Page 118 of Waiting for Redemption

“Alotbetter.” Hendrix’s brutal admission doesn’t even bother me because he’s right. Tank’s pancakes are ten times better than mine. I get the feeling he could bake circles around me in this kitchen.

“Have I told you that you’re my favorite kid in the whole world today?” Tank asks, smiling through a mouth full of pancakes and whipped cream. Hendrix winks and clicks his tongue along with two finger guns back at him.

“I’m gonna get you to tell me your secret recipe one day,” I proclaim confidently.

“Good luck with that, Honey.”

I can’t get over how perfectly normal this feels. Spending Thanksgiving morning eating breakfast together while the parade plays on the living room TV. After myhusbandcooked breakfast whileourson snuggled up with the dog on the couch leaving me to brew coffee and flip the bacon when instructed. Sometimes I want to pinch myself because it feels too good to be true. But I wouldn’t dare do that now, I’d be too scared I’d actually wake up. I’d be fine living within this dream forever if that’s what it was.

“Can we play Go-Fish now? I need to practice so I can beat Iron Man next week.”

“I thought you called Mr. Harold Cyborg?” Tank asks, taking a sip of his coffee.

“Yeah, but Iron Man is cooler.” Hendrix shrugs, hopping down from the table.

“Hold up. Dishes go where?” He comes to a halt as I point to his empty plate on the table.

“Oh, right. In the sink.” He trots over and places his plate in the sink before running to the living room to grab the cards.

“He does know there’s no strategy to win Go-Fish, right?” Tank leans to whisper, ensuring Hendrix doesn’t hear him.

“You underestimate our poker faces and skilled questioning methods.”

“Dear, God. I’ve married a crazy, competitive game-nighter, haven’t I?” I smile wide as Tank takes our plates to the sink and Hendrix returns, tossing the playing cards on the table.

“Wait, these are just regular playing cards,” Tank says in an almost questioning tone. “I thought he’d have like, I don’t know actual Go-Fish cards.” Hendrix and I both pin him with an unimpressed stare as I turn the box over that readsGo-Fishin black Sharpie.

“I’m just gonna sit here quietly now.” He takes his seat across from me as I begin dealing the cards.

We play countless rounds of Go Fish—all of which Hendrix or I won—until Maverick lets us know he needs out, giving us a break from the table to get some fresh air. Instead of staying inside all day, I make sure the food I’m supposed to take for Thanksgiving dinner is ready to go, we grab the soccer ball and head to the park. As Hendrix and Tank are practicing dribbling the ball down the field and practicing passes, I get an email from our new lawyer that the custody case has been officially closed. When the boys take a break to grab some water, I see Tank check his phone and his eyes immediately find mine. He must have gotten the same email. He runs over from the other side of the park and lifts me into his arms, embracing me tightly as he kisses my neck repeatedly.

“This is our fresh start baby, me, you, and Hendrix.” His deep voice is muffled in my hair as he speaks, “Our family against the world.”

“Only and forever?”

“Only and forever,” he assures me, capturing my lips in his before planting my feet back on the ground.

“Can you guys stop kissing? I need to practice my goal kicks,” Hendrix groans from a few feet away causing us both to laugh. While still holding me in his arms Tank looks over at Hendrix. “Your dedication to the sport is unmatched, son.” Then he looks back over at me.

“Let’s go to the beach for Christmas this year,” he says, making me rear back in surprise.

“The beach?” I laugh through the question.

“Well, I would say a cabin in the mountains but I’ve seen how you react to the cold, I thought you might like the beach better.” He laughs, making an excellent and accurate point. I donotlove the cold. “We deserve to do something special. It’s our first Christmas together as a family. Why not?” He gives me a knowing look, hinting at the fact that we’ll be celebrating the custody case being dropped without having to say it. I’m still so glad we found out it was all bogus before I brought Hendrix into it.

“Doesn’t have to be the beach, we could still go to the mountains or New York and see the big ass tree, wherever you want.”

“Can we do that though? I mean what about work and Maverick?”

“Well, I’m sure if you asked Max he would agree that you’ve earned atleasta week off work, but I assume it’s way more than that. I can get someone to cover my clients at the gym until we get back and of course, Maverick is coming with us.” I can’t help but bite back the huge smile trying to take over my face, but of course, Tank won’t allow that. He pulls my lip out with his thumb.

“Baby, you know how much I love your reactions, don’t you ever try to hide them from me.” I let the smile completely take over, squealing as I throw my arms around his neck.

“So is that a yes?”

“Yes! Let’s go to the beach.”

“Hey, bud, what if I told you we were going to the beach for Christmas this year?”

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