9. The Last Story of Luke

NINE

THE LAST STORY OF LUKE

I yawn so hard it feels like my face might crack. It’s five am and I am walking back and forth, the soft glow of the theater screen the only light in the room. My daughter, Winter, is a surprisingly comforting weight in my arms, despite the fact that she has been screaming for the past two hours straight.

“You know, there was a time that I was up all night for a very different reason,” I whisper against the side of her head. “I used to stay up late hacking government agencies and now look at me. Walking in circles and eating candy canes to stay awake.”

Her little face scrunches up as she lets out another wail. I bounce her gently, patting her back in a steady rhythm. "I'm not complaining though. You're just as complicated as hacking a government site. But I’m up for the challenge.”

As if she understands, her cries subside slightly. I take the reprieve and switch her to the other arm. Walking around usually calms her down but today, nothing has been helping. Not even her favorite bouncy chair.

“You’re just a night owl like your old man.” I chuckle at that. The idea of me being someone’s ‘old man’ is still unbelievable sometimes. But I also can’t wait for everything that comes with it. I am going to be here for every single step of my daughter’s life.

“You will never have to wonder where I am. I’m going to be that embarrassing Dad who cheers way too loud at the school play and tries to learn all the Tiktok dances. Because you already have me wrapped around your little finger.”

She gazes up at me with wide eyes, as if taking in everything I’m saying. I’m biased of course but I’m pretty sure she’s the most adorable baby that has ever existed, even though she doesn’t really look like Seven or me. With her pale skin and shock of jet black hair, she kind of looks like a member of the Addams Family.

“Maybe we should have named you Wednesday,” I tell her.

Suddenly she smiles, showing all her gums. I stop moving, staring down at her in shock. Was that a smile? Briefly, I wish that Seven was awake so that she could see this. People always say that babies this age aren’t really smiling but I think they’re just haters. Winter smiled at me last week for sure. Although she only did it once so I had started to think I imagined it the first time.

“But I didn’t imagine it, did I? You only smile for Daddy.”

Just then I hear an unmistakable rumble and laugh out loud.

"Never mind then. I guess you only fart on Daddy.” She shows her gums again and I don’t care what anyone says, this little troublemaker is definitely laughing at me. “Oh that’s hilarious, huh?”

When she starts whimpering again, I take a seat in one of the plush leather theater chairs. "Okay wait, don’t start crying again. Why don’t I tell you a story? Once upon a time, there was a brave knight —”

She lets out a scream so loud I wince. But when she opens her mouth again to cry, a little white spot on her lower gum line catches my eye. "No wonder you’re in such a bad mood. A story doesn’t help with teething, does it?”

I stand carefully, rocking her back and forth as I head over to get her diaper bag. After rifling through all the pockets, I find the teething gel. I open the packet of Q-tips and use one to carefully apply a little bit on the tooth.

Winter ceases crying and smacks her lips together. She looks like she’s trying to decide whether she wants to cry again. While she’s thinking about it, I enjoy the temporary peace and quiet. After a minute, she’s still quiet, staring over my shoulder at one of the posters on the wall.

"Okay so that stuff is magic. Now, where were we? Ah, a bedtime story." I carry her back to the chair and get comfortable. "Well, the best story is how I convinced your mom to give me a chance. I still don’t know how I pulled that off.”

Her eyes flutter again slightly. "Yeah, that’s a pretty good one."

For the next ten minutes, I tell her all about the fearless Sarah, Princess of the Seven Kingdoms and how she saved me from myself. Just as my throat starts to feel hoarse, I glance down to find Winter sleeping with her mouth wide open.

"Then the fearless princess married Luke, the commoner. And they lived happily ever after with their daughter, the Beauty who never sleeps.”

Carefully, I sit up and place Winter in her bouncy chair. I push the button for it to rock automatically and hold my breath.

“Please don’t wake up,” I mutter.

After a few minutes, she’s still asleep. I roll over and lay on the floor next to her bouncy chair, too exhausted to even move. It feels like there are weights attached to my eyelids, they’re so heavy.

The next thing I know, I'm jerking awake. I rub the sleep from my eyes and squint around the room. Winter is still asleep in her bouncy chair. According to the clock on the wall, I’ve been asleep for three hours. My phone vibrates in my pocket. That must be what woke me up.

Finn

Buying stock isn’t really a gift right? That’s an investment.

Zack

Is that what you’re giving Rissa?

Tank

I’m giving Emma a homemade coupon book.

Gabe

That could work. A coupon for a back rub. Or a home-cooked dinner.

Tank

Or a house in Aspen.

Zack

Luke

I’m running on only 3 hours of sleep but I’m going to say that’s probably not what they meant by keeping things simple.

Tank

He’s alive!

Finn

Damn, we haven’t heard from you in a while. We were starting to get worried.

Luke

I’m here. Barely. But if you’re looking for investment ideas, I think teething gel might be the next big thing.

A flurry of texts keep coming in but I’m too tired to keep up. Plus, I’m pretty sure it’s probably just more ideas of how they plan to get around their wives one-gift rule.

I shake my head. They are really struggling with the idea of not being able to shower everyone with expensive gifts. It's not that they're show-offs, they just don't know how to do simple. They're like kids in a candy store with no self-control, and this candy store happens to sell luxury cars and designer labels.

I'm different, though. Mom drilled the value of a dollar into me until it stuck. Even after I made my first million selling software, she never let me buy her much. She’s always said that she has everything she needs. In fact, she still uses coupons at the grocery store.

Suddenly, Winter stirs and I freeze. But she just sighs in her sleep. Relief washes over me.

My phone buzzes in my pocket again and I don’t bother to check it. My brothers are melting down trying to figure out how to buy the perfect gifts and I can’t help but think that they’re missing the point. I wish I knew what to say but as usual, I’m the odd man out with them. Growing up, they all had a brother to balance them out and I was always on my own.

Sometimes, it still feels that way.

I look over at my daughter who is sleeping blissfully unaware, her tiny lips moving with her breath.

"You're the best gift, you know that?" I whisper, hoping she can hear me in her dreams.

Growing up, she will be surrounded by family. I will be there to encourage her, support her, and she will never want for anything.

Especially not my attention.