Page 84 of All of Me

Edward stands slowly from his chair, his lips pressing into a thin line as he approaches. His expression is carefully neutral, but there’s a flicker of something—approval? Uncertainty?—in his eyes as he looks at us.

“Congratulations,” he says finally, his voice even. He extends a hand, and I shake it firmly, meeting his gaze head-on.

“Thank you, sir,” I reply, my tone steady despite the tension simmering just beneath the surface.

Then, Edward turns to Callie, his expression softening just slightly. “You happy, baby girl?”

Callie’s fingers tighten around mine. “Yeah, Dad. I am.”

A slow nod, and something in his stance shifts, loosening. “Then I’m happy for you.” He leans in, pressing a kiss to her temple before stepping back.

As the yard buzzes with excitement, there’s one absence I can’t stop missing: Barrett.

I glance at Sara, who’s now sprawled on the grass sorting her candy, and wonder what it would’ve been like to have him here with us. He’d be running around with her, his laughter mixing with hers, probably helping her find the eggs she couldn’t spot on her own. It feels wrong not having him here for this moment, though I understand why he couldn’t be here.

Sabrina got married yesterday.

A mixture of frustration and sadness settles in my chest. Barrett needed to be there for his mom, of course. It was her big day and she wanted him to be part of it, but selfishly, I wish I could’ve had him here for ours. For this moment when Callie and I take another step forward as a family.

Would he have been excited? Confused? I can picture his little face lighting up when we tell him that thoughtful look he gets when he’s trying to process something big. I know it’s coming soon, and I can’t wait to see it. Still, the ache of his absence lingers, reminding me that my family is rarely in the same place at the same time.

The rest of the evening unfolds in a blur of laughter and congratulations. Lana pulls Callie into a tight hug, gushing about wedding plans, while Savannah offers her more subdued but genuine congratulations. Even Brad mutters something polite, though he’s back to fiddling with his pocketknife seconds later.

Through it all, Callie stays close to me, her hand never leaving mine. Her smile grows wider with each embrace and each kind word, but I can feel the way her eyes keep drifting toward her stepmother.

As the sun sets and the first fireflies blink to life in the grass, I catch Edward watching us from across the yard. His expression is hard to read. I don’t know if he’s second-guessing his blessing or just processing everything, but I make a mental note to check in with him before we leave.

For now, I focus on Callie. Her laughter lights up the yard as Sara dances around with chocolate-streaked fingers. Ruby’s soft breaths remind me of everything good and pure in the world. This is our family, and no matter what tension lingers, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect it.

The highway stretches endlessly ahead, the mid-morning sun casting a golden glow over the rolling fields. Callie sits beside me in the passenger seat, her hand resting lightly on my arm as Ruby sleeps in her car seat and Sara hums along to the faint music playing through the speakers. The van smells faintly of coffee and the candy we’ve been rationing from the whirlwind weekend we’ve just had.

Leaving New Orleans late last night was a calculated move. Callie and I both knew if we didn’t hit the road right away, we’d lose an entire day of driving. By the time the sunrise kissed the horizon, we were halfway to Cedar Bluff.

Barrett’s been on my mind the whole way.

I missed him more than I expected while we were in Louisiana. Not having him there felt like a missing piece in an otherwise perfect puzzle. Every laugh, every shared moment with Callie and the girls felt incomplete without him. He would’ve loved exploring the thrift shop, asking a thousand questions about the crawfish boil, and listening to PawPaw’s endless stories.

The thought twists in my chest, a familiar twinge of frustration. I can’t fault her for wanting Barrett by her side on her wedding day, but that doesn’t make it any easier for me. He’s my son too. I hate that I’m not there for everything.

“You okay?” Callie’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts, her green eyes study my face.

“Yeah,” I reply, offering her a small smile. “Just tired.”

She doesn’t push, but her hand squeezes my arm gently, grounding me in the moment.

The afternoon sun is high by the time we pull into Cedar Bluff, casting long shadows across Sabrina’s quiet neighborhood. Her house comes into view, a modest ranch tucked away on a tree-lined street. The sight of it always stirs complicated feelings in me—memories of another life, another version of myself.

I park the van as Callie looks over at me, her brow furrowed. “Want me to stay with the girls?”

“Yeah,” I say, unbuckling my seatbelt. “I’ll be right back.”

I step out, and before I even reach the door, Barrett’s face appears in the window, his little hand waving frantically. The door swings open, and he comes barreling toward me.

“Dad!” he cries, his arms wrapping tightly around my legs.

“Hey, buddy!” I crouch down, pulling him into a hug. “Missed you, kiddo.”

“Missed you too,” he says, his voice muffled against my shirt. “Can I show you my new toy?”

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