14 weeks

"Jim!"

He heard Melinda call him from upstairs and from the sound of her voice, he knew something was wrong. He raced up the stairs two at a time and flew into their room as she called his name again, this time more shrilly.

"Is everything okay?" He said, trying to keep the panic out of his voice. He saw Melinda was laying on her back, her nightgown drawn up over the small swell of her belly. Her hands ghosted over it slowly as she let out a sigh. "Do we need to call the doctor?"

She sat up, her arms over her belly as she began to cry. "Jim, I felt it," she whispered, smiling a little. "I promise I wasn't trying to scare you. I just felt a little flutter. A bunch of them really."

"You did?" He said slowly, trying to calm himself down, and sat down next to her.

"Yes! I felt the baby move." She said excitedly as they laid down carefully together, his hand lying on top of her hand. "I wish you could feel it."

22 weeks

Melinda always told Jim their baby liked his voice and that it was like their little girl sprang into action every time he was near. However, this became awkward when they were together intimately.

"Jim, no." Melinda sighed and rolled onto her back. She laid down carefully, groaning a little as their daughter kicked again. "I can't. Not right now."

"Is it me?" He asked, looking over at her.

"No, no, not you," she bit her lip as she looked over at him. "I want you more than anything and anyone." She practically purred, but then frowned. "It's our daughter," she said touching her stomach. "Whom I love very much, but it would be great if mommy and daddy could have sex right now."

"Maybe if I get you some peanut butter she'll calm down. That worked last time." He said, leaning into her side. He kissed her neck, his hands moving up her sides slowly to keep her relaxed. "Maybe it'll work again."

"I think she'd also like some celery sticks," she said, humming a little.

"Is that right?" He asked, pulling back.

"Mhmm... ask her." She pointed down at her stomach.

He shook his head at her, kissing her lips before he moved down to her stomach. He kissed the stretch marks there, the olds ones and the new ones.

Melinda just started to grow a little more and her stomach had increased by three inches according to the doctor, which had only made her cry into a tub of ice cream later that night.

"So your mama says you want peanut butter and celery sticks," he said softly as he pressed his cheek against her warm skin. "Is that right baby girl?" It wasn't long before there was a kick or two to his cheek. "Alright. I see how it is," he laughed, moving up to kiss her lips. "She isn't even born yet and you both are already ganging up on me."

"Hey," she shook her head, pulling back from his lips. "Stop trying to distract me. It's not going to work." Jim sighed, moving back a little more. "But, I was thinking... maybe I'll use that peanut butter on you after I finish the celery sticks."

He grinned, looking back at her. "I like that idea," he said, moving back to kiss her again before he moved off the bed.

34 weeks

Katie was born on July 18th.

Three weeks before her due date and it was the scariest yet happiest day of his life.

It was so humbling for Jim to hold his daughter, his flesh, and blood. To know that he and Melinda created this little piece of perfection meant so much to him. It's almost like he was a star about to go supernova.

It always seemed like a far off dream that one day they would have a family. Especially after all the times they never thought they'd get here.

But Katie? She was pure light. Uncontaminated joy. She was the real flower in summer. He could barely see past his tears when her cry pierced the air.

So when Jim was handed his daughter for the first time, he was speechless, in awe of the little person in his arms. He didn't know he could love anyone that quickly so much.

Except for Melinda.

6 months

Katie was a chubby, dark-haired baby, and looking at her was like looking at a tiny version of her mother. Which he thought was the universe's surefire way of making sure he'd fall in love with her.

She was born with these giant brown eyes, wide open. He'd always thought babies were born with their eyes closed, like the stray kittens in the meadow, but not Katie. Not his little girl. She'd come into the world, ready to take it all in, looking around in that quiet way she would always have of observing things.

She latched right onto her mother's breast from the first day and placidly drank her part before falling asleep. She took two naps a day and woke up once at night to nurse and usually went right back to sleep. Sometimes they would have to wake her to keep her on a feeding schedule.

"I usually need a stick of dynamite to wake you in the middle of the night." Melinda yawned and tied her robe around her. "Why'd you get up? I could've."

"I've got it. Although I've realized that sadly my nipples aren't as appealing to her," he laughed, her hand grasping around his finger and pulling it to her mouth.

Melinda made her way to the rocking chair and sat down with a huff, before extending her arms out sleepily. "I can feed her," she yawned again, turning her head to him. She blinked to keep her eyes open and rubbed them as she opened her robe again. "Bring her over."

"No, I'll just go make her a bottle." Jim walked over, skillfully carrying their daughter, and kissed his wife's head. "You need your rest, Mel. Besides I'm not the one who works tomorrow morning."

"Jim, you just got home a few minutes ago." She replied, rubbing her eyes absentmindedly. "It's nearly one. Just let me feed her."

"That's beside the point. You haven't gotten a proper night's sleep in two days because of how busy you've been with the store and the nightmares from that ghost over at the Browns who just moved in across the street." He reminded her and helped her out of the chair with one hand. "You were this close to falling asleep in that incredibly uncomfortable chair that my mother sent to us. That says everything to me."

"Are you sure?" She laughed, running a hand through her tousled bedhead. "I can stay up ten minutes to get her back to sleep."

"I'm positive," he replied and smiled down at her. "We can do this."

"Alright. I'm going," she obliged and kissed his cheek then, lingering as she whispered, "goodnight. I love you."

"Goodnight," he laughed and rubbed her back softly. "I love you too."

"And goodnight to you, beautiful." She yawned and leaned over to kiss Katie's head where it was snug in the cacoon of his arms. "Mommy loves you." She turned and walked swiftly over to their bedroom across the hall, the door clicking shut behind her.

"Your mommy is as stubborn as a mule," he whispered with a shake of his head. "Now let's go make you a bottle."

5 Years

Melinda and Jim had a hard time when Katie started getting ready to go to school. Her brother, Aaron was a little younger than a year and Katie had appointed herself his official protector.

And now, the big day was today. Kindergarten.

Katie already out read and spoke most five-year-olds, but she most certainly did not get any of that from him. Jim knew that for certain.

"You sure you're ready, bug? We can always keep you home another year," Jim said, kneeling down to help fasten his little girl's sneakers.

"I'm so excited!" Katie squealed and grabbed her backpack.

"I know you are," he sighed and ruffled her long curly hair. "Just show a little less enthusiasm to grow up please?"

"Sorry daddy, but I'm so excited to start school. I can't pretend to be less excited," Katie giggled and brushed her bangs from her face. "I just can't wait to see the playground and the library!"

"We know. You've been raving about school for weeks," Melinda said bringing in her lunch box. "I packed you a peanut butter and banana sandwich, fruit snacks, a juice box, and two cookies in here. One for you and one for Hannah."

"Thank you, mama," Katie said, taking the lunch and putting it in her backpack. Melinda could see the excitement in her daughter. She was itching to get on the bus already. "Is it time yet?"

"Just about. Are you sure you don't want us to drive you?" Jim asked, opening the door. "It is the first day."

"No. I can take the bus, dad." She said, holding out her hand to show him. "I'm five, remember?"

"Don't remind me," he said, stepping onto the porch and crouching down. "Well, you better go to the corner. I love you Katiebug."

"I love you too," Katie hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. "Bye, daddy." Their daughter ran to Melinda and hugged her the same, her little arms wrapping around her neck and pressing kisses to her cheeks. "Bye, mama. I love you."

"Bye my dancing girl," she whispered and kissed her cheek. "I love you. Have a great first day at school. I want to hear all about it when you get home."

Katie scurried down the steps and over to the corner where a few other kids have begun to gather, Hannah was one of them. The smallest of the bunch was their little girl in the bright yellow dress with black sneakers. Her hair was down to the middle of her back in long curls just like her mother and a black bow to pin back her bangs so she could see.

"She's growing up too fast," he sighed as the bus pulled up, the doors opening.

"Five going on twenty-five somedays, but just think we've got another one still asleep upstairs," she laughed and pressed her cheek into his shoulder. She wrapped her arm around his waist and looked up at him. "He's pretty little."

"Yeah, he is." He smiled, looking down at her. Something had been on his mind since Katie's last birthday and he couldn't keep it to himself any longer. "Why don't we add another one? I never did buy that new box of condoms."

"Mmm... not quite yet Jim." She laughed, looking over to see all the kids pile into the yellow form of transportation. "I'm want to enjoy my slim body for a little bit first. It's been a journey this time." The bus pulled away and she turned, luring him in with the sway of her hips.

"Well, I'll stop by the drug store later then." He laughed and closed the door.

Melinda turned around, smiling at him as she slowly pulled something from the pocket of her robe. "Yeah, later. There's still one left." She said, the yellow foil in her hand waved at him and he pounced.

9 years

"I want mama."

The cry of Katie's voice touched something deep inside of Melinda. This fluttering in her chest was a feeling she knows well, a precious tingle, similar to what she felt when her child was calling her name. All of her senses were on alert when she heard her child crying out.

It had been years since her daughter had called her that name since she started school.

She got up from the bed, closing her book as set it down. Melinda walked into the hallway and into the room Jim decorated for their child, shortly after they found out that Melinda was pregnant. Petite butterflies and other little birds were carefully put on the purple walls.

Standing in the doorway a familiar scene presented itself to her.

Jim sat on the edge of the bed, tried to comfort their baby girl with his presence. It's obvious, she'd had another nightmare. There was barely a night during which she didn't wake from a dream from some lingering spirit, shaking and crying, her fearful shouting sounding through the usual peaceful nightly silence of their house.

"It's alright, it's alright. I'm here, bug." Jim tried to take her into his arms, but she pushed him away with her hands.

"Don't want you, daddy," she cried harder, her small body trembling with hiccups. "Where is Mama? I need her."

"I'm here," Melinda came closer and her daughter immediately stopped crying, arms reaching out to wrap herself around her. "I'm here, shh…everything is going to be alright, I'm here."

She met his gaze and for one short second, she saw what she knew he'd been hiding from her for the first time this happened last week. A hint of sadness and the pain of rejection was etched in his forced smile. While she continued to stroke their daughter's small back, Jim got up and leaves the room. She knew he was taking this hard. Harder than he should.

Their little daughter was fixated on since her gift had gotten stronger. They channeled each other energy frequently (not on purpose), but it did sometimes happen in moments of stress or sadness.

From the day Katie was born, they were connected. Jim knew that and there hadn't been a problem. Jim and Katie had been a unit, inseparable from the beginning.

But lately, Katie had become a mama's girl.

In the last few weeks, Katie made her preferences known quite bluntly. It started when Jim came home from work one evening, eager to whisk Katie away for some alone time. He'd offered a movie and whatever she'd wanted at the snack bar, but she'd turned him down to go with her mother to the archives.

"Don't worry about it," Jim reassured her as they started to leave. "It's fine, Mel."

"Yeah. The girl has her moods, like all of us, do. I thought she'd want to come with me," she shrugged, kissing his cheek. "We should be back soon."

He had nodded and promised that he understood, but it didn't stop at that one incident. No, Katie showed no signs of returning her father's affection lately and insisted that Melinda was the one to put her to bed in the evenings.

"It's normal, Jim," Melinda told him, time and time again, "I read it in a book. Children have phases. It's scientifically proven."

"I understand that," Jim had smiled at her. "She loves her Mama. And that means the world to me, you know. We have that in common."

He had always been patient with her and with their daughter. He loved Katie, told Melinda that the moment he first held their tiny daughter in his arms that she was the second love of his life. Still, she knew that by now, this was really grating on him. Hurting him more than he let on. After he overheard her talking to her mother about Katie's rejection on the phone, she never mentioned it again, but the hurt was still there, his eyes betrayed him. And Melinda was at her wit's end, too. She tried to involve him in conversations about her nightmares, her worries about her gifts, suggests activities to her daughter that only involve her and her father, but Katie remained stubborn.

'Only if mom is there, too' seemed to be her motto.

When Katie finally fell asleep after Melinda sang her favorite lullaby, it was almost two. Jim must've been woken up by her screaming. This was not good, he needed his sleep.

Jim's hulking form laid in their bed, entirely still. Melinda sighed inwardly. He was not asleep by any means, she could see that his body was far too rigid for slumber. She climbed into the bed and presses herself into Jim's chest, giving him a soft kiss on his neck.

"Is she asleep?" Jim asked flatly into the darkness of the room, his voice vibrating against her shoulder.

"Yes, I sang for her and it barely took a minute until she was smiling again, the nightmare was all forgotten," Melinda answered and cuddled her cheek against her husband, inhaling his pine scent.

"I'm glad," he says, his voice trembling. He paused and then continues talking to the wall, "I wonder what these nightmares are about? Is it another ghost?"

"Don't be mad at her. She will get over it, and soon, she will involve you more again." She tried to explain, kissing his warm skin. "It's just… hard for her to process all of her emotions. So many are being thrown at her from spirits she doesn't know what to do."

"Oh…" He sighed, but she could tell that her words hadn't helped.

16 Years

Jim guessed it was right before eleventh grade when it all came together for Katie.

People like to think knowledge was too hard for a teen to convey verbally, and usually, it was. But not for her. Katie wrote everything down, whether it was on a colorful piece of construction paper or in one of her many notebooks. She'd write the major highlights of each day and there was no question about it - her talent with words put everyone to shame.

She could write compulsively for days, getting up from her desk only to go to the bathroom or to eat. In the evenings with permission, of course, Jim would sometimes show Melinda the pieces of writing, some of which she simply sat down and cried about.

"Of all the talents I thought she'd have... writing wasn't one of them," Melinda said, wiping her eyes of tears as she set down a piece of paper.

"What was this one about?" He asked, reading over a few lines.

The blood flows thickly over my fingers, cold. She must have died some time ago. Every time her corpse heaves, more of the dark scarlet fluid runs down my hands until they look like those of some abattoir worker.

As her body moves through the dappled shade of the woodland she is alternately cast in light and shadow. Her skin was paler than it had been in life now. Ghostly white. So bright it burned my eyes.

We, at last, come to the old oak tree for her burial. My legs give way beneath me and I hold my hands to the sky, watching the streams of her blood drip down off my fingertips and onto my face.

Then I wake up. What does this mean? - 12/13

"One of her visions," she said, standing up to finish the dishes. "She writes them out a lot. She says it helps her process."

"She said she wanted feedback on this other piece, but didn't know if I was the right person to talk to her about it." He said sliding her another piece of paper. "I think it's about Henry."

"Okay. Let me read it," she said, drying her hands off and sitting back down.

I stain my sheets with love. It runs from my mouth and I choke on the air. It bleeds from my ears and drips from my chin. My head hangs low, heavy with thoughts of you. You have broken me and left me as a shell of what I once was. You have destroyed me with your words after I failed to acquiesce to your needs.

You think yourself better than the one-night stand guys and in many ways, you are, but you're still in denial. Just like them. You're scared of intimacy. You're a god damned contradiction, Henry. How can you say you want commitment when you demand my utmost loyalty?

You need love so desperately but fear the vulnerability it brings... I can't be with someone who'll never trust me enough to let me all the way in. Forever sitting on your doorstep to only be yours when you wanted something of me, but now it is time for me to walk away. To heal myself somehow and say goodbye to you in the only way I know - 12/20

"Oh my gosh," she muttered, touching the carefully scribbled words. "One of us has to talk to her. I didn't know she was feeling this... dark... about everything since Henry. We've talked, but nothing like this."

"I don't know if I'm the right person to talk to her," he sighed. "You've had your heartbroken..."

"Well have you ever broken someone's heart?" She asked, looking at the paper again. "Because that's what she's looking for. Answers. She wants to move on but she can't because he keeps pulling her down with his words; most likely through rumors at school."

"Once or twice maybe, but that was in high school," he sighed, shrugging. "I don't know what I would say."

"Well let's go together then," she whispered and came around to him. "We'll figure it out."

"Alright. Let's go," he said, taking her hand. "I think she'll like that gift we got her for Christmas. Maybe we could give it a little early to boost her spirits."

"The laptop? Maybe," she said, pulling him up the stairs.

18 Years

"What's wrong, bug?" Jim asked his daughter one night, walking out onto the porch.

Katie had been moping around for the last few weeks and had been nothing at all like her usual self. It wasn't like her to be in a mood for this long.

"It's not because of those letters you got in the mail, is it?" He asked sitting down next to her. "Because it's their loss bug. You'll find an on-campus job if anything."

"No," she shook her head with a smile. "I found a closeby waitressing gig this week. They offered me okay pay. Plus tips."

"That's great!" He asked and then saw her face, the falling happiness. She just didn't want to be excited right now. "Or not... what's wrong?"

"Nothing about New York. Just boys," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "Why do they always have to be so damn confusing dad?"

"Maybe you shouldn't be talking to me about this," he replied rather quickly, not wanting this to be awkward between them. "I can get your mom."

"Dad, I think you could handle some boy drama." She laughed and then leaned into the back of the porch swing. "It's nothing too deep."

"I am all ears, but no promises on any good advice." He chuckled, smiling at her.

"I just saw an opportunity to be with someone I really like and I opened my heart to the possibility, but then I saw him kissing another girl in the square." She muttered and then placed her head in her hands. "It just... made me rethink things."

"I see a lot of people kissing in the square," Jim tried to make light of it, wishing her could still hold her gaze. "Maybe they aren't serious Katie. You should talk to the guy first. You should go out on a limb and tell him you like him and if it backfires there is a pair of open arms waiting for you back home." He whispered and touched her back, rubbing it softly. "Communication is key in any kind of relationship. You can't start something off like this and hope that it will get better. Either try now or you'll need to give him up."

"What if I make a fool out of myself?" She whispered, shaking her head and looking down into her lap. "It's not like he'd ever like a girl like me."

"Katiebug," he whispered, smiling at her. "What's not to like about you?"

"Everything apparently," she deflated completely and he could tell that she was crying by the way she hid her face, her hands shook as they reached up to wipe away falling tears. "Ned will never see me as anything but his little sister."

Jim sat back and think about her dejection, the news of Ned's newest fling, and the realization hit him that his little girl was still in love with Ned Banks and he hadn't even noticed or hadn't wanted to notice. He knew she used to have a crush on him, but Melinda had reassured him along with Katie many times over that that was all it was. A childhood crush.

Katie had gone and grown up right under his nose and fallen in love. She got her recently mended heart broke into tiny pieces again.

He knew a little something about the heartbreak of first love, but Jim knew he was luckier than most. He'd gotten to marry young and live a beautiful, happy life with his true love. They had children but had gone through every shade of hell to get to their happy ending.

He felt the fist of anxiety close over his chest at the realization that his little girl was probably feeling broken at this very moment.

The most powerful lesson he'd learned as a parent was that he couldn't live his life for his children. That was their job. He could only give them the tools to do the best they can and get out of their way, ready at every moment to help them pick up the pieces when they're done.

"Got anything for me to read?" He asked.

"No," she muttered, face still hidden.

So, Jim sat and waited for his daughter to be ready to talk or to just be there for her in the simple way of sitting beside her. It didn't take very long for her to raise her head, tears still rolling down her cheeks and.

"Do you want me to kick his ass? Because I can do that," he said, more as a joke than anything and hoping to make her laugh.

"No daddy, I don't," she said, laughing for a moment before she wordlessly cried her heartbreak into his chest.

Jim wrapped his arms around Katie and just held her. He whispered the same things he would say to her mother when she was in the grip of her nightmares or grief, and when she was beyond tears and able to listen again, he told her, "Don't ever regret loving people, no matter how it comes out in the end. Even Ned Banks."

20 Years

Not surprisingly, Katie decided to study English. Her major was English Education and her minor was creative writing.

Jim was ecstatic - writing had always been more than a hobby or even a talent to his daughter. It was her way of thinking, of interacting with the world. It was natural that she would want to make it her career - to immerse herself in her second big gift.

She placed in every writing competition she entered and won many of them. Her decorated resume not only being that of a dancer but of a writer, a scholar really and Jim couldn't be more proud.

Katie lived inside her mind. She thought all the time, said very little unless she felt the need to, and has the same look Melinda had when she stared at something. Almost everyone was certain she could see right to the bottom of their soul. She spoke through her ink and paper, and yet as quiet and thoughtful as she was, she burned with her own fierce fire.

She was ambitious. She took pride in her work. She liked to win.

What undid Melinda and Jim wasn't that she wanted to study English. It was that she wanted to study in New York City. It had been almost two years and she still hadn't moved back home. They'd thought being with Ned would bring back, but it hadn't.

"Do you think she'll ever come back?" Melinda complained as they walked down the local hiking path, their favorite thing to do on nicer spring nights. "Her grants aren't keeping her there anymore. They only offered a two-year plan."

There were some conversations that had to take place far from listening ears.

Outside of visits to see Jim's mother, they didn't go to New York City often anymore. It just was too fast-paced for them these days. With their family, it was hard to travel and they tended to stay away from big cities if they did go anywhere.

And yet, how could they ask Katie to come home?

She'd worked her ass off in school to get accepted to NYU, one of the most exclusive schools in all of the country. Only thirty percent of applicants were admitted to this school.

"Melinda, it might be time for us to let this go. New York is the best place for her. We have to learn to let go a little more," he explained, sighing a little himself. He'd never been good at letting his children go. He never wanted to see them get hurt. "This year is just busy for her. She's told us all that. She can't even see Ned that much right now."

"But… she's our daughter, Jim! She shouldn't be so far away from us..." She sighed, looking at him. "I miss her Jim. It's been three whole months since I've hugged my daughter and that's not okay with me."

"Shhh… I know. I don't want her that far away either, but it's the best place for her. She loves it there. Just like you used to." He eyed her and she sighed, shrugging and looking away. "Oh Mel, you know I'm right."

"I hate it when you're right," she muttered and wrapped her arm around Jim. "Maybe I'll call her when we get home. I miss her voice."

"I think I have a better idea," he winked and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Come on. Let's go home. We're almost back to the beginning of the trail."

When they pulled into the driveway, Melinda was looking at her phone, scrolling through Facebook quietly.

"Hey, look who's here Mel," he pretended to be surprised as he nudged her, extending his hand to point at this daughter.

Melinda glanced at him and then to his hand that pointed to Katie, who was sitting beside Ned on the porch swing.

"Oh I love you," she sighed, smiling at him before she got out of the car. "Katie? What are you doing here."

"Dad may have called," the woman stood, her boyfriend stayed where he was as she came down the steps, hugging her mom immediately. "Miss me? I got someone to cover my shifts this weekend."

That night, Katie was at the most beautiful her father had ever seen her. She was so happy to be home. It had been Christmas the last time she'd gotten away from the business of the city. Ned hadn't even seen her in six weeks and they were practically holding each other's hands all night.

She was wearing a dress and stood radiant and proud like her mother, calm and creative like him, carrying an internal scale that she balanced without consulting with the outside world. There was no war, no blood, nor agony to clip her wings. She knew where she had to go and she went there with eyes and heart wide open.

Katie hugged her mother tightly, a full head and shoulders taller than her, and yet she sunk like a toddler into her mother's arms. She told her mother things in a low murmuring voice that no one else was meant to hear, things that seem to calm Melinda in a way he could not.

She turned to Mackenzie, who had come out of the house grabbed her roughly into a hug. "You have to come back more," the ten-year-old sighed.

And then there was Jim. He still hadn't figured out how to let her go. She held onto him the longest and he searched for the words he wanted to say to her. That she was the song of summer, the chill of autumn, the second love that he was always fated to let go, whose every laughter became a souvenir that he would cherish until the day he died.

"I hope you aren't overworking yourself Katiebug," he whispered into her hair. "I love you so much."

"I love you too Daddy." She said squeezing him tightly before she pulled back. "I came home when you called, didn't I?"

He hugged her again. He supposed she was right.