Page 107 of Fall Apart

“I’m still just more impressed that Clay picked up snowboarding so fast and is good enough to teach them now.” I look out at my husband and think to myself I don’t know why I'm actually surprised anymore. This is the man that has never failed to impress me, never failed to do what he says he will and never failed to be passionate about everything in his life.

Kayleigh nods, smiling as Clay gives the two five year old boys pointers on strapping into their boards. “He always was a fast learner.”

Looking out at them now, he’s wearing that heart melting grin, the one I saw that day at the surf park in Bend. I still get goosebumps watching my husband do just about anything, but especially when he smiles like that. The way he smiles at the boys with pride melts my heart almost as much as the hungry grins he still shows me nearly every time he looks at me. It’s hard to think about the first few months we knew each other when he scowled so much. Sure, he still does it from time to time and he can still be grumpy. But those times are few and far between now.

Another mom sits beside us on the bench, watching her husband with her son, but I don’t miss the way she watches Clay with the boys.

“Are those two yours?” she asks, pointing at Clay with Sammy and Mikey, looking to Kayleigh and me.

I nod. “Yep. That’s my husband and the shorter one, Sammy, is mine.”

“And the taller one, Mikey, is mine,” Kayleigh adds.

I smile with heart melting pride watching them on the bunny slopes in Jackson. We moved here when I realized I was pregnant to be closer to the Chapmans and by extension, Collin and Walker. It was perfect timing because together with Dad, we had grown the footprint of the company and a presence in Jackson was perfect. Also it just feels right raising kids here where Clay grew up.

The other mom watches Clay and the boys for a moment.

“That’s a handsome group of boys. They practically look like brothers.”

I smirk to myself. “They practically are.”

I look to Kayleigh, grabbing her gloved hand and sharing a knowing glance. The boys look like brothers because they are half brothers. We don’t exactly go around telling everyone that, but we treat them like they are just that, family.

I still remember the day just over six years ago when Kayleigh and Lindsay told us they wanted to have kids and were looking at donors. I practically jumped across the table to hug them and said Clay would gladly donate if that's what they wanted. Kayleigh is part of my extended family and it just felt right. I then had to remind myself that Clay also has a say in the matter, but of course, he said yes. He would do anything for the people he loves. And to this day, that has never wavered.

Now what was a surprise was that I found out I was pregnant with our second, Sammy, within months of Kayleigh finding out she was pregnant with Mikey. After that, I told Clay he’s getting the snip because there was no way in hell I was having another kid after the age of forty.

I look back out at the slopes, feeling very lucky that my husband is seven years younger than me and has more than enough energy to keep up with these kids. I think even Lindsay and Kayleigh appreciate having Clay so involved in Mikey’s life as a co-parent and the three kids being practically raised as siblings. We know it’s not traditional, but we’ve never been shy about valuing the people we trust and love the most in our lives.

A quick flash of pink and blonde behind Clay catches my eye and I grin when I see the large cloud of snow kick up, spraying the boys in the face.

“That’s not funny, Lilly,” Sammy howls, wiping the snow off his goggles.

“Dad!” Mikey chimes in. “You told her she’s not supposed to do that to us.”

Kayleigh laughs at the exchange, but my stomach goes all warm and fuzzy as Clay turns to look down atour princess, seven-year-old Lilly, our first child.

She shrugs, looking just like me, flipping her head back, tossing her long blonde braids that she insists Clay does for her becauseDad’s better at it.“Come on. Hurry up if you don’t want to get sprayed.”

Clay covers his mouth trying to hide a laugh. “Lilly, be nice to your brothers.”

“Then teach them faster, Dad, or make them ski. They already know how.” She crosses her arms, huffs, and glares at her dad. “I don’t know why you’re teaching them to snowboard now.”

Yep. She’s one-hundred percent our daughter.

This time I’m the one fighting back a laugh along with Kayleigh. It’s moments like this where I’m glad they decided to come to Jackson the same time as us. I still feel lucky that I’ve patched things up with my dad and we have an amazing relationship now. It’s something I don't take for granted knowing that Kayleigh still has a strained relationship with her parents. But I’m happy they’re here all the same. We’ve built quite the girl squad with us, Lindsay, and V. It’s so nice to know that Lilly has such strong role models.

“I’ll be right back,” I say to Kayleigh, getting up off the bench to go talk to my husband.

Clay spots me walking over and turns to Lilly. “Why don't you go take the boys on a quick run on the bunny slope?”

She cocks a hip, reminding me more and more that she is definitely a mini-me. “Do I have to?”

Clay grins down at her. “If you take them, they’ll probably learn faster because they don't want to lose to a girl.” He tosses her a wink and she grins up at him.

“Alright, Dad.” She gives him a quick hug and skis off, dragging the boys with her.

I walk up next to Clay, wrapping my arm around his waist. He pulls me in closer to him, planting a kiss on top of my head. “Hi there, princess.”

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