and said he never had a watch before. Then he asked me if his dad had a watch—and was bummed to learn he didn’t.
“It’s the same brand,” Hayden says, “but in your size.” He takes it out and puts it on Miles’s wrist. “It’s to wish you a good year at school.”
“Thank you,” Miles says, “I love it.” After admiring it for a moment, he says, “Are you coming to my hockey practice after school?”
“Of course,” Hayden says.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Brody adds, grabbing the bag of food and pulling a box out. We eat the muffins and pastries they brought while the kids talk about the friends they’re excited to see. Evie reminds me she has gymnastics—thankfully, both their new sports are at the same place—and then we head down to wait for the bus. After wishing them an amazing day at school, they jump on the bus, waving before the door closes and they’re off.
“You didn’t have to come by this morning,” I tell Hayden and Brody once the kids are gone, “but thank you.” As I give them each a kiss, thinking about how happy my kids were this morning, how happy they’ve been the past several weeks, it feels like our family is finally healing, and I can’t help but feel like the two guys in front of me have a lot to do with that.
Hayden: Dinner tonight to celebrate the kids’ first day of school?
Brody: We can go out or bring the food to you.
Me: My place sounds good.
“I love this.”
“Love what?” I glance at my best friend in confusion. We’ve just finished with the morning rush and are cleaning the tables during the downtime before our next rush hits.
“You, happy,” she says with a soft smile. “I forgot what it looked like after Peter passed away, and I was worried I’d never see it again. But those guys have done the impossible. They’ve made you genuinely smile again.”
“Sometimes I think I’m crazy for allowing myself to love two men. For exposing my children to a situation that is not the norm. But then I think about how short life is and how blessed I am to have found not one but two men who love me and my kids after thinking I’d never find anyone after Pete.”
I glance at the time. It’s still early, which gives me an idea.
“Go ahead,” Lacey says with a smirk.
“What?”
“Oh, like you weren’t thinking about going to see the guys for a little office romp.” She laughs. “I have things under control here. Go get laid.”
“Have I ever told you that you’re the best friend a woman could ever have?”
“Yeah, yeah. Have fun.”
Less than twenty minutes later, Hillary, Brody’s assistant, lets me know that the guys are in a meeting, but if I want to wait in Brody’s office, I can, and they should be done shortly.
On my way back, I notice Hayden’s name on a plaque on the outside of a door. It must be his office. Since the door is open, I step inside and find it’s empty, nothing proving this is his office… until I see the drawings on the wall. Drawings Evie made. I step around his desk to get a closer look, and my eyes land on several pictures—of us, of my kids and me. If I didn’t know better, I’d assume Hayden had a wife and children—a family.
My heart expands at the thought that he cares about us so much he proudly displays my daughter’s drawings and our photos in his office.
I leave his office and head back to Brody’s since that’s where she told me I could wait, and when I get inside, I’m shocked to find the same things in Brody’s office—shocked because I didn’t expect either of them to have their offices filled with drawings and pictures as if they’re displaying the evidence of having a family.
A family.
They love my children and me and want to be a part of our family.
“Hillary mentioned you were here,” Brody says. “Everything okay?”
I glance up at him, my eyes blurry with unshed emotion, and find both him and Hayden standing there, looking concerned.
“What’s wrong?” Hayden asks, stepping toward me. “Did something happen with the kids?”
