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All the hurt, all the hell, all the broken pieces… We all had to brave the storm until perfect timing brought us all together. We couldn’t have done it on our own. We needed each other to heal the ache. All the broken moments were waiting to be pieced together just like this.
Our odd little family, stitched together by chance. By choice.
Our perfect, happily ever after.
Epilogue
Nathan
Four Years Later
“Dad,” Claire hisses from across the dining table. “Don’t you think that’s enough questions? Aiden can barely eat.”
The large square table in the formal dining room can seat twelve people easily. Even so, we’re usually clustered close, only taking up two sides with my pregnant wife right next to me, my daughters sitting together on my left side. But today the table is far more full than I prefer. Claire and her date are sitting next to each other. Charlie and her date, adjacent. I blinked and my girls are suddenly teenagers, heading to prom.
I always thought I’d be a cool dad, especially because my daughters are adopted. Our bonds started with friendship. I thought I’d be evolved enough to respect two young ladies becoming women, butnope.I was wrong.
Very wrong.
All I can think of is driving my foot up both of these suckers’ asses. I was eighteen once. I know exactly what’s on their minds, which is why I insisted on doing the pre-prom dinner at ourhouse so I could intimidate their dates properly. I even offered up the finally constructed and operational hotel-casino that Dad, me, and Spencer busted our asses over for three long years. I gifted Serendipity’s Ballroom A as the venue for Charlie and Claire’s high school prom this year.
The school was so blown away by my generosity, they didn’t pry into my ulterior motives, which was an excuse to chaperone tonight. I claimed it was for quality control purposes as Serendipity has only been operating for less than a year, but let’s be honest–I want to keep an eye on how close these kids are dancing. I am not above pulling the fire alarm and ruining over a hundred teenage girls’ updos if their hands get too curious.
“Sorry, Aiden,” I reluctantly acquiesce. “Please enjoy your steak.” I gesture to his untouched dinner then turn my attention to Charlie’s date. “So, Mitchell, are you looking forward to tonight?”
“Yes, sir.” He nods eagerly. His fair skin and blue eyes are a stark contrast from Claire’s date, Aiden, who is dark-haired with deep brown skin.
“And explain to me why you couldn’t find a date your own age, and decided to ask Charlie to prom, who is two whole grades behind you?”
“Dad. Stop!” Charlie shrieks.
“Nope. Fair question,” I answer.
“Spence…help,” Charlie pleads, making bug eyes at her big sister, begging her to rein me in.
Mitchell clears his throat and nervously straightens his bow tie.
“Nathan,” Spencer grumbles out in a tepid warning.
“What?” I ask, feigning innocence. She lifts one brow, daring me to continue being an ass. “Fine. What I meant, Mitchell, is how did you and Charlie meet?”
“Um… Well, sir, Charlie and I met through swim class. Electives aren’t grade specific so we were on a relay team together. We’ve spent a lot of time getting to know each other–”
“In your bathing suits?” My jaw tightens as I imagine wrapping my hands around his throat.
“No!” Mitchell squabbles out, fear exactly where I want it–in his eyes. “I mean, yes, we wear swimsuits to swim class, but I didn’t ask her out just because I’ve seen her–” He stops short of concluding his thought and hangs his head. “I think I need to be done talking now. Aiden looks full if you want to ask him more questions.”
“Dude,” Aiden protests, then quickly shoves another bite of steak in his mouth so he’s busy chewing.
“Here are the rules for tonight,” I begin, deepening my voice. “No drinking, no drugs, curfew is ten o’clock–”
“Eleven,” Claire chimes in, reminding me of my promise.
“Fine.Eleven. You guys are welcome to come back here and use the pool, but I want you all swimming in long-sleeved wet suits, fully zipped up. Clear?”
Spencer pats both hands on the table and scoots her chair back. “Kids, go ahead and finish eating. But save room for dessert. I made churro cheesecake. And don’t forget, we only have forty minutes before Finn gets here to take pictures.”
The girls still need to put their dresses on. They had dinner in jeans and T-shirts to avoid accidentally staining their couture gowns.