Page 16 of July
12
Garrett
It’s the Fourth of July, so Jillian has agreed to drop Silas off with me at the park tonight. Our son has always loved fireworks, despite the loud noise, and calls them ‘boomers.’
When we spoke, Jillian hinted that she has a surprise for me. I hope she isn’t planning to attempt to rekindle our romance. As much as I’d like to make things work with her for Silas’s sake, it simply isn’t meant to be.
I’ve broken things off with Charity, as Jillian demanded, so that means I’ll spend the rest of my days as a lonely man. I can’t force myself to love another, and my heart belongs to Charity. It always has and always will. I would be able to give up anything to be with her, except my son. I can’t give up my time with Silas––even if it means losing the love of my life.
I do a double-take and blink rapidly when I see the women approaching with my son in tow, not quite daring to believe my eyes. Both ladies are smiling and talking animatedly with Silas. It’s almost too good to be true.
“Jillian? Charity?” I ask in a scratchy, bewildered tone as soon as we are close enough to speak without yelling over the band. My gaze volleys back and forth between the two women as Silas reaches out his arms for me to take him.
I gladly accept my boy and give him a long hug before turning my questioning gaze back to the ladies. My heart hammers in my chest, but I’m too scared to allow myself to hope that Charity may have found a way to make Jillian accept her into our lives. That ideal scenario seems too good to be true, but I also can’t imagine why else they would be here together.
Charity smiles wide before tipping up to kiss my cheek and tickle Silas’s chin. “You two are the most handsome boys I’ve ever seen.”
Silas giggles at her light touch. I’m tempted to do the same, but force myself to refrain.
My gaze darts to Jillian to gauge her reaction. I can’t risk her becoming angry and taking me to court over Charity’s harmless flirtation. To my utter amazement, Jillian is giving the three of us an approving smile. It doesn’t quite reach her eyes, but it’s obvious that she’s trying.
My voice comes out as barely more than a scratchy whisper when I ask my ex-wife, “You’re okay with this?”
“I am,” she answers resolutely.
The breath leaves my lungs in a relieved whoosh of air. Silas squirms to get down, so I set him on the blanket I’ve spread out on the grass, so he can play with the toys I brought to entertain him until the fireworks start.
Once he’s occupied, I turn to my sweet Charity. “I’m guessing you worked your magic and somehow made this happen.”
“She did,” Jillian answers. “She barged into my office and wouldn’t leave until I agreed to give her a chance. I tried to hold my ground, but she’s impossibly stubborn and infuriatingly likable.”
Jillian pauses and the women give each other warm smiles. Turning back to me, Jillian continues, “I can see why you love her, and I won’t stand in the way of your happiness. Just because I don’t have true love in my life doesn’t mean I should begrudge you of it.”
Overwhelmed with joy, I pull my ex-wife into a hug. Squeezing my eyes tightly shut, I whisper near her ear, “Thank you.”
After we separate, I place a protective arm around Charity’s shoulders. She leans into my embrace, and nothing in the world has ever felt so right.
“Well, I’ll leave you three to enjoy the fireworks,” Jillian offers.
Just as she’s turning to go, Charity says, “Stay and watch them with us.”
At Jillian’s questioning gaze, I nod my approval of that plan. Evidently sensing that our invitation is sincere, Jillian agrees, “Okay, then.”
We settle on the blanket with Silas. My son climbs onto his mother’s lap. I wrap my arms around Charity, and she leans back onto me.
As the fireworks start, we all tip back to watch the brilliant, colorful light show in the dark night sky. Silas reaches over to place his tiny, warm hand within mine. As I press my lips to Charity’s temple, she lets out a contented sigh. Although this isn’t at all how I imagined my family would look, it couldn’t be any more perfect.
