Epilogue

EPILOGUE

DOMINO

“ A nd what do you have there?” I ask my six-year-old daughter, Hadley as she runs up to me. She’s been getting into mischief out in the garden with her sister while I rake up leaves in the backyard.

“A worm!” she announces proudly.

“Eww!” Brianna shrieks, hiding behind me. She may be eight, but she’s definitely more shy than her sister.

Hadley, not fazed in the least by her discovery or her sister’s reaction, runs up to the house and straight inside. A second later I hear my wife shrieking in the same tone as Brianna, though I can tell she’s trying not to freak out.

“We better go in and save Mom,” I tell Brianna.

“Nope,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest. “That’s your job. I didn’t sign up for worm duty.”

I can’t help but laugh. Brianna may have a timid side, but she certainly inherited her mother’s sass. I love it. Hadley, on the other hand, is bold and brave and goes for what she wants. I’m proud to be raising two strong women. Calista makes it easy by being the best role model.

“I might need you for backup,” I reason with my daughter. She purses her lips and narrows her eyes at me, scrutinizing me the way only a child can.

"Yeah, you're right. You might have all of my uncles fooled, but you're a softie at heart."

This pulls a belly laugh from me, and I scoop Brianna up in my arms before walking back to the house. Both girls refer to the members of Deviant Souls as their uncles. The club is stronger than ever. We just celebrated a decade in our clubhouse, which feels impossible. Wasn’t it just yesterday we started cleaning up the place?

Right before Brianna and I open the back door, it swings open to reveal Hadley with her worm in hand. Brianna wraps her legs around me to make sure no part of her touches the offending creature.

“Mom said Mr. Wormie-Doodle has a family out in the garden,” she informs us. “I can visit but I shouldn’t kidnap him.”

“Your mother is a smart woman,” I tell her with a nod.

Brianna and I wait for Hadley to put the worm back, and then all three of us head inside. I set Brianna down and tell Hadley to wash her hands, then I step into the kitchen and circle my arms around my wife. I pull her into me, her back to my front, and rest my chin on top of her head. I love how perfectly she fits in my arms.

“Nice save with the worm,” I say, making her giggle.

“She wanted me to pet the slimy thing!” Calista whispers. “Eww.”

“That’s exactly what Brianna said,” I tell her with a grin.

We listen to our daughters run through the house, letting the sound of their laughter and little feet fill the silence. “I love our family,” Calista murmurs.

“Me, too,” I confirm. “You girls are my whole world.”

I kiss her temple and gently rock her back and forth, both of us swaying and soaking up the love we’ve built right here in our home. I swear I couldn’t love my wife any more than I already do, but every single day she finds a way to pull more out of me.

Whatever comes our way, I’m confident we can handle it. We’ve already been through so much, and just like Deviant Souls, we’ve come back stronger and better than ever.

THE END