He stands on a mat at a park near his apartment. He pushes a pair of twin girls on the swings. They wear matching pink jackets, and polka dotted leggings. The one to his right wears a headband in her hair. The one to his left wears a pair of pigtails. They squeal with glee as he pushes them back and forth. The one to his right leaps out of the swing in true daredevil fashion, with absolutely no notice. She lands in the arms of a blonde detective. Fin looks up, and smiles, finally exhaling.
"Hey, 'Manda!"
"I see that this one still has a death wish."
"Every day I am more, and more amazed that I have kept her alive this long."
Amanda glances at the little girl attached to her hip like a deer tick, "How old are you now? Twenty five?"
The little girl laughs hysterically, "No aunt 'Manda."
"Sixteen?"
"Well Jovie, how old are you now?"
"Six," she grins devilishly from ear to ear.
"Six?" Amanda furrows her brow, "Are you sure about that answers."
"Maybe five," she shrugs.
"You have a birthday in a couple of days, right?" Amanda quizzes.
"Two days," Jovie confirms.
"Well Jovie, I have bad news, little girls who fib to the police don't get any presents for their birthday."
The little girl with pig tails slowly, and cautiously brings her swing to a halt. She slips off the swing, and races over to Amanda. She attaches herself to her leg. She looks up at Amanda with dark brown eyes.
"Aunt Amanda, my birthday is soon, too."
"Two days away, right?"
"Yes," she nods in confirmation.
"Jaren you have the same birthday as Jovie?"
"Yes," she grins.
"How did that happen?"
"We're twins. We were born on the same day. Didn't you know that?"
"I guess I did. So how old are you going to be?"
"I am going to be four."
"Four? Wow. If you're going to be four how is Jovie going to be five, or six?"
"She's not. She's fibbing."
Amanda shifts her glance to the preschooler attached to her hip, "Jovie your sister said that she's going to be four. I thought you were the same age."
"Maybe," she shrugs.
"Aren't you her twin?"
"Twin? No," she shakes her head.
Amanda places Jovie on the ground next to her sister. She crouches down beside them, and examines them carefully. They both have sandy colored curls. Jovie wears a headband, and her undershirt is white. Jaren wears pigtails, and her undershirt is pink. They both stare up at her with crooked grins, and dark brown eyes. Jaren wears earrings with a music note on them. Jovie wears earrings with a star. She looks from one twin to the other.
"You look identical to me."
Jaren rolls her eyes, "We are," she sings.
"But I'm older," Jovie reminds her.
"Jovie why do you always wear your hair differently than Jaren?"
"Daddy says I can."
Fin steps forward. He nods, "Guilty as charged."
"You always wear your hair differently, and sometimes you wear different clothes, and earrings than your sister. Why is that?"
"I'm an individual," Jovie reveals.
"An individual? That is a pretty big word for a three year old, don't you think?"
"We look the same, but we're different," Jovie explains.
"You are right Jovie, you certainly are an individual."
"Can we go play on the slide, daddy?" Jovie quizzes.
"Yes, but stay together."
"Okay," they agree in unison. They take off, racing towards the slide. He watches as they climb the stairs to the top of the tallest slide. Amanda stands next to him.
"They're fearless," she grins.
"I'm just glad they're through their jumping phase."
"That was a really fun phase," Amanda argues.
"They spent an entire six months jumping off every surface greater than two feet tall."
"It's a good thing you were there to catch them.
"Amanda, Jovie broke her nose last year on that very slide."
"I don't recall."
He waves a finger motioning for her to hold on a second. He takes a step forward. He looks at Jovie who stands at the top of the slide.
"Jovie Benson Tutola you are not Wonderwoman, or Supergirl. You cannot fly. Don't you dare jump off that slide."
She crosses her arms disapprovingly, and shifts into a sitting position. By the time she reaches the bottom of the slide she's over her tantrum.
"She's always so happy," Amanda grins.
"Until I tell her no, or she falls off the slide."
"You're lucky that the only thing she broke was her nose."
"Lucky? I was investigated for child abuse."
"Good thing you had me as a character witness."
"Yeah," he nods in agreement, as his facial expression changes. He breaks eye contact, and shifts his glance to a pair of girls playing on the slide.
"You okay?"
"Yeah," he nods.
"You sure? It seems like something is bothering you."
"I guess that I just wish Liv could see them."
"I know."
"Jovie wants to grow up to be a cop."
"And Jaren wants to grow up to be a Princess."
"I don't know how two people who look so much alike can be so different."
"Because you have encouraged them to be individuals."
"I guess."
"Do you have everything ready for their birthday party?"
"You know that I don't."
"Which is why I took a personal day," she points out.
"Hallelujah."
"I am not planning the party for you."
"Come on. I don't know how many more times I can create the perfect Princess slash Pony party without losing my man card."
"I am guessing about fifteen more times, at least. You signed up for this, remember?"
"Yeah," he nods in confirmation.
"I will however, be more than happy to take them to my place sugar them up, and let them play all night long."
"That isn't what I've heard."
"What?!"
"I heard that you only allow them to have one piece of candy during their movie, and that's only if they eat their dinner," he argues.
"That's not true, last time we had ice cream."
"Superman ice cream, I'm sure."
"Of course. Fin, can I ask you something?"
"Yeah."
"Do you miss it?"
He furrows his brow, "Miss what?"
"Being a cop."
"Not for a second. I have a cushy job as a consultant for a security firm with dope hours, and excellent benefits. Why would I miss my shield? I get to be there for the girls whenever they need me. I get to take them to preschool, and pick them up. I get to attend every play, and dance recital."
"Do you regret it?"
"Regret what?"
"Deciding to raise them?"
He shakes his head, "Not for a second."