Page 122 of Rewriting the Story

Well, among the other million things I love about it.

Aspen is with Paige in the other room, the two of them playing with her toys before Hads and Grant get here with their kids. Never did I imagine my sister having four kids, but that’s the reality.

“Am I doing okay?” my daughter asks, and I move from what I’m stirring to help her handle the dough.

“You’re doing great, sunshine,” I tell her. “Now, lay it out on the counter, and I’ll cut it while you set the table, okay?”

“Okay.” She hops off the small stool I keep for her in the kitchen before she grabs the plates to set the table.

“Winnie, no,” I say to our dog, who sits patiently, waiting for small scraps of food to fall off the table. “It’s not dinner time for you yet.”

A heavy sigh and a flop to the floor is all I get from her.

“Hey, Dad?”

“What’s up?”

“Do you think one day, I can have a book club just like Mom does?”

Her big green eyes shine back at me, and as I set the spoon down to let the broth rest, I sweep her up in my arms. Most of our kids are readers, thanks to the girls and all their meddling, and even the young ones who can’t form words yet will probably follow in their footsteps.

“Is that something you want?”

She nods.

“Then one day, you’ll find your people.” I tap her on the nose. “Just how your mom did, you’ll find the people who will love you as you are, not as who you pretend to be.”

“Do you think so?”

“I know so,” I tell her as she nuzzles her head into my shoulder. “Just don’t force friendships, okay? When you find your people, you’ll know.”

“Like how you knew you loved Mom when you first met her?”

“Yeah, baby, kind of like that.”

I hear Paige laughing from the other room, our daughter's laughter echoing into the kitchen as well, and I try to wrap my mind around the past few years. I never thought I’d find a home like the one Paige and I have created. I always thought my future would be full of loneliness because I refused to let anyone in.

Then, along came Paige, and everything changed for the better. That girl saved my goddamn life—more than once. I’ll never be able to thank her for giving me our two beautiful daughters and the life we live now.

It’s perfect. It’s everything, and Paige gave that to me.

“Now, go wash up with your sister before your cousins get here,” I tell her as I set her down, heading to see my wife before all hell breaks loose.

IfeelOliver’spresencebefore he makes himself known.

“Hi, my love,” I say as I swing around, grabbing some toys and putting them back in their bin in the toy room. Aspen barrels out of the room, following her sister to the bathroom. Oliver and I laugh as he pretends she knocked him off his feet. “How is dinner coming?”

“It’s almost done. Are Hads and Grant on their way?”

“They are,” I confirm as I get up and throw my arms around his neck. “What are you thinking about?”

“You,” he says as he presses a kiss to my forehead. “Our life.”

“Oh, so nothing too heavy,” I joke. “What about it?”

“I’m just lucky, P,” he says as he spins me around. “I’m so fucking lucky to have found you.”

“Likewise,” I tell him as I press a kiss to his lips.

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