Pickled corn, by the way, is the single most disgusting food I’ve ever seen in my life. Violet is eating it by the jar and usually in one setting. I don’t know what kind of little girl she and I are going to have, but her eating habits already scare her daddy.
Daddy.
It’s hard for me to believe I’m going to be a dad. I want it though. I want everything about this life that I’ve built with Violet.
Violet decided law school wasn’t for her. She switched her major to become a social worker. Her goal was to help people like Rooster who might have fallen through the cracks. I’m so proud of her.
As for me? I have zero contact with my parents anymore and I’m fine with that. I met my real father once, but it was weird, we had nothing to say to one another and it wasn’t an experience I plan on repeating. I never took a dime from my mother or Arthur Huntington—which was kind of a blessing. Instead, I took a job on a construction crew and followed Violet to Texas. It was the best thing I’ve ever done. I enjoy working with my hands, I’m really good at it and I’ve started my own company. We’re already in demand and I’m going to bust my ass to make sure that keeps happening. I’m going to make Violet and our daughter proud and every day I’m going to bust my ass to make sure they know that they are my world.
Violet leans up and kisses me and we smile together, our lips still somewhat pressed against each other.
“Happy, Angel?” I ask her, knowing she is. She’s practically glowing, but it always makes me feel better to hear her admit it.
“Extremely. I love you, Mike,” she murmurs.
My hand slides down to her stomach, overtop of hers and we hold our unborn child together.
“And I love you, Angel. You and our little girl are my entire world,” I promise her.
All around us is a party of loud, loving friends and family, from Rooster, my brother, Parker, crazy Ida Sue and some of her family and even Ben and Camden have come in for the party because Camden has remained close with Violet.
Violet and I are grateful for all of them, but right now they fade into the woodwork and for a moment it’s just me, my Angel, and our unborn child.
And happiness.
Violet and I started off on a bumpy ride, but if I had it to do all over again, the only thing I would have changed is that first day. I would have picked her up, thrown her over my shoulder and spent that day and every day after that with her.
She’s everything.
She always will be.