Page 107 of Tattered Souls
She smiled, showing the two missing teeth she had just lost, and said, “Hey, Daddy.”
“Hey, Pumpkin,” I called out unabashedly.
I was damn proud of her, and my wife.
That was when my little girl said, “Tonight, my mother and I are going to sing a song for you. It’s the song she dedicated to me. And she still sings it to me every night when I go to sleep.”
I knew just then.
It was possible to fall even more in love with Tatum than I already was.
My little girl took in a deep breath, and when the song started, she sang it beautifully.
“When I first laid eyes on you. When I heard your heartbeat, too. Oh, I never knew I could witness an angel so beautiful. From the very moment you arrived, I felt something new inside. I developed a love that was so unconditional.”
I was up, swaying in my spot, uncaring if I blocked anyone’s view.
Vaguely, I noticed my family had also followed suit, but my attention was on my entire world standing up on that stage.
“And I promise to give you everything that I have. There's not a dream in this world you can't accomplish or grasp. I will cross any ocean before I let you land. Just hold on to Mama's hand and never let it go.”
A few chords I sang along to. The only difference between this song and the original was when the word son was traded in for daughter.
As soon as they finished, Tatum was at Sage’s side, kneeling in front of her, hugging her tightly.
When they stood, it was to a standing ovation.
They were the winners.
Not because I was biased, because I sure as fuck was.
Tatum
Twenty Years Later
“Do you regret it?” I asked him.
I felt his eyes move swiftly to me. “Regret what?”
“Making that decision that day. Only ever having one child.” I said as I stared out into the moonlight as it shone down on the pool water.
The pool Garrick had installed for me, too. One of my dreams. One of many he’d made come true.
He moved to me then and knelt in front of me, “Where is this coming from, Tink?”
“You gave me my safe place. You jump-started my world. I don’t ever want you to feel as though you don’t have it all.” I said. Voicing my biggest concern.
He winked at me. “Tink, I already have it all. I was given all of it, the night you walked into Carter’s, and I saw you for the first time. I said to myself, she’s mine.”
“Garrick,” I whispered.
He grinned, “Never thought about having kids, Tatum. Never crossed my mind. Not until I met you. You may think that I jump-started your world, but baby, you jump-started my entire galaxy.”
I smiled, “I love you, Garrick.”
He winked, “Good. Cause forever and ever, it’s kind of a requirement.”
Then he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss on my lips.
