I Got 3 – Jack Gray

Addie

I ’m going to cry. At some point today, I’m going to combust into tears. It's inevitable.

Declan leads Nora and me off the monorail and into the amusement park. They walk hand in hand toward the park, bracelets on their wrists and large, blossoming smiles on their faces.

I was shocked this morning to be woken by an antsy Declan opposed to Nora. Turns out, he might be even more excited than she is to go to the park. He wouldn’t tell me his grand plan, only to make sure there is space in my bag. The request was far too ominous to determine what in my bag could be discarded. Every item in the bag is essential. Granola bars. A first-aid kit. Rechargeable battery.

I spent hours curating a list of essentials based on packing lists I found on Pinterest.

In the end, I decided we could forcefully shove what we needed into the bag, or buy a new bag and Declan can tote it around.

“Wait up!” I yell as the distance between us increases and I’m jogging after them. Nora drags Declan toward the ticket queue, and I’m nearly out of breath when I reach them.

“C’mon, Mommy!” Nora yells in response, and as we’re ushered through the ticket line and into the park, my breath catches.

It’s fucking chaos.

Everywhere.

Magical, happy, chaos. And my two goobers might be the most excited of them all.

“I have a surprise for you,” Declan says, “But it means we have to run through Main Street for now.”

Nora’s lips downturn. They spent two hours last night planning the route, deciding which rides they wanted to wait in line, and which were a hard no.

I vetoed any with water. I am not walking through the park wet and chaffing.

“Can we come back?”

Declan nods. “Of course.”

“Okay!”

He crouches down and Nora leaps onto his back. Declan turns to me. “I had to beg to get this appointment, we cannot be late,” he says low and quiet, just for me. “We’re going to have to jog to the Castle.”

Without another word, he starts to run away, weaving around families and workers with massive bouquets of balloons. Nora oohs and ahhs as the main stretch of the park passes with a blur of bright colors and sweet, gooey caramel and vanilla scents.

Declan is panting when he stops, helping Nora off his back and guiding her inside the castle. Nora’s blue eyes are wide with wonder and enchantment as she looks around the castle, and when we stop in front of a boutique, my heart flips.

“Would you like to become a princess?” Declan asks, voice brimming with excitement.

Nora jumps up and down. “Yes!”

He guides us in and after a few moments, Nora is swept away by a worker and guided through the large entryway full of more princess dresses than she could ever imagine. She nervously walks around the room, uncharacteristically shy, as she selects an outfit. After a stressful few minutes, she decides on the sparkly purple dress, and Declan and I help her change in a dressing room and a magical mirror.

I’m not going to make it much longer. I can feel the tears pressing against my eyelids, begging for escape. I’m trying my best not to cry, but I glance over at Declan and he’s helping Nora fluff out the tulle in her dress and I lose it.

It’s going to be a long day if I can’t get a hold of my emotions.

Declan glances up, brows furrowed in confusion, but I wave him off, pull out my phone and start to take a million photos to capture every moment, every memory.

When Nora is dressed and her clothes are shoved into my bag, a fairy godmother guides her into the salon area, helping her into the chair.

“Are you okay?” Declan asks, a hand trailing down my spine as we watch Nora select her hairstyle, makeup, and nail polish color.

“I’m fine,” I assure him, pressing onto my toes to place a chaste kiss to his lips. “Just emotional.”

“Me too.” His features soften. “Love you.”

He places a kiss to the top of my head and pulls my back against his chest, holding me as we watch Nora blossom into a stunning princess, complete with a tiara and pixie dust in her hair. Her smile is blinding as they spin her around and she looks at herself in the enchanted mirror.

Every sacrifice, every late night crying in the bathroom, the highs and lows, it was all worth it for this moment; watching Nora’s every dream come true in the arms of the man I love, who loves us so unconditionally it should be a fairytale.

They hand Nora her accessories that come with the outfit and guide her out for a photoshoot.

“How much did this trip cost?” I ask under my breath.

His responding smile is mischievous, and he takes my hand and places a kiss to the back. “Sometimes relationships thrive on ignorance. Like your ignorance on how much this vacation cost.”

“ Declan . That is not how this is going to work.”

“You would murder me if you knew what I spent, and I prefer my head on my shoulder.”

“How. Much.”

He sighs. “Are we really doing this? Look at how beautiful Nora looks right now.” I pause to look at my daughter, who is spinning around as the photographer snaps pictures. Who knows how much those photos are going to cost. My second born child, probably. “I’ll tell you, but you’re not allowed to get mad at me, or threaten castration.”

“What? Why would I threaten that?”

“You don’t know the price.” I raise an eyebrow and he concedes. “About fifteen grand.”

Oh god, I’m going to faint. That’s outrageous.

I place a palm over my heart to still the racing. That’s the price of a nice used car.

“This is why I didn’t tell you,” he hisses, voice shrill as Nora runs over. “We have the money.”

That is not the— We?

“What do you mean ‘ We’? ”

“I added your name to my bank accounts last week. Card should be in the mail when we get back. It’s our money now.” His smile is shit-eating, and full of smug male pride as he realizes I have no room to argue as Nora reaches us. “I plan to spend the rest of my life spoiling you. Better for all of us if you get used to it now.”

“Daddy!” Nora crashes into Declan’s legs for a brutal hug and when Declan’s eyes meet mine, they’re shining with tears. “Look at my purse!”

It’s really hard to be annoyed with a man who cries when your daughter hugs him.

Declan diligently listens as Nora explains the purse, and when she’s finished, we walk back down Main Street, walking through crowded gift shops and stopping for sweet treats at the bakery even though it’s barely ten in the morning.

“ Sweet treat time is all the time on vacation” , Declan says as he hands Nora a castle-shaped ice-cream with one of the spires missing where he took a large bite.

I snap a handful of photos of them with ice cream dripping down their chins, then offer baby wipes.

When they’re content with their sweet treats, we work our way back toward the castle, and the photographer snaps photos of families. We wait in line, and when it’s our turn, Nora takes our hands and we all smile brightly.

We’re collecting our photo ticket from the photographer when I spot a head of hair and an arm of tattoos I would know anywhere, hiding behind a light pole, like it could hide his three-hundred pound frame. I scan to the left, and find his wife, and beside her, four more people who mean the world to Declan.

Nathalie notices me first, and offers a small wave. That’s when I notice the shirts. The ones that match ours. Declan is preoccupied with Nora, and I beckon them over, giddy excitement bubbling in my chest.

There’s no way he knows about this—not with the mischievous smile on Maren’s face, or the gleam in Henry’s eyes as he leaps on Declan, scaring the shit out of him.

“Agh!” he yells, shaking to dislodge Henry from his side.

I’m going to cry again.

“That’s not the way to greet your best friends,” Henry chides, and Declan pauses. His eyes blink a few times, scanning each of his friends before he barrels into Henry’s chest.

When he lets go, there are tears brimming in his eyes. “What are you guys doing here?”

“You really think we would miss a family vacation?” Nathalie asks, stepping forward to replace Henry and hugging Declan. “My family is pissed they couldn’t make it,” she says quietly, and Declan laughs softly.

“Hi, Deon,” Nora says, zeroing in on the quiet quarterback. His eyes widen as she reaches out with sticky chocolate covered hands, and I have to fight a laugh.

He’s going to have to get used to the mess if they ever decide to have children, or hire a very good cleaner.

“Hi, Nora,” he says, allowing her to take his hand.

“I’m a princess,” she says, pulling out her skirt with her free hand. “See?”

“And you look beautiful.”

Sawyer steps up to Declan, and they share a look of understanding. She looks at Nora and me, then to Declan, and he nods. Only once, but the action means something to her because she draws him into a tight hug and when she releases him, places a palm on his cheek.

“You are worthy of this.” He nods once more and she pats his cheek. “Never forget that.”

“Daddy, look! It’s a princess!”

Declan spins around to follow where Nora is pointing, but the rest of the group falls quiet, six sets of eyes watching Declan and Nora interact.

“Did she just…” Henry trails off, eyes wide as he looks at Jack for confirmation.

“Yeah, I think she did,” Jack says, stunned as he stares at me.

Oh. I figured he would have told them that already.

“Oh my god. Someone take a photo!” Nathalie screams, scrambling around her massive purse. Deon hands her his phone. “Thanks!”

She takes photos left and right of them, and I bite back a laugh at Sawyer’s wide, disbelieving eyes.

The reactions are comical—that is, until Maren breaks down in tears. It’s not a pretty sight as she begins to sob, and fat tears stream down her cheeks.

Declan turns at the sound of her choked sobs, and he freezes. “Is she crying?”

Maren barrels toward him, wraps her arms tightly around him and cries into his shoulder. Declan stands as still as a statue, arms limp at his sides and Nora clutching his hand. Concerned blue eyes meet mine, and I shrug.

I have no idea.

He spins to find Jack, but he’s a massive blur, sprinting down the street.

“We were prepared for this,” Nathalie says. “She’s been a bit emotional lately.”

“I have not.” Maren whirls.

“You are crying in the middle of an amusement park,” I say.

“I’m crying because Nora just called him ‘Daddy’ and no one is more deserving of the title than Declan, and it’s about god-damn time he finds people who love him as much as we do!” Her voice rises with every word, and her eyes widen and shoulders slump. “Okay, yeah, maybe I’m just a tiny bit emotional.”

“A tiny bit, yes,” Sawyer says sarcastically.

Deon coughs to hide his laughter, and Maren glares at him, but Declan hugs her again. “Thank you, Maren. For everything.”

Maren nods, cheeks flushing, and she wipes away tears. Jack returns, panting, holding a massive turkey leg in one hand and a Diet Coke in the other.

“Here, Maren baby.” He hands her the food and she beams, pressing onto her toes to place a kiss to his cheek.

“Love you more than Deon loves his label maker.” She aims a smug smile in Deon’s direction. He clicks his tongue, but Nathalie cackles.

Jack chuckles and pulls her to his side.

Nathalie slips her hands over my shoulders and pulls me into a side hug as Declan explains the route he and Nora planned with the group. His smile is large and happiness radiates off him.

“I never thought I’d see that smile again,” Nathalie whispers.

“I’ll spend the rest of my life chasing it,” I admit.

He’s it for me. I know it with certainty—there is no man kinder, more thoughtful, worthy than Declan.

“I’m happy for you both.” She squeezes my shoulders, “Just a small question.”

“Sure.”

“Has he told you he loves you yet?” I raise an eyebrow. “There may or may not be a bet on the line I’m itching to win.”

“Uh…Do I want to know?” I’m leaning towards probably not, but Nathalie’s smile is feral.

“If I win, Deon is going to dress up as Legolas.”

She wiggles her eyebrows, and I choke on laughter.

“He told me last weekend,” I admit, warmth blossoming from my solar plexus at the memory.

“I could kiss you!” she yells, hugging me once more before sprinting toward Deon and crashing into him. She leans in to whisper in his ear, and he blanches before making eye contact with me. I wiggle my fingers, and he frowns.

They don’t need to know that technically, I said the three words first and by default, no one wins. Deon’s face flashes with lust, and I look away.

Gross.

“Everyone understand the plan?” Declan asks, Nora’s hand in one palm and a park map in the other. Everyone nods. “Alright then, off we go!”

The rest of the day is overflowing with laughter as we wait in queues and ride every ride we can. Nora’s giggles are music to my ears, and after every ride, Declan pulls me close to tell me he loves me.

It’s the most magical day I’ve ever experienced.

And when the sun fades in the sky, and Declan bundles us both in sweatshirts he bought from the gift shop, the tears finally fall. Small, tiny tears of joy as Declan hauls Nora onto his shoulder for a better view of the castle. Each of his teammates hold their significant others as fireworks blast in the sky, painting it in a mosaic of colors.

It’s a moment I’d love to paint someday—to pour the love swirling in my chest onto a canvas.

A shooting star flashes across the castle and Nora yells, “Make a wish!”

She squeezes her eyes shut, but Declan looks down at me, adoration swimming in his blue eyes.

“I don’t need to,” he says quietly, “Every single one of my dreams has come true.”