I think they were. She always put a lot of love into them.
My dad was so happy on that unforgettable night.
We sat around the table, and it snowed that night. By the time we ate dinner, everything was white outside.
I freeze that frame and put it back before moving up the timeline to the day Emma was born.
My smile fades.
Jacob and my parents were no longer there, but I hoped for a miracle.
I hoped she could bring into this world some of that magic.
And she did like she was a message from another realm.
When she took her first peek at this world, she brought with her my mother’s eyes, Jacob’s smile, and my father’s frown.
She wiped life’s slate clean and started writing a different story, carrying with her the memory of the people we so deeply loved.
Sara and I loved her instantly.
She was like a lighthouse, giving us hope and a new meaning to our struggle. No matter how shitty life was, her smile made it worth living.
That’s how I learned how much power love brings into the life of those lucky to receive it.
That’s how I learned how resilient life can be.
Her love taught me I could be the warmth in her smile, the glint in her eyes, and the strength in her wings.
I could be her haven until she’s old enough to spread her wings and strong enough to face life’s monsters.
Yes.
She taught me I was that kind of man.
And if I’ve done it once for her, I can do it again.
* * *
My phone vibratesin my hand.
I slide my thumb over the screen. Sara’s face comes into focus.
“Are you home already?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you had a business dinner.”
“I rescheduled it.”
“The perks of being a boss,” she says, smiling.
Her hair is longer, curling at the tips.
I grin.
“Yeah... I guess so. How’s Emma?”