Page 118 of Free to Run
“Yes,” she hiccups. “Daddy.”
Sweet Jesus. I bury my head in her neck and let my tears fall. “I’m so sorry, baby. I am so damned sorry. I love you so much.”
“We’ll figure it out. Somehow, we’ll figure it out,” she murmurs in my ear.
Epilogue - Alison
Two Years Later
Aristotle said we depend on ourselves for happiness, and knowing our self is the key to opening up the wisdom within ourselves. I both agree and disagree with his statement. I feel it’s imperative to know yourself—what you’ll tolerate and where your boundaries lie. But wisdom is found all around us.
It was found in the heart of my family, who embraced me when I walked through the door after months of being away. It was found in long conversations, emotional outbursts, accusations, and tears. I was reminded once again why being a Freeman was so special. Ours was a family that wasn’t born but built from strength and pride.
It’s found in the brains of your boss who assigns you to work for your family, doing your old job during your sister’s maternity leave, after which he promptly fired me with an open offer to come back and work for him anytime.
Wisdom is found in the eyes of the man who loves you. The man who decided the family we’ve developed is fine to split its time between Connecticut and New York until our daughter starts school. The man who’s making plans for a satellite office in Connecticut. The man who didn’t want to bind me to him because of the baby we were sharing, but because I felt so comforted by the blanket of trust he wrapped around me.
It took a long time. I still know I fell partially in love with him when he swept me into his arms off the fountain that night at the Plaza. The thing was, Keene never believed in love enough until he met me. And he had so much to learn about himself too.
When he dropped the masks he wore, it wasn’t just my relationship with him that changed. One night, as my due date grew closer, Cassidy confided in me that she finally felt like she had a brother versus a friend.
Even as I smiled at her, I knew what she meant.
There are no more shadows behind Keene’s eyes hiding his soul. He’s become my best friend, my partner, and the man I intend to hold in my heart until the sun no longer lights the path I run down each morning.
* * *
Haveyou ever tried to pull off a surprise wedding with a fifteen-month-old, your family not having a clue, and hell, the groom doesn’t even know about it yet?
One word—nightmare.
I can’t turn to my family to share the angst of wedding day jitters. None of them are here to tell me if my dress looks good. I have to remember the old, new, borrowed, and blue crap myself.
What’s worse? No one is here to help me keep my daughter out of the makeup she’s trying to smear all over her adorable pink patent leather shoes.
“Katherine Laura Marshall! What did Mommy say about playing with her makeup?” I remind my daughter for the third time. Her lower lip wobbles and my heart flops in my chest. Our little girl has Keene’s hair and my eyes. She looks a lot like Cassidy. Funny, she acts a lot like Corinna. Keene always rolls his eyes when I say that and mutters, “Or her mother.”
She’s a handful, and we both love her more than our next breath.
“Listen, beautiful girl, we have a super big surprise for Daddy when he gets off of work today.”
“Dwaaddeeee!” Kalie shrieks. Losing interest in my makeup, she teeters over in her pink puffy dress. “Mama, up!” Kalie demands with a stomp of her little foot.
“In just a minute, sweetie. Mama’s almost ready.” I put my gloss in my bag and glance in despair at the bathroom vanity in our condo in the city. It’s a disaster. Knowing we have no time to clean it up, I say, “Mama will just worry about this mess later,” I sigh.
Kalie nods and points. “Mess!” She falls on her tush and giggles.
I look down at my short cream sheath with the long bell sleeves. I’m wearing Laura Marshall’s diamond and a pair of her sapphire earrings Keene had given me when I pushed Kalie out. I reach for the blue sapphire bangle I borrowed from Corinna last week and “forgot” to return. Stepping into the silver Choos that started it all so long ago, I reach for my daughter’s hand, knowing she’ll want to walk as far as the elevator. “Ready, baby?”
“Go!” Kalie toddles off, and I’m not far behind.
It’s going to be an interesting night.
* * *
For a long timewhen we got back from Charleston, Keene and I practically lived like roommates. Even though we slept wrapped in each other’s arms every night, we were like two teenagers in the back of a car than two people who were about to have their first child.
It was sweet.
