Page 86 of When We Were Young
It was a beginning.
•••
NOAH COULDN’T LETgo of Aiden. He wasn’t playing soccer on the ten-year-old team or giving him rude looks at fifteen. He wasn’t an angry twenty-year-old or a man at twenty-three.
Aiden was four. He was four and he was a little boy who loved Bible stories and playing in the park and being anywhere his parents were. He was little and he was here in Noah’s arms. In all his life—in the years ahead when Aiden would grow up with a mommy and daddy at home, Noah would never forget what this felt like.
Right here, the day he decided to stay.
“You’re wet, Daddy.” Aiden laughed. He looked into Noah’s eyes. Playful and happy. Like the child he’d been before last night. The boy he was supposed to be was back.
They were all back.
“I am wet. I know.” Noah made a silly face. “It’s kind of fun.”
“Yeah!” Aiden flashed a silly face of his own. “I love the rain!”
After a minute he set his son down. Aiden continued to cling to Noah’s leg.
But now Noah turned his attention to Olivia. His baby girl. She was still sitting on the floor near the creation they’d been building. Sitting there watching Noah, her mouth open.
Olivia couldn’t possibly grasp what was happening here. What had almost happened. But somehow she had an understanding. Noah knew it. His baby girl was deep that way. Because she stood up and with steps that got faster and faster, she ran to him.
“Daddy!” And like that she was in his arms.
Like air to his lungs was that single little cry:Daddy!He was her daddy again. God had given him a second chance, even when he didn’t deserve it. “I’m here, Livi. Daddy’s right here.” She held him tight around his neck and when she pulled back, she rubbed her nose against his. “Wuv you, Daddy.”
“I love you, too, Livi.”
In the distance Noah finally spotted Kari Taylor. She was holding a tissue to the corner of one eye. “Looks like you all need to get home and into some dry clothes.”
“Yes!” Emily added her laughter to the mix. “As fun as it is to be drenched like this. Home sounds a lot better. Even if I burn the pancakes.”
Noah stared at her. There she was, the teasing funny wonderful girl he’d married. His Emily. He looked from her to the kids. “I know! I’ll cook the pancakes.”
“Yay!” Aiden pumped his fist in the air. “I love when Daddy cooks.”
Pancakes. They would forever be part of his terrible night. The dream or whatever it was. But from now on the memories around their favorite Saturday morning breakfast would be happy and wonderful. Noah ran his hand along Livi’s back. He looked from her to Aiden. “After we eat, I have a surprise for you.” Noah raised his eyebrows. “I don’t know about you, but I can hardly wait.”
“Me, too!” Aiden jumped around.
“Me, too, Daddy.” Olivia was still in his arms, still staring at him like he was her hero. Which he was. Even with all his flaws. All she wanted was for him to stay.
Like Clara had told him her last night on earth.
•••
THREE HOURS LATER,after fresh clothes and pancakes, Noah ushered them into his truck. “We’re going to the best place ever!”
“I can’t wait!” From the backseat, Aiden clapped his hands. “It’s the best day ever!”
Noah held Emily’s hand as they drove. As soon as he pulled into the parking lot Aiden gasped. “I knew it! The best place in the whole world!” He clapped again. “The park!”
For a moment after Noah parked, he only stared at the play area. The same place he’d brought Aiden and Olivia just last night. When they were fifteen and thirteen. Noah pushed the memory from his mind as they walked from the parking lot to the playground. With Aiden and Olivia hurrying ahead, Noah pulled Emily to him. Then he kissed her like he’d longed to do for a lifetime.
Or for one crazy, miraculous night.
The kiss took her by surprise, he could tell. But then she moved in close to him and the kiss became hers. When he took a breath, he whispered against her skin. “Let’s dance, Emily.”
