Page 80 of Deep Impact
Abigail, near the end of her first trimester, plops down on the couch unceremoniously. “I miss my serial killer days. Until recently, I could take down a two-hundred-fifty pound, six-foot-tall man, no problem.” She pauses to take a breath and points to her belly. “But now I’ve got a parasite the size of an avocado kicking my ass. Somebody make it make sense.”
Parker rolls her eyes. “Babe, you said that you were going to stop calling our little nugget a parasite. Besides, you’re the one who insisted on getting knocked-up. We could have adopted like Thane and Ronan.”
“I could seriously kick my own ass for deciding that I needed the pregnancy experience. And I’ll make you a deal—if you stop calling her a nugget, I’ll stop calling her a parasite.”
Sounds of surprise fill the room. My mother comes rushing up to Abigail, excited beyond words. “You’re having a girl? Oh, how wonderful! Did you hear that, Georg? We’re having another granddaughter!”
Understand that any child born in the Guardians family will be considered their grandchildren. The actual parents have very little say in the matter.
Still, I look around the room with my family—my entire, crazy, murderous, beautiful extended family—and feel like the luckiest man in the world.
* * *
DeShaun
This past year has been full of adjustment and growth, not all of it pleasant. The repair to my skin and my knee has been, of course, life-changing. The presence of good things, however, does not erase the challenges. Sleeping next to Odd gives me peace, and for the first several months that we lived together, I thought I had my issues with PTSD, specifically the night terrors, licked.
Completely stepping away from the Guardians absolutely helped, but when Odd had to go to Wimberley after Anders got into an accident, the night terrors came back with a vengeance. After weeks of not knowing what he was going to wake up to, Odd finally insisted that I needed more help than I was getting.
Odd talked to Jake and got a recommendation for a facility that works specifically with people who have PTSD. I scoffed at first because most of the people at the facility also had a drug and or alcohol problem, but Odd put his foot down. I complained the whole way out there, really just scared out of my mind, but I came back with a lot more peace and clarity and a lot less judgment.
One thing I got real clear about was that I would do whatever it took to make myself as whole as possible so I could be present for myself and for my relationship with Odd. He is, as Jean-Pierre would say, my forever love.
Seeing our friends happy and successful in each of their chosen paths fills me with a sense of pride. Because, for a time, we teamed up and took out the bad guys.
It also makes this next part that much sweeter.
I catch Anders’ eye, and he grins, gesturing for me to get to it. Grabbing Odd’s hand, I pull him to the middle of the living room, surrounded by everyone who loves him. At first, he looks a little confused, but he’s a smart guy and soon enough his broad grin lets me know he’s caught on.
Fiddling with the ring that’s been in my pocket for weeks, I lean in and whisper into his ear, just like he likes it. “I’m going to ask you a question now, and I hope you’ll say yes.”
He leans back, tears in his eyes, which sparkle like the sun. “As if I could ever say no to you.”
The End.
* * *
