Page 150 of Broken Dreams
Grady clears his throat. “I would love to be your other daddy if you want, but you can call me anything you want. It can be Grady or Daddy or Mr. Fuzzypants.”
She giggles and I work hard at keeping my tears at bay. “Jett calls you Daddy.”
“He does.”
“So you can be my daddy too!”
Elodie wraps her arms around his neck and squeezes tight. Grady wipes at his face and I know he’s emotional too.
Jett comes to my side, taking my hand. “Can we go first, pwease, Addison?”
Grady pops up, pulling Elodie up into his arms. “Not this time, my sweet Elodie gets to go first.”
She claps loudly and I hoist Jett up with a plan to let my sweet boy get his turn. “While we’d love to give you two this moment, I’m afraid we can’t do that.”
“No?” Grady asks with a little confusion.
“No, instead, I think we’re going to race.”
And the four of us take off towards the last sighting, laughing as we dodge people trying to get to Mickey as one happy family.
epilogue
GRADY
~Two months later~
I’m out in the spot that would’ve been where my house was going to go, for the first time grateful for stupid red tape and issues at the county that delayed it all.
One thing could’ve altered the life I have now.
One decision going the other way would mean no Addison or Elodie.
The four of us have found each other, built a foundation, and now I want all the walls to go up and our home to be secured around us.
Today I’m going to ask Addison to be my wife. To allow me to spend the rest of my days with her, giving her the life she’s dreamed of.
I want everything with her, a home, marriage, more kids, and to love the ones we have now. Both of our businesses are doing great, we’re happy, and I’m not afraid anymore. Not of a future, but more of not having one.
I hear the side by side approach right on time. We are going to let the past go so we can start our futures.
“Hey, baby,” Addy’s soft voice says a minute later.
I turn to see her wearing a flowing sundress, with her sweater on, the kids holding her hands.
“Daddy!” They both run to me, and I laugh as each grabs a leg.
“Hey, guys, I missed you too.”
Addy approaches, a wide smile on her lips. “How was your trip?”
“It was good.”
I flew to Rose Canyon five days ago where I went to Isaac’s grave, talked to him about my plans, as well as Spencer, Emmett, and Holden. I brought them back here, where they’ve been hiding out at my brothers’ and sister’s houses. After that, I flew down to Oklahoma to sit beside Lisa’s headstone, see her parents again, and explain my intentions to them.
Now that I have everyone’s blessings, I feel, more than ever, this is the right time.
The kids release my legs and I pull her into my arms, kissing her softly. “I missed you.”
