Three Years Later
"Okay, now, you know what to do," Nathan whispered carefully handing him the present.
The little boy nodded, bounded into the room and jumped on the bed. "Hi momma!" he said happily, settling down onto the bed as Haley was turning over.
"Hey Jamie, sweetie, what are you doing up so early?" Haley asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
Nathan stood quietly in the doorway, surveying the scene.
"We have a pwesent for you!" Jamie almost shouted with excitement.
Haley sat up and grinned at her son's enthusiasm. "Ooh!! This is for me?" she took the box and gently shook it.
"It's for the....annivewsawy," Jamie said, carefully trying to pronounce the word that he and Nathan had practiced. Jamie hadn't yet gotten his "r" pronounciations but he was determined.
Nathan stifled a laugh and beamed with the look of a proud father. Jamie was now a precocious three year old who had a wit and intelligence that nearly shocked Nathan and Haley.
Haley sensed him in the doorway and turned to look at him.
"Good morning," he said softly with a smile.
She grinned at him, "Good morning."
Haley began unwrapping the box and pulling out the tissue paper.
"Ohh," Haley said, opening the jewelry case to discover a gold locket. She opened the locket to find a family photo of Nathan, herself and Jamie.
"This is gorgeous!" Haley cried.
Jamie beamed, "she likes it!!" he shrieked to his father who walked in to the room.
"Yeah she does!" Nathan grinned.
He sat down on the bed beside where Haley was laying and Jamie settled onto his lap.
"Happy Three Year Anniversary sweetheart," he smiled at her.
"Happy Anniversary," she replied with a smile.
"Happy Annivewsawy!" Jamie called out again causing the both of them to laugh.
Nathan hadn't had to be away from home much at all. Despite, the multi-year, multi-million dollar contract the Sonics offered him, he had made a move that surprised everyone - an opportunity that only fate could provide. He had taken the offer to join the Charlotte Bobcats where he could play basketball and still be close to his family without uprooting them.
Jamie was fascinated and absolutely loved basketball. Going to watch Nathan practice was a giant exciting field trip for him and he loved every minute of proudly walking around basketball bigwigs holding his daddy's hand as he introduced him.
Nathan had managed to prove to Haley that things would work out and the two had married when Jamie was a few months old.
Maybe in some ways, Nathan had had to make sacrifices in his career....but when he looked at the rewards he had in Haley and in Jamie, it never even made a difference to him for a single second. He was where he wanted to be. Always and forever.
THE END