Page 155 of Learn Your Lesson

“Does this mean you’re going to stay forever?”

Chloe smiled, running a hand through my daughter’s hair. “I think it means that’s a possibility, yes. And for now, I’m at least going to move into the house with you guys. Would that be okay?”

“Into my room?!” Ava clapped.

“No,” Chloe said on a laugh. “Into your dad’s room, but I’ll be up there every night with you to play and read before bed. Deal?”

“Deal.”

We talked for a while longer, Chloe knowing what questions to ask better than I did. But in the end, Ava was just excited. I knew one day she might have more questions — especially when it came to her mother. But I also knew that with Chloe by my side, we could handle it.

We could handle anything that came our way.

When it was time for me to head to the arena, I kissed Ava on the forehead, and then I brought Chloe into my arms, a little nervous to kiss her for the first time in front of Ava. But I did it, savoring each kiss like it was the first and the last and promising I’d find them after the game in the family lounge.

“Go get ’em,” she said, squeezing my arm when I released her.

But before I could walk out the door, Ava screamed, “Wait!”

She tugged at Chloe’s phone peeking out of her jean pocket — I couldn’t stare too long, because this woman in fuckingjeanswas apparently my ultimate undoing. She had gone on some shopping trip with Maven, Livia, and Grace last weekend, and if I thought seeing her in the custom-created dresses she made was torture, it was nothing compared to a well-fitted pair of denim.

Ava turned to me. “Before you go, can we take a family picture?”

I scrubbed a hand over my mouth, emotion strangling my next breath. All I could do was nod, and then she was running to get Chef Patel from where she was cleaning up in the kitchen after making me my pre-game meal.

Ava dragged Chef into the room and handed her the phone, and then Chloe was tucking herself under my arm, and I hiked Ava up in the other, and we leaned together for our first photo together.

“Sayhockey!” Chef said.

“Hockey!” we all chimed together.

Arushi smiled as she clicked a few photos, and I swore I felt another smile, one that wasn’t in the room with us, but rather watching from somewhere above. I knew I’d never get the chance to hear her say it, to know for sure… but my heart told me Jenny would be happy to see us all together.

She’d be happy I was introducing our daughter to her, happy with who our daughter was becoming.

Happy thatIhad somehow found my own happiness, too.

As soon as the photo was taken, Ava was calling Chef in to join us, not taking no for an answer. I held Chloe’s phone in my hand as far out as I could to capture us all in one selfie, the smile on my face so foreign and yet soright.

Ava was clawing at my arm to see the photos as soon as we dispersed, and I lowered my hand so she could see, swiping through each one.

“Wow,” she breathed on a little smile. “We really are doing our best.”

When I handed Chloe her phone back, I kissed my girls one last time before heading out the door.

And I made a vow to learn my lesson.

I made a vow to print and frame those photos tomorrow, and to paint every wall in this house with the memories of us.

Happy Beginnings

June

Will

Skates cutting into fresh ice.

The puck gliding before aclinksent it flying.