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Sure, maybe the booze played its part, but it was me, too. The nastiness came from within. I should’ve known better than to be so cruel. Looking back, the person I was two years ago before I held my baby brother in my arms for the first time and was Dad’s best man at the wedding, seems like a stranger.
When Molly puts Ollie down, he toddles toward me, his arms out. Everybody says he has my smile, but I see Dad each time I look at him. “Ree-an!” he sings. “Ree-an!”
I grin, jogging over to him and scooping him into my arms. “Hey, little man,” I say, giving him a peck on the cheek. “Did you miss me?”
Molly smiles, holding Dad’s hand. There will always be a small jolt of guilt deep within me when we spend time together, but each day, it fades a little more. “Healwaysmisses his big bro.”
“B-b-best bro!” Ollie sings, laying his cheek against my chest. I hold him close, feeling so grateful to be surrounded by all this love.
EPILOGUE
NINE YEARS LATER
Molly
“Who would’ve thought it, huh?” Rachael says, leaning against the kitchen counter. The windows let sunlight spill into the room, showing a view of the backyard, Duke and Ryan chasing around Ollie and our other rugrats: little Lacy with her sarcastic pout and her funny voices; the twins, Jake and Micah, trying their best to keep up with them with their little legs.
Mom smiles out the window, watching them. She was shocked when I finally told her everything that happened—meeting Duke, the criminals, the showdown. When she saw how happy I was, she was happy for me.
“Look at this.” Rachael gestures to the spacious kitchen, but I know what she’s doing. Gesturing to our entire life. “It’s incredible.”
“You know we’ve lived here for two years, right?” I banter.
She laughs. “Excuseme, but getting engaged sort of brings this into perspective.”
I smile and touch her arm. “I’m only kidding, and thank you. I think it’s pretty freaking incredible, too.”
All those years ago, when Ryan was a completely different person, I never would’ve guessed that Duke and I would be here, savoring life in our happily ever after, experiencing all this happiness. I never would’ve dreamed it, but now, I’m a teacher with the man of my dreams, four perfect children, a closer relationship with my mom, and a bestie I get to see every day. Duke is a family man with a gym franchise and a smile on his face that never leaves.
“You’ll have it soon,” I tell her.
“Mommy, Mommy!” I turn to Lacy, bobbing up and down on the spot. “Can we do the monster game?”
My heart grows lighter when I see the excitement in her eyes. We’ve played themonster gameso many times, me chasing my girl around while I make the funniest, weirdest noises I can think of, but she never tires of it.
“Sure,” I tell her, spreading my arms, “but beware, there arethreemonsters now!”
“Oh no, Mommy!” Lacy giggles, turning and running back the way she came.
I nudge Rachael and Mom. “Come on. We can’t let her get away!”
They both laugh, following me into the yard, the sunlight, the joy.
THE END
