Page 76 of Meet Stan

I smoothed out Lindsey’s hair, smiling down at her. Being a mother was the biggest change, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Stan made for an incredibly—some would say surprisingly—devoted and adept father. If only he wouldn’t try to spoil her so much.

A few moments later, Stan arrived at our table, carefully bearing three drinks in his hand. The plastic-tiered cups were clear, allowing me to see the liquid he carried within. One of them was dark with a frothy head—root beer for our daughter. The other two were light amber beers, minus the root.

“Guess what kind of beer they have on tap?” He asked proudly.

“Mastercraft?” I asked.

“Mastercraft,” he said with a nod. He took a sip and sighed. “You know, I used to pity my friends when they said they were taking their families out for a day of fun.”

“You did, did you?” I smiled at him and arched my brows. “And how do you feel about that now?”

“Like I was pitying the wrong person. Instead of thinking they were the ones suffering I think I really was.” He shook his head. “The things I used to think mattered the most, mattered the least.”

“If you could go back to those days, those halcyon days of bachelorhood, would you do it?” I asked.

He took some time to consider his answer, which didn’t offend me one bit. Stan and I were as secure in our marriage as a couple could be.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I feel like, when I look back on it, I was only living half a life. My life is full now, and I wouldn’t go back to the way things were for all the money in the world.”

I smiled and leaned across the table to kiss him.

“Ew, gross,” Lindsey said.

We broke into laughter which rolled merrily up into the perfect azure sky.

The End