Over the next month I spend my time in my room still except for the times that I leave to go with Finn. I discovered that the nice guy of that night is actually a bored rich kid with a wild streak of rebellion. He does some crazy shit and the times when he takes me along for the ride are the only times I feel alive.
It's a week before Thanksgiving and Finn asked if I wanted to hang with him while Harper is at work. So, here we are on a gravel road miles outside of town. Finn is sitting on the hood of his car, smoking a joint, as he always seems to be doing. I'm walking down the road, letting the cold wind bite into my skin. It's a surprisingly cool day and it matches my mood. Today I woke up in pain at the thought of Thanksgiving quickly approaching. My first Thanksgiving without Wilder.
Christmas Eve Eight Months Later “Die Hard is not a Christmas movie!” I shout at the boys but Wilder and Wyatt both laugh. “I think it should count.” Ricky says, teaming up with the guys against me. “Ricky.. It's not too late for me to call Santa and tell him that you've been a horrible kid, not to bring you any gifts.” I tell him with a wink and he laughs, throwing up his hands. The twins laugh at him, teasing him about getting coal.
Three months Later “Come on Mommy!” Val demands and I groan. “Val, don't rush. They literally can not start without us!” I assure her, but she is still dancing around impatiently. “If you do not stand still you are going to mess up your pretty hair. Or even worse.. your dress.” I threaten her and she immediately goes still. There is nothing she takes more seriously than the protection of her flower girl dress and her recently finished hair. “Has the nausea passed?” Wilder asks me gently, rubbing my back in comforting motions.
“Callie!” I hear my name being called and I open my eyes to see a familiar face above me. No, it can't be him. He's dead. Tears rain down my cheeks and I shake my head. “How? You can't-” “I'll explain it all do you. But first, are you okay?” Wilder asks me, pulling me into his arms. His arms are so familiar around me, a loving feeling that I missed so much. With a deep sob I cling to him, crying hysterically. “Callie?” Wyatt rushes down the stairs but stops in his tracks when he sees who's holding me. “Wilder?”
“Adopt them?” I repeat. “I have actually been thinking about this for a while now. I know it sounds crazy, but you have custody of them and they have no other family but you. If, God forbid, something happens to you, they would go to foster care. But if we, you and I, legally adopt them then they are our children. We go on their birth certificates as their parents, my parents will legally become their grandparents. We would be the family that we are but it would be, I don't know, more finalized. If that makes any sense.” “Wyatt.. That's wonderful of you to want this, but it's such a big step.. I know you love them but you would be taking on so much-”
Wyatt drops Grandpa back at the hospital because he doesn't feel like going out to eat with us. Rose and Brian leave to go to get Sara and they take Val and Van with them. Ricky rides with Wyatt so it's just me and Lucy in my car. I drive home to park my car and I have just gotten Lucy out when Wyatt pulls up. He comes to put the baby in her car seat and we leave. “The kids were so cute today.” I comment, to make conversation. The silence was killing me. “I loved hearing the reasons why the love us.” Ricky has headphones on in the back, mumbling along to a song under his breath and Lucy is playing with a toy Ricky handed her, being really good. “Van's reasons for loving people often involved food.” Wyatt gri
Monday morning dawns bright and sunny, looking like a gorgeous day. Val and Van wake up in a wild mood, so excited that they can hardly sit still. They triple check the plan with us, making sure that we will all be there on time. We have to confirm the time with Val six times. As I'm doing her hair, she asks again. “What time are you coming?” “Val, honey. We will be there at eleven.” “You might want to get there a little early.” She tells me, as if my time management skills are so bad that I need a six year old to tell me when to arrive places. “We will get there at ten fifty.” I tell her, putting the bow in