Page 14 of Someone Save My Midlife Tonight

The sight was so charmingly absurd I laughed. If the surprise was a dance party with him and Alana Catherine, I was all in. Our daughter squealed with happiness, grabbed his hair and pulled with all her might. Gideon just laughed as well and let her.

When I first met him, I would have never guessed the depth of joy he had buried deep inside. I knew I was responsible for some of that, and it filled me up in ways that words could not do justice.

“You want to see the surprise?” he asked, waggling his brows.

“Thought I was looking at it,” I replied.

“Nope. Follow me,” he insisted as he began to walk around our home to the backyard.

I was on his heels. Right now, life felt good. I wasn’t going to waste the feeling. Lately, I felt like I’d been dancing between the raindrops, waiting for the huge storm to wash me away. It was a sickening way to exist.

As we rounded the house, I gasped and then laughed. Hard. Gideon was beaming. In the backyard was what I could only describe as a massive jungle gym. It was mostly hot pink and way over the top. There were three slides, swings for adults, swings for babies and toddlers, a sandbox, a fort and bright purple climbing ropes. The gorgeously garish playset was surrounded by sunflowers and daisies. Enormous orange andgreen stuffed teddy bears sat on the swings and at the top of the slides. And of course, two were in the sandbox holding bright yellow plastic shovels and pails. Surrounding the entire epic play area was a baby pink and powder blue picket fence that had been child-proofed… of course.

“I don’t even know what to say,” I said while giggling at the scene in front of me and the unabashed delight of the man who’d created it. “When did you do this?”

“It’s great. Right?” he said. “I needed to blow off steam when you were on the Higher Power’s plane. Instead of decimating our house, I built this. I mean, I could have rebuilt the house, but this was more fun.”

“You physically built it?” I asked, examining the swings and the fort. “No magic?”

“By hand,” he said with pride. “Used a little magic for the color scheme, but the rest was all sweat equity.”

Note to self, don’t let Gideon do any decorating in the house. “I love it! Can we use it?” I asked.

The squeal from our daughter was the answer. I was so happy it was nuts, but I was still aware that danger lurked around the corner. I was glad my siblings, along with Zander and Catriona, were patrolling the grounds. It often felt like I was living in a barely tolerable state of permanent dread juxtaposed with perfect moments. This was one of the perfect moments.

Gideon gently strapped Alana Catherine into the baby swing while letting her pull his hair the entire time. She babbled a mile a minute as he got her settled.

“I love you,” I told him as I sat down on the swing next to our baby.

“Love you more,” he replied, kissing the top of my head.

“Not possible,”he retorted.

“Should we call it even so we stop having this little contest?” I asked with a grin.

“Nope. I like it.” He moved in back of us. The Grim Reaper gave Alana Catherine’s swing a light push. But mine? He pushed me so high, it felt like I was flying. Not only did he push, but he pushed so hard he ran under the swing each time. My tummy tickled, and I was slightly worried the swing would break, but I’d heal if I fell. It was worth every terrifying and exhilarating second. My shrieks of joy as the wind rushed through my hair were only outdone by the joyous shouts of my husband and daughter. I wanted it to last forever.

“Dadadadadada!” Alana Catherine screamed.

Gideon froze. My swing slowed, and I hopped off. My heart pounded in my chest so hard I was sure they could hear it.

Our daughter continued. She pointed a chubby little finger at Gideon and let it rip. “Dadadadadadadadada!”

“Oh my God,” Gideon said, flabbergasted. “Did she say my name? And know what she was saying?”

The tears came unbidden. They were happy tears. “Yep,” I said, smiling so hard it hurt.

Alana Catherine wasn’t done. “Mamamamamamamamamama!” she bellowed pointing at me.

There was no way in hell she was old enough to be talking. Babies didn’t talk until much later, but she wasn’t all baby. I’d just spent time with her as a twenty-year-old woman. Was it possible that she could say more than mama and dada? Could she tell us what she’d tried to say on the Higher Power’s plane? Was I absolutely nuts?

Yes. Yes, I was.

“Mamamamamamama! Dadadadadada!” she insisted.

“My baby,” I said, lifting her out of the swing and holding her high. “So smart. Such a smart little girl.”

“Brilliant,” Gideon added, still shaken that she’d called him dada. “Maybe… she could tell us more.”

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