Lanie
Years Later

Once upon a time, I felt alone in the world. My mother didn’t care about me, and my stepfather loathed the sight of me. 

That all changed the moment I went to live with my father, and while he never got to meet the man I chose to be my husband, I have no doubt that he would have given Atticus his blessing. 

We’ve had almost ten blissful years, each one better than the last. During our time together, Atticus’s devotion to me never wavered for a moment after his silly insecurities regarding my inheritance. 

And never once have I thought him a mistake.

I pull over to the side of the road, close to the trail me and my father took on one of our very first hikes. Over the years, we’ve revisited many such trails. I remember every stop, and we often recreate pictures from the past. 

“Momma-Momma!” Theo huffs, rushing around the car. “Tracey says she’s faster than me!” 

“Sweetheart, you know how small she is. She’s just saying that to get under your skin.”

Theo nods like I’ve just confirmed his suspicion. “Typically younger sibling behavior.”

Atticus chuckles. “Go get your bag, son.”

We spend the greater part of the morning taking in the sights and making family memories that would do my father proud. 

We post a few pictures to social media, and our friends immediately respond with ‘wow’ emojis. 

At midday, we find a place to eat our picnic lunch. 

“Why did you and Granddad walk so much?” Tracey asks. At only five, she’s at the stage where she asks endless questions. 

“I think he just liked getting out of the house.”

“I do too! And I like sleeping in the aaaaaRRRRVvvvvveeee!”

“Well, sorry to disappoint you, but tonight you’ll be sleeping in a tent,” Atticus tells her. 

“I like that too!” she chirps. 

Exhausted, I lie down, placing my head in Atticus’s lap as the kids play in the trees. 

“Can you believe we made it this far?”

“Of course, I can,” Atticus snaps playfully. “As if I’d ever let you go.”

After we’re rested, we continue to the top of the peak, then we climb down midway and set up a tent. 

“Who wants hotdogs?” Atticus holds up a package of Ballpark Franks.

Again, our children squeal with delight. They’re so easy to please. 

After dinner, Theo and Tracey play while I prepare dessert. 

Atticus sits on a log, whittling walking sticks for him and the kids, which is admittedly adorable. 

When I’m done arranging all the ingredients, I sit next to Atticus and say, “You know, sometimes I wonder what would have happened if my tire didn’t blow out.”

He brushes rogue strands of hair from my face. “Don’t speak it. Don’t even think it.”

“But don’t you ever wonder who you would have married if I hadn’t been so careless?”

“I wouldn’t have ever married. It’s as simple as that.”

“Then why did you consider marrying me?”

“Because once I saw you, I saw a future that I was desperate to see come true.” He looks over at the children. “And it did.”

When Theo sees the s’mores laid out, he rushes over and shouts, “I love s’mores!” 

“Yeah, but don’t burn my marshmallow!” Tracey whines. 

“No burnt marshmallows,” Atticus agrees. 

After one too many treats, we settle into our sleeping bags and tell friendly ghost stories until the kids are asleep. 

Atticus snuggles against me, his beard grazing my neck. If the kids weren’t in the tent with us, I’d totally rip off his clothes, but I don’t mind letting my desire simmer, as it makes release that much more explosive.

“Thank you for making me feel alive,” he says and plants a series of light kisses on my neck. “The truth is, if you hadn’t come into my life, I’d be alone and miserable, without a family, watching my friends and their pretty wives and adorable children make memories I’d never get to make.”

“Wow, you’re not usually the dramatic one.”

“I’m not being dramatic, Lanie. It’s the truth. You think I rescued you up on that mountain, but the truth is, you’re the one who saved me. And I will never forget that.”

I close my eyes and drift off to sleep, happy to be safe and loved, knowing that one day our children will walk these paths with their own kids, and hoping that maybe we’ll get to be there too. 

The End

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