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Everett giggles when Nolan lifts him high in the air, his pudgy legs kicking.
Smiling up at him, I nod. “The world’s a better place now that it’s been shut down.”
“Exactly.”
And hopefully it leads to more schools like that getting shut down…
More stringent laws in place…
Lightning flashes across the sky with a crack, and the three of us seem to freeze, holding our breaths collectively. It’s gotten darker, and more drops start falling.
“Ooooh,” Everett murmurs.
“Whatcha think, bud? Time to head in?” Nolan says, ruffling his hair.
Everett reaches for the sky and screams,“BOOM!”at the top of his lungs.
My eyes widen, and I flinch, hunching down, not having expected that.
Nolan hoists him up against his side, and looks over his shoulder at me. “Ears, baby.”
Rolling my eyes, I don’t bother masking my smile as I unwrap the headphones from around my neck, and slide them over my head. While it’s starting to rain, they’re supposed to be waterproof, so long as they’re not submerged.
Nolan winks at me once I’ve got my ears fully covered, then turns to the lake, throws his head back and screams.
My iPod is in my pocket, but I don’t bother turning it on. I don’t want to drown them out—I just want to make it bearable.
I can see Everett clapping—hear his muffled high-pitched giggles and screams as if I’m listening from underwater. Standing up, I sidle up next to Nolan, and join them, screaming up into the Heavens.
A hand cups my shoulder, squeezing, and I look over at Nolan.
My husband.
The love of my life.
How the hell did I get so lucky?
Everett’s nodding, face bunched as he makes grabby hands at the rain. It’s starting to come down faster, harder, splashing his round cheeks. It’s difficult to say whether he’s more nervous or excited by the wide-eyed wonder on his face—a common dilemma he often seems to face.
And still, quiet and timid as he is sometimes, nothing holds him back when he’s got his mind set on something.
It’s very fitting, given his name.
Everett.
Old English origin.
Brave boar, or less literally, fierce warrior.
Not that the meanings of names always align with a person’s character—though it does make it far easier for me when it does—but I do like to think it sets a good precedent. Gives us something to strive to.
Nolanisand always will be my champion after all. The man who never fails to charge into the war raging on in my head, and sweep me off my feet.
And I am the scholar, tasked with weaving our history, asking questions, and shedding light on things hidden and misunderstood.
Because if there’s anything my twenty-six years taught me, it’s that I firmly believe there is magic to be found in the details—in the little things we often overlook. The fibers woven into all the big moments that shape us into who we are.
We just need to open ourselves to it—see the bigger picture, beyond all the awfulness that would try so hard to drown us, and blot out all the good.
