Page 86 of Power Forward

“Hi,” I whisper, dropping my gaze from his eyes to his lips.

“Hi.” His smile is gentle.

“Are you ready for this? It’s not always going to be fun. There’s going to be days where they test your patience and make a mess and nights where they knee you in the balls without a care in the world.”

He laughs softly, his eyes full of love. “Yeah, I am.”

I close the distance and press a kiss to his lips.

“I’m really glad you’re here, Cas.”

“Me too, Jax. I’m glad I’m here too.”

Epilogue

Jackson – one year later

I take a step back and admire my handiwork. The blue light provides a nice ocean feel to the tank, where three moon jellyfish bob around. The tank is a D shape, because apparently you can’t keep jellyfish in an aquarium with straight edges, and has a built-in LED system. Hayden told me all about how the tank would change color, so I made sure I found one that could do the same.

“I think he’s gonna love it, Dad.” Ryan smiles up at me, mirroring my posture with his hands on his hips.

I glance down at my son, amazed every day at how grown-up he is.

“Yeah? You think so?”

He nods confidently. “Yeah, I do.”

Hayden’s been away for two days in Toronto on business and is due back this afternoon. I’ve been wanting to surprise him with his own jellyfish tank for a while, but with my schedule and making sure I found reputable sellers, it hasn’t lined up until now. I spent weeks emailing with Robertaasking for her advice and what kind of tank and type of jellyfish she has so I could replicate it at home, knowing how much Hayden loves them.

Ryan’s also been so excited to get this set up because this is the first pet we’ve had as a family. Not that we can cuddle up or pet a jellyfish, but the novelty is still there.

Plus, there’s something else me and the kids want to ask him, so it kinda ties in nicely.

“Have you got everything ready for him?” I ask, picking up the empty packaging to take out to the trash.

“Yep, and Izzy is finishing up her drawing now.” He motions for me to follow him into the family room, where Isabela sits at the dining table, her coloring markers scattered everywhere.

“Daddy, look!” she says excitedly and holds up her drawing.

I take the sheet of paper from her, and my eyes burn as I take it all in. There are four stick-figure people, two large and two small, all joined up by their stick arms like they’re holding hands. Daddy is written under one, along with Isabela’s and Ryan’s names, and Hayden is on the other end. Underneath the four stick figures, there are big block letters that say, “The Wilde Family” and a bunch of love hearts in various sizes and colors.

“This is beautiful, peanut. Hayden’s gonna love it.”

She beams. She’s grown so much in the last twelve months since we started her specialized programs at school and created the right environment at home. My mom still takes care of the school runs, and often, they stay overnight with my parents when I have a game, but most of the time when I’m on the road, they stay at home with Hayden. He’sadjusted his travel schedule so he can be home with them more, and the difference we’ve both seen, and her teachers too, is significant.

Ryan has moved up a group in hockey, and Hayden makes sure he always attends his practices even if I can’t. He really looks up to Hayden. Always wants his advice and often asks for his help whenever he’s struggling with something, whether it be on the ice or homework.

Seeing the relationships develop between him and my kids is something I never would have expected, but it’s come to mean absolutely everything to me.

“And this is mine,” Ryan announces, handing his drawing over. It’s a similar concept to Isabela’s, without the stick men. He’s drawn Isabela wearing her Bingo costume, which is her current favorite. So much so I had to buy another one recently because she’s worn it so much. Then, Ryan and I are in our hockey gear, both of us holding hockey sticks, and Hayden’s in a suit, but it’s what he’s written that causes a choked noise to escape me.

‘Hayden, will you be our Papa?’

When I decided I wanted to ask Hayden to marry me, I spoke to the kids first. Their happiness is the most important thing to me, and I’d never do anything that would upset them. As expected, they were so excited about the idea of me and Hayden getting married. Isabela demanded to be a bridesmaid, then asked when we could get her dress, but it was Ryan who almost knocked me off my seat.

“Do you think we could call him Dad?” he’d asked.

I’d let him know that as long as Hayden was happy with it, they could choose what name they wanted to call him.But the second they turned their attention back to the TV, I hid in the kitchen and cried.

---