Page 122 of Landon & Shay: Part Two

Shannon Sofia Harrison

Ava Maria Harrison

Lance James Harrison

The three loves of my life.

When Shay and I learned that we were having twins, we were overjoyed. Ava and Lance both turned five last weekend, and they were the happiest children known to mankind. They were just like their mother—the lighthouse that led me home each night.

After the award show, Shay and I decided to skip out on Vanity Fair’s Oscars Party. There was our own celebration waiting for us back at home.

When we arrived at our Los Angeles home, a smile creeped on my face as Shay’s eyes widened with joy.

“You didn’t,” she breathed out, stunned.

“I did.”

Standing on the front porch were all of our loved ones, holding up a sign that said, “You’re our winning lady.” Everyone flew out for the big event. All of our friends and families showed up to cheer on our leading lady.

Tears formed in Shay’s eyes as our little ones held handmade Oscars in their hands.

When we stepped out of the car, they rushed to their mother and wrapped their arms around her. “Here’s your real Oscars, Mama,” Ava said, handing the crafts over to her. “The ones on TV looked really fake.”

“Yeah, Mama. You get two here, unlike on that stupid show,” Lance said, handing his over, too.

Tears rolled down her face and she kissed the cheeks of our children. “These are the best awards I’ve ever won.”

We hugged everyone who’d showed up that night and popped bottles of champagne in honor of Shay’s huge accomplishment. The night went on and on with laughter, joy, and love. As I looked around my home, I realized that everything I’d ever dreamed of had come true. It wasn’t about fame, money, or success. It was about family, love, and happiness. I had all three of those things overflowing into my life. I was the luckiest man alive—scars and all.

As the night faded to a close, everyone agreed to meet up the next day for a big brunch celebration.

Shay headed off to our room to take a shower and get ready for bed as I took on the task of putting the little ones to bed.

“Can you read another?” Lance yawned as he lay in bed.

“Yeah, Daddy, another,” Ava said, echoing Lance’s yawn. Even though they could’ve easily had their own bedrooms, the twins were convinced they wanted to share a room until they were one hundred and four. We’d see how they felt about that when the teenage years came swinging by.

I walked over to them and kissed each of their foreheads. “Not tonight. We’ve already read four books, and it’s way past your bedtime.”

They both pouted, but I wasn’t going to give in. The night before, I ended up reading them six books. Shay called me a pushover. I agreed times a million. It wasn’t a surprised that the kids loved stories so much, seeing how their mother was one of the most amazing storytellers of all time.

Almost, good enough for an Oscar.

Again, if you asked me, she was robbed.

I turned off the kids’ bedroom light and headed to my room to fall into bed with a very exhausted wife.

She was already half asleep as I crawled into bed beside her. I kissed her forehead as I pulled her body against mine. She melted into me as if her heartbeats were made to solely fit against mine.

“I’m so happy,” she whispered, brushing her lips against mine.

“Me too.” So damn happy.

She yawned and snuggled in closer. Her eyes were closed as sleepiness began to pull her in for the remainder of the night, but her lips parted as she softly asked me the most important question of my life. “How’s your heart?”

“Completely full,” I replied.

That heart of mine? That damaged, battered, and bruised heart that sat inside of my chest? It would forever and always be beating for her.

The End.

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