“Da!” she cries. “Da-da!”
I lean against the door frame and smile. Then, my wife turns and the breath catches in my lungs. Misty, or Corinne as she’s now known, smiles at me and my heart melts all over again.
“Hi Marcus,” she calls. “Come dance with us! The leaves are crackling, and it’s fun.”
I decide to go for it. I stride over to my girls, and my daughter reaches her arms out, eager for an embrace. I swing her up into my arms, and together, the three of us dance to the sounds of the fall, the only noise in the yard being the crunch of the leaves beneath our feet.
As we laugh and play, Misty takes an opportunity to lean her head against my chest. “Guess what Marcus?”
“Hmm?” I hum back to her.
She smiles at me with tears in her eyes, so beautiful with the fall colors surrounding her.
“You’re going to be a daddy again. I’m pregnant with baby number two!”
I’m utterly speechless yet filled with joy at this miracle. I pull the curvy girl in tight and tenderly kiss the top of her head. Then without words, I spin her out and away from me, before reeling her back in. After all, this isn’t where I saw my life going when I left Los Angeles. I never could have imagined this in a million years, in fact. But I also couldn’t be happier, and I’m eternally grateful for what the world has given me.
After all, my wife and I risked life and limb to be together. We overcame obstacles so ridiculously difficult and insane, that it brings to mind the latest spy novel or an enthralling James Bond movie. But all’s well that end’s well, and now the Waters family will live together in peace, joy, and utter happiness forever.
THE END