Chapter 19
The children's sixteenth birthday arrived.
Sixteen.
I could hardly believe it.
It seemed like just yesterday they were tiny babies, sleeping in bassinets next to my bed.
Now they were young men and women.
Driving.
Dating.
Thinking about college.
We had a big party.
All their friends came.
Aunt Margaret flew in from Colorado.
Even Daniel came.
He'd asked if he could attend.
I'd said yes.
It was important for the children to have all the people who loved them in one place.
Daniel was nervous when he arrived.
He brought presents for each of the children.
He was polite to Marcus.
Polite to me.
It was awkward at first.
But as the party went on, things got easier.
Daniel watched the children with their friends.
He laughed at their jokes.
He listened to their stories.
I saw something in his eyes.
Longing.
Regret.
But also pride.
He was proud of the young people they'd become.
Even if he hadn't been there to raise them.
Later, after most of the guests had left, Daniel found me in the kitchen.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Of course."
He leaned against the counter.
"They're amazing, Kesha. You've done an incredible job with them."
"Marcus and I have done an incredible job with them. And they're pretty incredible all on their own."
He nodded.
"Marcus is a good man. Better than I ever was."
"He is."
Daniel was quiet for a moment.
"I just wanted to say... I'm sorry. Again. For everything. I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating. I was young and stupid and scared. And I ruined everything. I missed out on the best thing that ever could have happened to me."
"You did miss out," I said gently. "But you can still have a relationship with them. If that's what you want. If that's what they want. It's never too late to build something new."
He smiled sadly.
"I'm trying. It's hard. They're so different from what I expected. So... good. So kind. So confident. I don't know how to relate to them sometimes."
"Just be yourself. And let them be themselves. That's all any of us can do."
He nodded.
"Thank you. For everything. For not keeping them from me. For being... well, for being better than I deserved."
"I did it for them. Not for you. But you're welcome."
He stood up straight.
"I should go. My wife is waiting in the car."
"Daniel?"
He stopped.
"Eleanor would be proud of you. For trying. For doing better."
Tears filled his eyes.
"I hope so."
He left.
I stood in the kitchen, thinking about how far we'd all come.
Daniel and I.
From enemies to... not friends, exactly.
But something like peace.
Two people who shared a history.
Who shared four amazing children.
Who'd both found happiness in their own ways.
It wasn't the story I'd imagined when I was twenty-two and pregnant and alone.
But it was a good story.
May you like
A better story.
Because it was real.
