Page 83 of When It Rains He Pours

What?

The charred remnants that I remembered seeing last time I was there was gone. There was nothing but green grass and flowers. A giant playground was set off in the back, benches speckled the outskirts, and a gazebo was smack dab in the center.

“How?” I asked out loud, not really directing the question to Liam. Jolting forward, I crossed the street without looking, hearing the faint honk of a car as I cut in front of it.

Tears filled my eyes as I stood at the edge of a small park. There was a plaque secured on a fence post, and as I read the name the bubbles of water on my eyes came splashing down.

Holden Park.

“Did you do this?” I asked as Liam came up beside me.

Placing our son down, I watched as Holden ran through the grass and started to climb on the jungle gym.

Liam tucked his hands into his back pockets, keeping his eyes on our baby. “I did.”

“I can't believe this.”

“It took me long enough to get you here.” Looking at me from the corner of his eyes, he smirked.

Wiping my cheeks, I let out a delicate laugh. “You named this place after our son. . .” Pausing, I sniffled, rubbing my nose.

“I named it after your father.” His hand pressed into the small of my back, pulling me into his hip. “Read the rest of the plaque.”

Dropping my eyes to the sign, I read the small print at the bottom.

Holden Park. Dedicated to Holden Daniels, husband and father. A man who gave more than he could ever know to this community.

Tears fell effortlessly down my face, dropping one after another onto the ground.

“You did this for me?” Looking up at Liam, he gave me a smile.

“I'd do anything for you.” Brushing the tears away, he scooped my face in his palms and kissed me. “I love you, Glory.”

“Mama, Dada, look!” Holden yelled to us.

Twisting to look at him, Holden was standing at the top of the slide. Sitting down slowly, he pushed off and went down.

“Yay!” I called to him, nuzzling my head into Liam's chest.

Clutching me firmly against his ribs, Liam rested his head on mine, and we both watched our little boy as he played.

This was the life my father would have wanted me to have. All of this right here.

There was no devastation at the old lot, there was no wasteland of burned wood and wasted space.

Liam had done something incredible, he gave it new life, he resurrected something that had been so tainted and made it beautiful again.

And together we had found eternal happiness.

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