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“Do you see mom, Ash?” Tia asks, sitting down across from Liam. “Oh, hey, asswipe.”
“Back at you Queen B, and that b is not for the honey-making variety.”
I’d worry they were fucking if the hostility between them wasn’t so high. We’ve learned to ignore it.
“Mom is in love with those kids,” Tia starts. “And I am too. And I’m their favorite, over all other aunts and uncles.” Her dig is evident.
“Because you’re so lovable?” Liam states.
We ignore our siblings. “What do you think we should do tonight? Wanna take them to the movies? To the Seattle Center?” he asks.
“How about home, where we can make our own traditions?” I answer.
His hands cup my cheeks. “You’re a genius, and I love you.”
Both Tia and Liam begin to gag at the same time. “Well, at least there’s something they can agree on.”
* * *
I thoughtI’d miss my loft, but the configuration was odd for a family, and the kids didn’t have a yard. There are nights I miss being in bed, with the lights of the Seattle Skyline filling our views from the window. But as we walk into our house, all with walls, and a clear line from the front of the house to the back yard, with the kids tossing their stuff everywhere, I’ve never felt more at home.
“Lainey, Collin. Can you please pick up your shoes and take your presents to your rooms?”
“Yeah, Dad. Sorry.” Collin says, urging Lainey to do the same. In his little heart, he thinks if he’s not good, we’ll give him back, no matter how hard we’ve worked to let him know we won’t ever give up on him.
“Hey, bud.” Ashton drops to one knee before him. “It’s okay. Do you know how crazy we made Grammy? But, you know you’re ours now. No take backs, Collin. We’re your dads, and it’s how it’ll stay.” He waits until Lainey is upstairs, and tears begin to water in his eyes.
“Are you sure? I know you tell me that a lot, but our own mom gave us up. Are you sure you won’t?”
I take the few steps separating me from Collin and Ash, and kneel on one leg like my husband. “Buddy, the woman who gave birth to you wasn’t meant to be your mom. And where we obviously can’t be your mom, the two of us together will be the parents you always deserve, and nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, will ever change that for your dad and me.”
“And when we get upset with you, or correct you, that has nothing to do with our love. If anything, we correct you because we love you. We want you to know right from wrong, but at the end of the day, we will always love you. Got it?” Ash asks.
We open up our arms and he falls into us, and like we always will—we catch him.
“Who is ready for some Korean food? I know I am.” Lainey is at the top of the steps, looking down at us.
“You guys cry more than I do,” Lainey sasses, running down the stairs. “But don’t forget me!” she squeals, jumping into our group hug.
This. I can get used to this for the rest of our lives.
* * *
“Is that the doorbell?”Ash asks, his voice groggy with sleep. “What time is it?”
I wake to a constant ringing. Fuck,it isthe doorbell. “Shit, it’s going to wake the kids,” I say, pushing out of bed.
“Too late, Dads,” Lainey announces, walking in with her blanket and teddy bear. “I didn’t answer it. I know I’m not allowed to.” We learned a week into having kids we had to sleep in pajamas because you never know when they’ll barge into the room.
The clock next to my bed reads five. It’s five in the fucking morning.
“I’m up, sweetheart. I’ll get the door. You stay in here with Dad.” I have no idea who the fuck would be at our door this early, but I’d rather her not be out in the living room.
She sits on a bench at the end of the bed, taking the remote, turning on the TV. I guess none of us will be going back to bed this morning.
Moving to the front of the house, Devin is making his way down the steps. “Who the hell is here this early?” he asks. It’s a fair question.
“Don’t know. Is Collin still in bed?”
