Page 103 of Parker

“I always will. You’re mine.”

The baby monitor crackles as Evan’s short sleep ends due to a hiccup.

“That’s our boy,” Joel whispers.

“I’ll get him,” I say, rising and disappearing upstairs.

When I return with Evan, Joel is sitting on the sofa, a blanket prepared for us all. I wander over and place our son in the crook of his arm, then wrap us all up. We sit together, just being us. A family. A family I never thought I would have.

I used to think love was to be earned. But now I realize it’s not about deserving love; it’s about protecting it when it finally finds you. Once it comes to your door, hold on tight. Choose each other over and over again.

Life is fragile. Time passes too quickly. It’s these moments that are important.

Not a name or an empire. The name Parker stands for so much more.

My husband, my son, and I.

Our home. Our chaos. Our future.

We are no longer those lost souls who met at an alcohol awareness meeting. We are stronger than that. What we have is real.

And that will last until death finds us.