Page 120 of The Moment Promised

His head shakes in denial, like it can’t be true. The woman he loved, who broke his heart, who carried his daughter…is dead. Has been dead for nineteen years. Nineteen years he spent thinking she was alive.

“Just because of a stupid joke I made, she’s gone?” He laughs, but without humor. “‘I’m too young to be a dad’is what drove her away? Is what killed her?” He looks as me with gut-wrenching sorrow. “I’m so fucking sorry.” He cries, face reddening as his hands clench in and out of fists. “That…guy—” He’s so angry now. “He got to know my daughter since she was a baby. He hurt mybaby.My daughter?!” He means Jason.

“Charlie,” I say, hot tears falling down my face. “I’m here now.”

Something shifts behind his eyes. He pulls me to him, hugging me the way a father would hug his daughter after not seeing her for a long time.

Chloe joins in, squeezing us so tight, nothing can penetrate the love in this room. The bad parts are over now, and I’m ready to live out all the good life has to offer.

We all spend the day together, completely dumbfounded by the life-altering news. I’ve had a little longer to process it, but it’s still a shock. I imagine I’ll wake up in my hot pink bedroom, and this would have all been a dream.

But it’s real life.

We’ve talked about how crazy it was that Finn and I ended up in this town, in Charlie’s restaurant. That we got along and became friends right away.

How one-in-a-billion the chances of us meeting this way were.

We cried over the years we lost. Cried over what happened to me, to Charlie, to Chloe. The abuse I survived. The love Charlie lost and years of my life he unwillingly missed out on. Chloe’s years of growing up feeling alone in this world, almost as if she knew someone was missing all along.

It’s going to take time to process everything, to heal from the past, and to establish our routine as a family, but they want me in their lives as much as I want to be here. All that matters is we finally found each other.

But the moment promised is missing two people: Finn and my mom.

I imagine what Finn would say if he were here. How he’d talk to Charlie knowing he’s really my dad.

I imagine how my mother and Charlie would be, with the history they share and grieving the person they both mourn.

I try not to think of what this moment is missing.

I take in this time with my dad and sister, remembering every second and every detail.

My new bed is cold without Finn to hold me while I fall asleep. I stare at the wall, trying to imagine him behind me. How he would scoop me into his arms and gently play with the ends of my hair.

It’s been a month since I last saw him. Chloe and I moved into our two-bedroom log cabin a week ago. Charlie was hesitant to let her go, but she’s almost eighteen, and we are only a five-minute drive away from the restaurant and his apartment.

My phone rings and when I see who’s calling my stomach flips. We’ve only spoken a few times over the phone. I answer on the first ring, “Finn.”

I hear the smile in his voice. “Adeline.”

I flip onto my back, putting the phone on speaker and resting it on my chest.

“I needed to hear your voice. I miss you,” he says. I hear sheets ruffling through the speaker, like he’s getting comfortable in bed too.

My ringtone goes off, and when I look at the screen, I realize he’s trying to Facetime me, so I answer with a bright smile.

I was right, he’s lying in his dorm room bed. He went back to FSU shortly after I left. His face lights up when he sees me. “You are beautiful.”

I feel my cheeks warm. “I miss you.” I lift my thumb to my mouth to bite the nail but stop myself, “Every night I lay in bed wishing you were beside me.”

“Me too, love. I’ll see you for Thanksgiving.” He promises, “I booked my plane ticket last night.”

Thanksgiving isn’t for months.

“I’m starting college soon.” I’ve been waiting to tell him about my newfound passion. I wanted to see his face when he found out.

His eyes widen and he sits up. “That’s great, love! Do you know what you want to study?”

I remember what he told me a month ago. That bad things happen to good people because they are the ones who make good of a bad situation. I smile widely when I say, “Law. I’m going to be a lawyer that fights for children who have no one on their side.” I’m going to be the person I needed all those years ago.

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