Page 64 of Finding the Pieces

“Maybe you should take a stab at writing a parenting book. That seems like pretty solid advice to me,” I say.

“It would be a short book. Ask for help, adapt to endless change, and do everything with love.”

“I’d buy that book,” I say with a smile.

We finish our ice cream and Luca sings the whole way home.

When the bowl is ready, Dad offers to pick it up and bring it to our house. I set it carefully on our mantle, wanting to see it every day, reminded of the gift my dad and Luca gave me. Permission to be messy and to own it.

I open Luca’s baby book that night and begin.

Chapter thirty-two

Dom

“Do you remember when you used to bribe a librarian for free printing?” Ellie asks, her laugh vibrating against my bare chest as she snuggles closer into my side.

The time we’ve been sharing before bed, seemingly small conversations, has turned into something more. It’s like I’m catching up with a friend I haven’t seen in a long time. One of those best friends where you’re so compatible that it doesn’t matter that it’s been too long, the bond hasn’t weakened, and you find that talking is as easy as it always was. Like our souls are connected, even when at a distance.

The last few nights have been filled with talks about the future, specifically what we imagine the next year or so will look like. It feels like Luca hits a new growth spurt every other week.

It sounds like Ellie wants to spend tonight talking about the past instead.

“I don’t remember it that way,” I tease, giving her side a pinch.

She slaps my hand away. “Oh really? Well, how would you describe it?”

“I’d say that dear Ruth was extorting me for free desserts in my hour of need.”

“Of course, you were the innocent one in all of this,” she teases.

“Exactly. Glad you see things my way. Luckily, I was saved from further harm when this stunning blonde with a perfect ass took on my printing responsibilities. I still had to pay…with coffee dates, dinners, and endless orgasms.”

“Seems like such a hardship.”

“It was, but I wasn’t about to say anything.” I lean to whisper in her ear. “I once saw her nearly tear apart a printer with her bare hands. I wasn’t going to do anything to risk facing her wrath.”

“So, did you stay with this monster?” she asks, pinching my nipple.

“Abso-fucking-lutely. And my life was never boring again.” I feel her smile and giggle against my skin. I trace small circles on her back, my other hand behind my head. We both lie quietly for a few minutes. I’m about to doze off when she speaks.

“How did you know you wanted to stay with her?” she asks, unable to hide the vulnerability in her question.

I wrap both arms around her, trying to pull her closer even though we’re already as close as we can be.

“From the moment I met this force of nature, I never wanted to leave her side. If I did, she would have taken everything good with her. Every reason to smile would have evaporated. Every breath would have been painful. Every beat of my heart would have felt like daggers digging deep into every muscle. Within moments she became my everything. Without her, I would have lost it all.”

She stills before looking up at me, chin resting on my chest, her eyes searching mine for something. I don’t know what she sees, but I know what I see. I see the love of my life finding her way home. I’ll shine a light so bright she can’t miss it, even in this stormy season. I’ll do it for as long as it takes for her to find her way safely back to me.

“I love you,” she says, sincerity blanketing every word.

“I love you too.” I continue rubbing circles on her back. “Do you remember the first time you told me that?” I ask.

As expected, she groans, pulling away from me and burying her face in a pillow. “God, don’t remind me. Please, any memory but that.”

I laugh and try unsuccessfully to pull her back into my arms. She grips the pillow like a lifeline and keeps her face buried as she whines.

“Come on, Ellie. It was romantic.”

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