Page 75 of Forsaking All Others

Tara.

Shep.

Even my little Theo.

All their giggles blend together, creating the sweetest symphony.

Ghost presses a hand to the small of my back and my gaze snaps to him.

“Should we go check it out?”

Unable to find my voice, I nod. He winks at me and ushers me to the kitchen. Ghost doesn’t remove his hand from my back and it’s a good thing too because as soon as we hit the doorway, my knees buckle. Solomon Burke’s, “Cry to Me” plays on the speaker in the kitchen and a million memories flash before me.

Clubhouse parties where Maverick would pull me onto the floor and take me in his arms in front of all his brothers to spin me around.

Nights when he’d come home after being on the road too long, leaving me all alone with Tara who was just a baby at the time. He could sense I was angry. Knew I was tired too and yet he moved to the radio, turned it on and pulled me onto my feet.

We danced in the living room.

In the kitchen.

Throughout the whole house.

Then we took our moves to the stairs and danced all the way to bed.

Dancing was our thing and now, he’s in my kitchen, giving that to our kids. My baby is in his arms, waving a spatula in the air and standing right next to them, our girl sways her hips while she peels potatoes.

He shuffles Theo, holding him with one arm and turns to Tara, snatching the potato peeler from her. He drops it on the cutting board and balls his hand into a fist, bringing it to his mouth, using it as mic. Then, in that deep baritone voice of his, he starts to sing along with Solomon Burke. Tara giggles and he uncurls his fist, taking her hand in his. With a swagger that’s all his own, he pulls her close, spinning her under his arm.

It’s a beautiful moment.

A cherished memory between a father and daughter.

Movement catches my eye and I divert my eyes to the kitchen island. Perched high on top of one of the stools, Shepard sits banging two wooden spoons against a bowl. Across from him Tara’s boyfriend smacks his hands against the fridge to the beat of the music too. Neither of them know the words to the song, but that doesn’t matter. They go with the flow.

“Spin her again, Mav!” Theo cries and my gaze cuts back to Maverick and Tara. Mav grins at my son before obliging him and spinning his sister around the kitchen.

“Mom!”

Shepard jumps off the stool and rushes toward me. Ghost takes the hamburger buns from my me just as Shep reaches me. My son grabs my hands and starts to pull me into the kitchen.

“What’s going on?” I ask, but my voice is barely audible.

“Dad’s been TikToking,” Shepard supplies. “He wanted to see if he could get Tara to do the “Cry to Me” challenge with him.”

I lift my chin and my eyes find Maverick’s. He winks at me, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth and my throat tightens.

Time stops.

The air is pulled from my lungs.

And my heart…

You ever look at someone and wonder how it’s possible for your heart to beat outside of your chest? You ever stare at the lines on someone’s face and recall the saddest fairytale? Ever wonder if there is still time to write that happy ending? Did you ever stare into someone’s eyes and see fire? Did you feel it? Did you let yourself get swept away by the flames?

Tara bumps her hip against her dad and he tears his eyes away from mine as she takes Theo from his arms, spinning away from him. The smile doesn’t leave his lips and Maverick braces both hands on the edge of the kitchen island. His eyes follow them around the kitchen and that brilliant smile grows wider.

“C’mon, mom,” Shep urges and I look down at him. He laces his fingers with mine and grins—he’s got his father’s smile. “Dance with me,” he probes.

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