Page 56 of The Family Man

SAGE

I don’t hear any more tears. That’s a great sign. I guess he has it under control. I pick my phone up and search through my email. Earlier today, Zeb’s auto shop sent me a replacement car. They emailed me the report and it states that the wires in my car had been cut. How? I wonder. I put my phone down, and it begins to vibrate across the granite kitchen island.

Emily Montcroix’s name appears on the screen. I wonder what she wants.

“Hello, Ms. Montcroix, how are you?” I’m starting to get hungry; the scent of chicken makes my mouth water. I wonder what sides he made with this meal.

“Again, please call me Em. Am I disturbing you?” she asks.

“Oh no, go ahead.” I look to the stairs I hear a shower running and some giggling. It looks like they worked it out.

“I was thinking of demolishing this closet. Maybe you, a designer and I can sit and talk about a new design for my closet.” She sniffles. “I need to get rid of the memories.”

She’s taking this breakup hard. “Sure, that can be done. I can have Carla send you a list of my most trusted designers.”

Footsteps are rushing down the stairs. I turn and Poppy rushes up to me and stops, as she plays with the ends of the pigtails. Her cheeks look even more pink in her Barbie pajamas.

The sweetest sound of Nikhil laughing echoes through the house. I hear a sound resembling a fighter jet and know why he is laughing.

They enter the kitchen with Nikhil over his father’s head, with the sound of a sputtering plane and a child’s scream of happiness.

My t-shirt tugs, I forgot Poppy is still standing here. She is mouthing something, but with the Black Hawk down team behind me and Montcroix on the phone I’m not hearing her.

“Oh God what is that ruckus!” Emily laughs in my ear.

“Very happy children. Em, I will send the list to Carla and call you in the morning. Is that okay?” I pull Poppy to me, and she grasps my lower thigh.

“Oh, yes, of course. Go enjoy your family. I don’t mind,” she says, but I could swear I hear her sniffle. She says the word family, and I look at the boys and Poppy, and my heart strings pull. I can see it.

“Oh, thanks. You okay?” I ask.

“Nothing wine and sleep can’t fix. Good night,” Emily said.

Before I can respond, she hangs up the phone.

I place the phone on the island and lift Poppy up, placing her on my hip.

“What’s on your mind, kiddo?”

Poppy plays with my jersey collar. “I’m sworry, Sage.”

“Oh, babydoll, it’s okay. But now I can teach you how to take care of them.”

Her eyes brighten. “Really?”

“Yes.” I hug her tight and I look over at Nikhil and Zac. They just stand there with the same goofy smiles staring at me.

“Can we please eat? I am starving!” Zac shouts.

“Me too!” Poppy echoes.

After a beautiful meal, the four of us move to the living room to watch TV.

“Zac, pull up Disney Plus! I wanna seeFrozen 2! Do you wanna see it, Sage?” Poppy asks. Her face is beaming with excitement.

Nikhil and Zac both shake their heads“no”.

“I would love to watchFrozen 2,” I reply.

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