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In a single look, I understand everything I need to and tension melts under the loving warmth only she has the power to wrap me up in.
“You’re okay?” I ask in the same gruff tone my crew leader did.
“We’re okay,” she answers and squeezes Millie’s shoulders.
My daughter wakes up and like she’s electrocuted from her chair she springs up and hurls herself straight toward me.
“Daddy!” She says as she jumps up and crashes into my arms. Her small body is easy to catch but the word Daddy sends me off balance.
It’s the first time she’s called me that and I never want her to call me anything else.
Briggs stands and approaches slowly. I open an arm for her not sure what she’ll do.
She steps into the embrace and presses her cheek against my chest. The two most important people in my arms, safe. I intend to always keep it that way.
I’m reminded of our fight after she pulled Millie off the field and a new fear settles in. They are still leaving. The motorhome parked outside.
Or maybe they won’t now that it’s okay. My heart kicks into high speed at the thought and Briggs places her hand over the thud. With Millie still clinging around my waist I lean to look into Briggs’ eyes, the question silent but she understands.
“We are staying,” she whispers, lifting onto her toes to press her lips to mine.
The kiss is tame and chaste, but it feels like the first time I’ve ever kissed her. In the past we kissed like it would be the last time we’d get the chance, but this kiss was different. This kiss was a promise of so many more to come. I breathe in this new sensation, this forever kind of kiss and when she breaks the kiss Millie is staring at us with wide eyed hope.
Hope that Briggs would never let her see if she didn’t mean it.
They were my family.
I finally felt truly home.
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