Page 24 of Royal

Donovan giggles when Royal and Penny lift him off the ground, swinging him slightly.

This feels surreal; it feels right. From the outside, it looks like we are a family going out together.

I love it.

Royal holds open the door for us and walks to the front to pay. I offer to pay because I’m rich and can afford it now.

Wow, I can afford it. The thought runs through my mind because what this day has brought to me is wild.

I never dreamed that within the space of a week, my whole life would change so much. I realized that raising my son was my focus and goal in life. He didn’t ask to be here, but I will be damned if I don’t give him the best life possible. Looking at Penny, I can tell that Royal has loved her fiercely. He is a damn good dad.

My whole life, I have never seen a father figure so hands-on as most fathers I knew didn’t care if their kids had everything they needed.

Royal is so different.

I’m so lost in thought, I barely notice Penny poking me with her finger on my stomach. “Sorry, what did you say, sweet girl?” I bend down closer to her level.

She giggles. “I asked if you would jump with me?” She points to the far side of the building where the trampolines are. In front of us, past the check-in, is an arcade area, a rock-climbing area to the room's left, and a ninja course on the right.

Off to the side of the trampoline is a closed-off area meant for smaller kids.

“Sure, I’d love to.”

We walk to the bench where we put our shoes. There are small lockers where you can store your things so it’s not just lying around.

Donovan screams and points to a little merry-go-round. Instead of a pony, it has little motorcycles.

Royal chuckles. “I think this boy is after my heart.”

I pick up Donovan, sitting him beside Penny on the bench. I help him remove his shoes and add the nonslip socks they give you here.

Donovan wiggles his toes on the floor before standing and jumping. Penny runs to him once Royal helps her remove her shoes and put on her socks. We put on our own socks, and I turn my head to the side so Royal can’t see my amusement at the sight of his neon bright socks.

I love that he doesn’t care.

Penny and Donovan take off running to the trampolines first, and I watch as his little legs try to keep up with her.

I giggle at them, and Royal takes my hand as we follow behind the pair. They start jumping, and their bouncing is out of sync. He goes flying, his little legs up in the air, and he lands on his back.

Penny doubles over in the middle, cracking up at him. Donovan rolls over and bounces onto his feet, then takes off running at a full sprint, jumping every couple of feet.

I sit down on the edge of the trampoline and watch them play, Royal beside me.

All the bad shit that has happened today is forgotten as I watch them play together.

They’re holding hands and jumping off the diving board into the foam. My eyes widen when they disappear into the blocks.

Royal runs over and jumps inside of the blocks after them, and I follow suit, running over to the edge of the pit. I hear screaming, and Royal bends down, plucking out Donovan, then Penny, who is crying.

My heart moves to my throat. Donovan grins ear to ear, but Penny holds out her hand.

I take Penny from Royal and pull her onto the bench. “Where does it hurt?” I ask her. She lifts her thumb, and I take her hand gently. “Can you bend it?” I ask.

A tear falls from her eye, and I catch it with my finger, wiping it away. She wiggles her thumb, and I take a deep breath. “I think you just jammed it.”

She leans over and lays her head on my shoulder. I pick her up and cuddle her as she cries. It scared her more than anything, as I’m sure being at the bottom of a vast foam pit was scary.

Forgetting about Donovan, I look around to see where he is, and my eyes widen when I clock him off running toward the diving board again.

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