Disclaimer: I own everything but their names.
June 10, 2015 – Santa Cruz, California
"I can't possibly be old enough to have a son graduating from high school."
I giggle and give Edward a bit of side-eye. "Oh, yes you can."
He pouts that lower lip out at me, and I have the urge to bite it. But I have a mean poker face these days and he'll never know that.
When he figures out I'm not going to give in to his pouting and sympathize, he huffs and crosses his arms over his chest.
My dad just chuckles and shakes his head at both of us. He's used to us by now.
I stare up at the stage, toward a sea of red and white and smile when I spot him, all messy blond and dark pink cheeks. He was so nervous this morning, wanting to make sure there were no wrinkles anywhere. Sometimes he reminds me a little of Jasper with the way he's so particular about his clothes.
Especially since he sure wasn't particular about what he wore underneath – flip-flops and board shorts. I tried to convince him to wear the khaki's, but the kid is way too much like his father.
"Girls! Girls! Stop running. Hold it right—"
Speak of the devil. Edward turns and starts laughing as he hears his brother's voice. Jasper is chasing after two little girls, both sandy-brown haired little beauties who have their daddy wrapped right around their fingers.
When they finally make it back to our row of seats, Jasper's cheeks are flushed. I stand up to greet them, hugging Alice and then the girls.
"Hey, Cupcake," Jasper tells me over Lucy's shoulder, offering a wink before he looks at his brother. "Grumpy."
The girls release me, smiling huge and bright. "Uncle Edward!" they both seem to shout at the same time, throwing themselves in his direction. It doesn't take long until they're buried in his arms.
Yeah, they've got that one mighty wrapped around their fingers, too.
"Think she'll show?" Jasper asks me as we all take our seats. Nettie is wiggling on his lap and giggling at her sister.
I shake my head and shrug. "I hope she does, for Lisle's sake. This is a big day for him."
Jasper nods and bumps his shoulder against mine with a wink. I smile. It took us a little bit, but we found our groove again. After I came home, we both realized there comes a time when forgiveness pretty much becomes unquestionable, and things that happened in the past just don't matter anymore.
He told me once that he just liked seeing his brother happy, and I was always the one who did that the best. I don't know if I've ever received a better compliment.
He's my brother now, and still one of my very best friends. And he's been a huge help with dealing with the Makenna situation we have in our lives.
Still.
When Edward had told me in Hawaii that she continued with the custody suit, he didn't go into details at the time.
It wasn't until I came back that I learned how it had all gone down.
After being served, Edward had immediately been advised that filing a counter-suit citing that Lisle was injured under the care of his mother might be in his best interest, but he decided against it. He didn't want to fight fire with more fire.
For Edward, it was always about Lisle and his happiness and safety. For Makenna, it was always about her own.
Edward had faith that character witnesses and the honest-to-goodness truth would help him, and in the end, it did.
Something Makenna hadn't thought of is that perjury in California was a felony that held a maximum sentence of up to four years in prison. She got lucky after pleading no contest to the charges and was only sentenced to probation for a year.
Three months later she was pulled over for DWI and her parole was revoked. She went straight to county jail.
Edward has had primary custody of Lisle ever since. And, until his eighteenth birthday, she's only allowed to see him during supervised visits.
But today he's graduating from high school, so we've made an exception to the rules so she can be here for her son. Because, despite everything she's done to him, to us, she's still the woman who gave birth to him. She's still his mother.
She always will be.
I'm still 'mom' though. And that makes me a very happy woman.
I reach for Edward's hand and squeeze. He leans closer and plants a kiss on my cheek. "What're you thinkin' about so hard over there?" he asks quietly.
I smile and turn into him, inhaling the smell of sunshine. "Nothing really."
We've found our groove, too. And it really was as easy as I never thought it could be. We just fit. We took our time, got to know each other again and there was never a question for either of us where we would end up.
On the beach at sunset standing in front of our family and friends, finally committing ourselves to each other in the same place where we began all those years ago.
I smile to myself at the memory and turn to look at my husband, my partner, my best friend.
"I've been thinking," he whispers.
"Oh, great. That never turns out good for anyone—"
He covers my mouth and I snort. "Woman."
I peck him on the lips. "Okay, tell me what you're thinking – but hurry – it's starting," I whisper-yell as the band starts playing and everyone begins clapping their hands.
Edward stops clapping and focuses on me. "I think we should try for a little girl this time."
My hands freeze mid-air and my eyes are wide. Edward's are, too.
"What?" he mouths.
"Are you serious?" I ask.
He shrugs like he hasn't just said something huge. I mean… we've talked about kids before, but I've always been content with just my boys. They make me happy enough.
I'm stunned and I'm not quite sure what to say.
"What d'ya say? You wanna make a baby with me?" he asks.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Okay," I say, no hesitation at all.
He smiles so big and I smile right back. "I hope she has your hair," he whispers in my ear.
I chuckle and put my lips to his ear. "For her sake, I hope so too."
Edward playfully pushes me away and turns toward the front as the principal takes the podium to officially begin the commencement ceremony. I bask in the chance to witness another of my son's firsts. Where one time I had a list of places I wanted to go, his is the list I like adding to these days.
In a few months, he'll be leaving us for New York and a fancy art scholarship and I know we don't have many moments like this left. I want to enjoy them while I can.
"You're still not funny," Edward whispers out of the side of his mouth.
"But you love me anyway."
"Yes, I do."
"I do, too." I smile brighter and stare out into the crowd, watching as our son walks across the stage.
I'll never regret the decisions I made in my life, because everything I did – everything I do now – is for us.
They're what every surfer dreams about, the unattainable dream… the perfect wave. And even when the ride gets bumpy, going under with them is part of the fun.
I owe thank yous to so many people right now. First, to everyone who read, reviewed, tweeted, lurked or joined me on this story, I cannot thank you enough for everything. This has been my favorite to write and it's the hardest to let go of… and I couldn't have done it without each and every one of you.
I also couldn't have done it without the help of some wonderful girls…
Nic, thank you for joining me on this ride and for dealing with my flails and last minute changes and getting thousands upon thousands of words to edit at once. You are one of a kind and I love you for everything you've done for me.
Kristin and Heather, thank you for being two of the best friends a girl could have and for listening to me whine and moan, and for reading this in its early stages and encouraging me to keep plugging along. I seriously don't know where I would be without you both.
Annie, Alison, Christina, Lolo, Kassiah and Moi, thank you for all you did, whether it be pre-reading or letting me ask questions or just watering my very delicate petals (hehe).
I'm sure there is more I should say, and more I meant to say… but words are escaping me now. If you've made it this far, I will say that I'm marking this story complete today but that doesn't mean it's the end. I have some outtake ideas in my head, but I need some time to regroup before I dive into that.
Until next time…
Live your life. Live your dreams. Surf.
xx
~caren