Page 165 of Give Me Redemption

“Look, Uncle Jace! I paint this for you.”

I smile at the kid and grab the thing, knowing it’s still wet. “This is hands-down my favorite pumpkin.”

“Really?” she asks.

I turn to see Dalton walking down the steps behind me. I put my hand on her stomach. “Well, besides this one, of course.”

Rylee laughs. “That’s not a pumpkin. That’s a baby, silly Uncle Jace.”

She runs back over to where she and Emily are doing crafts.

Dalton laughs. “Keep pointing out how big my belly is.”

“What you gonna do about it?” I ask her.

She exhales. “I’ll think of something.”

I smile. “I’m sure you will.”

Aunt Lou walks down beside us. “Your brother’s here,” she says. I look back at the door, seeing Harrison walking out.

“There’s my beautiful sister-in-law,” I say, climbing the steps and grabbing her up in a bear hug.

She laughs. “Put me down, you idiot.”

I kiss her cheek just as Bryce walks out the door.

“Wanna let my wife go?” he asks. “You’ve got your own now.”

“I know, but I love yours, too.” I see Dalton rolling her eyes at me, and it only makes me grin more.

We four have come far. It took some time for Harrison to even consider being around Dalton. But once she finally did, things seemed to go up from there.

Harrison found out about Chloe and how Dalton saved all those poor girls. My sister-in-law’s heart softened a bit toward my wife—I think because of Harrison’s own history with her stepfather.

She told Dalton that she wished she would have had someone to save her.

The girls grew closer after that, and they’ve been friends ever since. Thank God.

“What’s up, pig?” Bryce says to my wife.

“’Sup, asshole?” she says casually.

I smirk and Harrison playfully hits Bryce.

“Are y’all ready to eat?” Mary asks, walking onto the porch with a pan full of chicken.

“I am,” I say to her. “Here, I’ll get that.” She lets me take it from her hands.

“Thanks.” She smiles at me before I walk down to the table set up outside.

Mary and I have also come far. She and I have gone to therapy a few times, and even Bryce.

We’ve learned that you can’t change the past, but you can decide how your future is going to go. So, with hard work, some tears, and a shitload of angry words thrown, here we are.

There are still rough days, but for the most part, we’re all doing well.

Including my wife. I look at her as she walks down to the table. She’s beautiful in an all-black maxi dress.

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