Page 124 of Rewriting the Story

“Ella and Leo are the best babysitters,” Paige insists. “But can we get this show on the road?”

“We have book club tonight,” Hads reminds us, as if we could all forget it was Wednesday. Little does she know, I have a surprise for her, and I’m practically itching to tell her about it.

The boys and I have been planning this for weeks, and I don’t think any of the girls suspect a thing.

“We’ll be home in time for that,” I say as I press a kiss to Hads’ forehead. “Don't worry, baby.”

“How do you want us, Claire?” Paige asks, and Claire goes full-on photographer mode as she sets us all up. The Carter family is on the left, the Baker family on the right, and with six kids between our two families, I can’t help but smile.

I always wanted a big family—growing up an only child made me yearn for this, and now I have it. Hads and I are outnumbered by two, but somehow, we still make a great team. That girl is my rock, my support. My wife. My soul. My future. My light. I finally reached her all thoseyears ago, and now, as we stand here with our families, I find myself wanting to slow time down.

It’s going too fast. It’s speeding through the years, and I’m desperate to savor more of these moments with her. No amount of time in the world will ever be enough with Hads, and I hope in the next life we’re able to find one another again.

“Jacks?”

“Yes, gorgeous?”

“Can you move my light a few inches to the left?”

“Of course.” He does, and the rest of us hold our positions as we await further instructions from Claire. She is the professional, after all.

“Hads,” I whisper to her, not moving my head. “Remember when I told you that you were like the spring?”

“Yes…” she says, a confused expression on her face.

“Well, I was wrong.”

“You were? The most beautiful thing you said to me when we first got together, you were wrong about?”

I nod.

“And what does that mean?”

“You’re not just the spring, at least not anymore.” I shove her with my shoulder. “You’re all the seasons, every single one of them. You are my forever, Hadleigh Carter. Not just one season, but somehow, all four wrapped into one.”

“I love you, pretty boy.”

“I love you too, Hades.”

“Are you guys ready?” Claire asks us all. “Everyone smile for the camera!”

The camera flashes, photos are taken, but one thing will always remain the same—our family. We’re messy and dysfunctional, but we’re ours. I’ll always be grateful to the four girls who sat in a classroom to read abook. Somehow, by some stroke of luck, I’m able to be a part of this journey we’re all on together.

“DidIreallyneedto be blindfolded for this?” I ask my husband as he leads me up the stairs. “I’m having déjà vu.”

“Yes, baby,” he tells me. “A few more steps, and we’re almost there.”

I sigh heavily as I let him lead me to our destination. The boys texted in the group chat earlier, letting us girls know we were in for a surprise tonight, so I assume the rest of the girls are also being blindfolded and led to the same place. I can’t lie, I’m nervous for some reason.

Jacks and Claire are watching all of our kids, and bless their hearts for agreeing to takeallof them on such short notice.

“It took you long enough,” I hear my brother say. “What took you two so long?”

“Traffic,” Grant tells him.

“Can we take off these blindfolds now?” I hear Amelia say, annoyance in her tone. “I only agreed to wearing this for a short amount of time.”

“We’re almost ready, Mills,” Henry says to her.

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