Aya covers her face, crying harder than I’ve heard her cry in so long, and it breaks me. It shatters me. It makes me well up because Aya is my life. Her pain and sadness have been almost unbearable throughout the last couple of years. Now, although these tears she’s shedding are happy tears, it’s overwhelming to see her experience this emotion too because it has been so infrequent. Despite how hard I’ve tried to shield her from the horror she’s faced at such a young age, there’s no way to undo the hole that was burned into her life. However, now I see a chance to give her more, fulfill her with something she’s yearned for—something no little girl should be without. I never thought there would be one person to fix both of our hearts, but I was wrong. She exists, and she loves us as much as we love her.
Kai places the necklace on Aya’s neck and holds her against her chest. “Shh, don’t cry.” She runs her fingers through Aya’s curls, smiling lovingly. “Aya, can I spend my life with you?”
“Can I call you Mom?”
Kai looks over her shoulder at me, unsure what to say. “She can,” Kai mouths to me. “It’s up to you.”
I nod in agreement, thinking it’s more than okay.
“Yes, you can,” Kai tells Aya. “If that’s what makes you comfortable, I would be honored to fill the role in your life.”
I can’t hold myself back any longer. I drop down beside them and pull both of my girls into me, feeling as complete as I think I’ll ever feel. “We’re going to be a family, baby.”
“My wish is finally coming true,” Aya says. “It’s all I’ve wanted.”
“Me too,” Kai and I say at the same time.
“When do you get to move in with us?” Aya asks.
Kai looks at me in silence for a moment. “I’m ready to sell my parents’ house. I’ve come to realize it’s not the house that holds the memories, it’s my heart. I want to build on those memories, and I can’t do it there.”
“Are you sure?” I ask her, not wanting to force her into anything she doesn’t want to do, especially with that house.
“It’s been on my mind for a while. I’m ready to leave the nest.”
“We’ll take you,” Aya says.
“You can build a new nest here,” I tell her.
“Oh, don’t you worry, there are plenty of things I can do here to make it a little less of a man cave,” she says with a wink.
Oh God. My house is going to be pink and purple by the end of next week.
“Thank goodness,” Aya says. “The first thing to go is that stupid football picture.”
“Hey!” I snap.
“Dad, seriously? Put it in the basement or something.”
“What just happened?” I ask.
“You just got outnumbered,” Aya says with a raised brow as she gives Kai a high five.
I’ll take that, along with getting everything I wanted.
Thank You
I tend to write lengthy acknowledgments, but this time I’d like to keep it simple this time.
I went through a very challenging time over the course of writing this book with losing my dear friend very suddenly. It was a struggle to push myself through my emotions, but writing has always been my therapy, and it appeared to work for me just the same this time, too.
I have an incredible family, amazing friends, and the best publishing support team to rely on. Everyone in my life has been there for me without question or judgement, whenever I have needed them the most. I can only hope you look at me the way I look at you.
You know who are, and I love you all more than I could ever put into words.
Never waste a day …
Be grateful for what you have, and who you have …
Love like you’ve never loved before.
Josh, Bryce, and Brayden—you are my world. Never forget that.
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If you enjoyed one or all of these books, I would be forever grateful for just a quick review from wherever you purchased the book. Thank you! Xoxo
Shari
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The Man Cave Collection: Manservant, Man Flu, Man Handler, and Man Buns Page 108