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“You don’t have to thank me,” I said. “Seeing you smile and hearing this little girl babble and squeal at the animals is enough thanks I need.”
“We need tons of pictures. Have you started a baby’s first yet?” She glanced at me. The rays of the warm sun colored her cheeks.
My breath hitched in my chest. She was my everything. “If I say no, do I lose dad points?”
Posey snickered. “No. But you should start. It’s how memories are reinforced.” Even though her blue eyes glittered in the sunlight and there was happiness in her voice, I could see the shadows from her past just hanging out around the edges.
“Oh? What’s your favorite first memory?” We’d talked a little about her past when she came to dinner at the house, but beyond the bit she’d told me, which was horrific, Posey had said little else.
“Chocolate chip pancakes,” she said, with a smile filled with fondness, as though she were reliving the moment. “You remember me telling you about the accident?”
I wouldn’t call it an accident. “Yes.”
“Well, after they released me from the hospital, my adoptive mom took me home, allowed me to explore her home and feel safe for the first time in my life. Then the next morning she made me chocolate chip pancakes. Comfort food when you need comfort is sometimes the best medicine.”
I could agree with that.
“So, what about you?” Posey asked. “What’s one of your favorite memories of your parents?”
Tough question, all things consider. “Saying all of them is a copout, because they’ve passed away. I think the days when my dad would take us to the junkyard to find parts and junkers to rebuild. But my mom...” I grinned, remembering the way she would flit around the house dancing as she cleaned or how she decorated for all the holidays. She was definitely a Betty Crocker mom. “She was the glue. She loved all of us, especially my father, so much.” Our lives dimmed the minute she was taken away from us. So much so, we were all existing until we met ourBoom. “If they were still with us, I know both would spoil the fuck out of our kids. My dad would mark his calendar for his first junk yard outing with Mack Jr.”
“What about the girls?”
“They’d learn to. Since Mack Jr. is the eldest, he’d go first, then Destiny, followed by Alandria.” I hated to admit it, but Jackson missed out on quality time with our dad. Our father died right before his trip to the junkyard on Jackson’s sixteenth birthday, to buy his first car and rebuild it from the ground up. I had to believe that was why he went in a different direction than us. “You know what sucks, though?”
Posey quirked a brow as we stopped near the goats so Destiny could pet and feed them. “What?”
“Jackson never got to experience any of that. He was born sixteen years after me and his closest sibling is Ireland. Our parents weren’t there when he graduated. They didn’t see him get into culinary school or see him with his daughter.” I chuckled when Destiny jabbered at the animals and flailed her little arms. “Most of all, they didn’t get to meet Mack or Waverly, or even you.”
The crimson hue across the bridge of her nose caused her freckles to stand out and were adorable. While I helped Destiny feed the goats, Posey took pictures of Destiny and the animals in the pen. The day was exactly what we needed after throwing myself into my work for the last several years, never taking a break.
“Your parents sound amazing,” Posey finally said.
“Your mom is amazing.” When she went to say something, I stopped her. “Your adoptive mom fought for you. Biology doesn’t dictate that. She saved you and for that, I’m grateful. Without you, I’d have never found out about Destiny or been given the chance to spend an afternoon with you. Things happen for a reason.”
“Who knew you had this side to you?” she teased, lightening the mood. “So, what else did you want to do?”
The rest of the day was one adventure after another. Between feeding animals, riding the pony (Destiny only), walking the nature trail, picking strawberries, and grabbing a boxed lunch, Destiny was out like a light on the way home. We’d tuckered her out with such a big day, I couldn’t say I wasn’t exhausted too. I threaded my fingers with Posey’s as we drove. I turned the radio down, giving a peaceful vibe to the setting. I didn’t want her to leave, but I also knew after today everything had to change. We were opening up to one another, and I couldn’t keep the elephant in the room covered by a blanket anymore.
“We should grab some take out,” I said. “Watch a movie or something.”
“I’d like that,” Posey murmured. “Thank you for today. I had fun.”
So had I.
By the next morning, I was on the phone with Jackson after spending one of my best days ever with Posey. Yesterday reminded me to take a little time for family, including my youngest brother. The incident in the parking lot was a glaring example of how hypocritical I’d been. I’d apologized already to him, but we hadn’t talked since then.
Also, there was the fact I hadn’t told Jackson the truth about Destiny. After breakfast and taking Posey home so she could also get some work done, I headed to see Jackson. When I arrived at Waverly’s apartment, Jackson was outside with Alandria. They sat in a little alcove of trees and benches. He looked so relaxed. So grown up.When had that happened?Had we all become so entrenched in our lives, we missed the fact Jackson wasn’t a kid anymore?
“Hey,” I said by way of greeting, Destiny back in her wrench-buddy carrier, because, “convenience.” “I know my calling was short notice.”
“It’s okay,” my brother said. “Want to go on up? Waverly is at physical therapy with her mom. When I told her about you coming by, her mom agreed to take her.”
“How did we get here, Jackson?”
“I wish I could tell you,” he replied as we took to the stairs. “I’ve been asking myself that question since the day in the parking lot of the hospital.”
The day we all almost lost Waverly. Wasn’t my finest moment. Especially with Destiny at home with a social worker I barely knew. Heck, I still didn’t know her, but I was excited to learn. “Yeah, about that—”
