Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
By the time I get home that evening, I’m emotionally drained, and sensing my mood and my reluctance to talk about what happened in court, Franny does what she has done since the moment we met; she sticks close and offers me a sense of normalcy that I didn’t even know I was missing until her. We have dinner, watch a show on TV, and just sit together until I’m ready to broach the subject of what happened. I don’t give her the details; I don’t want that in her head when she goes to sleep, but I give her enough so that she knows Alice’s family has finally gotten the truth.
And late that night, long after she’s fallen asleep in my arms, I feel my son move and it’s the reminder I need that life goes on. That even when things are bleak, there is always something to look forward to. And I have a whole life with Franny and our son to look forward to and I will never take that for granted.
Epilogue
DAYTON
“Remind me why I handed over the planning of Chance’s birthday party to my mom?” Franny whispers, falling into the seat next to me, resting her hands on her belly.
“Because you’re pregnant and due any day.” I curl her into my side. “And your mom likes throwing parties and feeling involved.” I kiss the side of her head. “Plus, we don’t have to clean up after this.”
“We wouldn’t have had to clean up if we booked Chuck-e-Cheese like every other normal family with a five year-old.” She looks up at me. “I just saw a camel, a real-life camel, being walked by a clown in the backyard.”
“I’m sure the kids love it.”
“I guess.” She winces, rubbing her belly, and I frown.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, just a little uncomfortable.”
“Are you having contractions?”
“No.”
“Francisca,” I growl, and she looks over at me.
“I promise I’m okay, big guy. Relax.”
“Excuse me if I have a hard time believing you, baby. You didn’t tell me that you were having contractions with Chance, and I almost ended up having to deliver him on the bathroom floor.”
“Don’t be so dramatic.” She sighs.
“Dramatic? He was crowning when the ambulance showed up, you gave birth to him on the way to the hospital.”
“I didn’t know I was in labor; I thought I just had gas.”
“Do you think you have gas right now?”
“No.” She glares at me. “I’m fine. I just need to put my feet up for a bit.”
“Aunt Franny, Uncle Dayton, there’s a mermaid in the pool!” Jenny shrieks, running towards Franny and me with Tucker and Miranda right behind her and Kingston behind them with his eyes glued to his phone.
“Is there?” Franny asks as I sit forward to grab Jenny before she can crash into my wife at full force—something she’s been doing since she started walking.
“Yes.” She giggles when I tickle her. “I also saw a zebra.”
“There’s a zebra?” I look at Franny.
“I don’t know.” She looks between Miranda and Tucker. “I told my mom that Chance wanted a zoo-themed birthday. Apparently, she took that literally; she can be a little much.”
“Are you kidding? This is the best party I’ve ever been to.” Miranda takes a seat next to Franny and rubs her belly. “How are you feeling?”
“I can’t talk about it because if I say that I feel like I’m going to pop, Dayton will take that literally and rush me to the hospital.”
“These guys are always so dramatic.” Miranda rolls her eyes
“That’s what I said,” Franny cries, and I look at my brother when he makes a sound in the back of his throat.
“I’m going to go check on our son.”
“He was with my dad and Jacob at the bounce house.” She says as I push up to stand then asks, “Can you bring me a lemonade please?”
“Yeah.” I bend to wrap my hand around her jaw and brush my mouth across hers.
“Stay here.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she assures me, and I don’t believe her. She never stops going most mornings, and I’m half tempted to tie her to the bed so she can rest like she needs to.
“Can I go to the bounce house, Dad?” Jenny asks Tucker.
“Yeah.” He looks at Kingston. “You gonna hang here with Mom or come with us?”
“I’ll stay here.” He says, not even looking up from his phone.
“We’ll be back, baby.” Tucker leans down to kiss Miranda and then follows me out of the house.
The moment we step outside, the noise is overwhelming; there are dozens of kids running around and multiple food vendors set up around the yard with kids lined up waiting for popcorn, hotdogs, and cotton candy. Walking towards the bounce house, I can hear Chance’s laugh before I even catch a glimpse of him going down the slide with Rowen right behind him.