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We both laugh at the mischievous smile on her father’s face. They have matching smiles and eyes.
“Never.”
“You need to graduate if you want to go to college. Or at least get your GED. That choice is technically yours. I have no doubt you could easily get your GED and go on to college sooner.”
“Or explore the world?” Her words catch in her throat.
There’s a long pause before her father responds. “Exactly.”
They sit together for a few minutes before the topic of conversation switches. They joke around and laugh. Her laugh is nothing like his. His is warm and chuckley while hers is high and shrill. His eyes crinkle at the edges, then a huge smile blooms on his face.
“What kind of trouble are you two getting into today?”
Eileen appears and sits down on the other side of Max. She cozies up to him and kisses his forehead.
Beside me, Amelia’s breath catches, then tears come hard and fast. I reach to pause the video, but she stops me. “No. Please.” I let go of the remote and pull her the tiniest bit closer.
“Trouble? Us?” Max’s voice is playful as he regards Eileen. Their love is beautiful and vibrant even on the TV screen.
“Usually.” Eileen bites her lip in an attempt to hold back a smile, but she can’t. Just like my girl.
Amelia laughs through her tears, then pulls her shirt up so she can twine our fingers together where they rest on her stomach.
“Just talking.” Amelia’s voice was a little higher back then and there was a brightness to it I don’t hear as often now.
“Well, I came to see if anyone was interested in some cookies.”
“How dare you ask?” Max’s smile is out of this world. He was dying and yet he lived every second of his life for his family.
“Can we sit for another minute first?” Amelia asks her mother.
“Of course.”
They’re all quiet for a moment, then Max sighs happily. “My girls in my arms. This is the best place to be.”
My eyes fill with tears. His strength was incredible. Sitting there holding his girls with all his love. I glance down at Amelia and our intertwined hands. I’d do the same, but I don’t know if I could do it so happily. To know I was being taken from them would gut me in an unimaginable way.
There’s silence on the screen for a few moments as they sit together. Then Max asks for cookies and they all get up.
Tears are streaming down my face as the video ends. Amelia turns to me, still crying, and climbs onto my lap.
I tuck some hair behind her ear as I stare into her beautiful eyes, which have turned an aquamarine color. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”
She rests her forehead against mine and nods. “Thank you for your patience.” She laughs. “I know we said no more ‘thank yous’ but I think these are important. Your love for me is helping me find pieces of me that I’ve missed—that I thought I lost. I forgot how joyful I used to be.” She wipes her eyes. “It came from him. My mom loved to laugh and have fun, but she was by far the more cynical one. When I lost him, I leaned too hard into the cynicism. I want to find more joy again. Especially with you and our daughter.”
“We’ll find it together.” I wipe my cheeks, then drag my thumb over hers. “I’m sorry for all you’ve lost. I know I can never fill their void in your heart, but I promise to give you so much love maybe that emptiness will ache less.”
“You already do,” she breathes, kissing me deeply. “I love you. So much.”
I kiss her back like my life depends on it. I’m pretty sure it does. Her and our girl. The deeper we grow together, the more I understand her pain. The family she lost. To lose her or our daughter would destroy me.
“Miles…” Her breath tickles my lips. “I need you.”
“Anything, baby.”
She grinds against me.
“Here?”
