Page 54 of Summer Shivers

I’ve also started a non-profit foundation for kids who want to write. We provide supplies, books, computers, mentors, even pens and paper if they want it; whatever a kid needs to get their imagination flowing. I’m proud of the work we do, and I think Harrison would be, too. It’s a nice way to honor his name and make sure the ugliness surrounding his death doesn’t taint it.

It keeps me busy but lets me set my own hours at the same time, which is perfect as a stay-at-home mom of (soon to be) two. Though Ty doesn’t know it yet.

“Code brown,” Ty yells from Autumns room. “We’ve got a blowout situation. Need to change her clothes too.”

“I’ve got something for her to wear!” I yell back. Knowing the perfect shirt for her to wear, at least until people start arriving. I’ll share the news with Ty, but I’m still wary of broadcasting it, since Autumn was my first successful, full-term pregnancy.

I bring the shirt I want him to dress her in.

He gets her changed, talking to her the whole time. “Mommy got a new shirt for the birthday girl.” He stands her up on the changing table and she bounces in place. “Let’s see what it says, ‘Best big sister in the world.’ Oh, that’s cute isn’t it, Autumn? You’re the—”

He turns to me. “Wait. Are we . . . ?”

I nod, smiling.

He pulls me into a crushing hug with Autumn squished between us. “Don’t know how you keep making my life better,” he says, sniffling slightly. “But you do. Gonna spend my life tryin’ to be worthy of it.”

I lean in and kiss his neck just below his ear. “You already are babe. Ten times over.” Because if there’s one thing I learned in marrying and losing Harrison, it’s that life rarely gives you second chances. It’ll give you ups and downs and a ton of bullshit in between. But if you are one of the lucky ones to get that rare-as-fuck do-over, you better grab that opportunity by the horns and never look back. Live your life to its fullest, you only get it once.

THE END