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She patted me on mine and smiled. “A girl’s gotta have standards.” She pressed her lips together. “You want to see first? Or bring Brayleigh at the same time?”
“Brayleigh? Come see your new bedroom,” I called.
“Mine room?”
“Yes, dolly. Your room at this house.”
“Mine room this house,” she echoed.
Minty opened the door, and Brayleigh gawked.
A delicate, crystal chandelier in the shape of a crown threw light and color at the soft pink walls. Faux fur trimmed the curtains at the window, and fairy lights lined the top. Her new crib sat alongside one wall while low shelving housed a few stuffed animals and toys. A wide chair, big enough to curl up in, sat in one corner, a standing lamp tucked behind it, a small table holding children’s books beside it.
I spun in a circle, taking it all in. The bedding, the lighting, the prisms of color, the wall art, it was a wonder. I stopped short when my eyes fell on the last wall.
It was my memory. The one of Minty and Brayleigh at the zoo with the enormous balloon tied to the back of Brayleigh’s ridiculous dress. Done in pen and ink with the barest hints of watercolor.
“That’s actually for you,” Minty said softly.
My heart lodged in my throat, and I couldn’t swallow it down. Only in that moment did I allow myself to acknowledge what I’d nearly lost, and it was for that moment only. I turned to my future wife and said, “Thank you. Thank you for giving me you.”
A high-pitched squeal drew my attention away from Minty’s flushed face.
Brayleigh stood with her arms akimbo, her mouth wide open with joy, looking at the fairy lights, and screamed, “Mine sparky!”
Chapter Fifty-One – Let’s Talk Compensation
Minty
“In line with your right knee, at a forty-five-degree angle, there’s a good toehold,” Vander called up to Alex.
Vander took all three boys rock-climbing at least twice a week all summer long. Today they asked all of us to come, because each of them had conquered the highest wall in their skill level.
“That’s it, buddy,” Vander encouraged.
“Dad.” Jace stood beside his dad, watching Alex scale the wall. “He’s doing it faster today.”
“He is, agori mou. He sure is.” Vander smiled. “Almost there, buddy!”
Gus stood off to the side, ready to belay George, his face beaming as he watched his son. He looked back at Amber who sat beside me with a wide smile on her face.
Ruby stood between Vander and Gus, shifting from one foot to the other as she clapped and cheered for Alex.
Lucky stood farther back, watching Brayleigh as she played on the toddler equipment.
Vander and Gus held the lines. The harness kept the boys tethered. The boys gave suggestions and high fives. Everyone shouted encouragement, everyone applauded their achievements and their efforts.
“There’s a toehold…”
“You’re doing just fine…”
“I’m so proud of you!”
“Can you do more or are you done for the day?”
‘There’s a toehold.’ Have the boys sleep over one at a time.
‘Straight up above your head, there’s a handhold. Grab it.’ Babysit Rena.
