The Long and Winding Road (The Seafare Chronicles 4)

“To my best friend.”

“I know.”

“And you’re going to be there. By my side.”

“Always, Kid.”

“Okay.” He nods, steeling his shoulders a little. “I think I’m ready now.”

I grin at him. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” He smiles back at me. “Tyson Miller has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

“It does.”

He pulls me up, and we stand side by side. I put my arm around him, and he lays his head on my shoulder. It’s good to be with him like this before everything. It feels right.

Before we leave, he presses his fingers against his lips and then touches them to the cross in the sand.

DO YOU remember how it all began?

I do.

We were different people then, I think.

But here, now, is not about that beginning.

It’s about a different one entirely.

Because as one story ends, another one always begins.

Life turns. It will always turn, and I know there are so many things ahead of us. So many things to look forward to.

I told you once that family is not defined by blood. It’s not always who you’re born to that you’re stuck with. It’s what you want it to be, what you make of it. It’s the people around you who see you at your worst and are not afraid to pick up the pieces when you fall apart. It’s the people who can call you on your bullshit. It’s the people who look at you each time they see you like they haven’t seen you in years. It’s the people who you fight for. It’s the people who you’d lay down your life for. It’s scary, but it’s the greatest thing in the world.

It’s not about where you come from. It’s about who you are.

This is who I am:

I’m watching my daughter walk down the aisle, throwing flowers in dainty bunches.

My son is at her side, clutching a couple of rings in his hands.

AJ follows behind them, blowing bubbles, but then trying to pop them before they can get too far away from him. He’s certainly his father’s son, no question about that.

They’re all preening like little show dogs as people aww and coo over them as they pass.

Anna and Creed are next, Anna waddling just a little. She’s seven months along with what she has dubbed their “oops.” It’s a boy. Creed couldn’t be happier. Anna tried to throw a medical tray at his head when they found out but then had burst into tears with how thrilled she was.

After them are Izzie and JJ, Izzie looking long-suffering as JJ smiles at her dopily, his crush only having increased exponentially in the last three years since it began. JJ says they’re going to get married one day. Creed says that sounds awfully close to inbreeding. Izzie says that she would chew JJ up and spit him out. It’s a work in progress.

We follow them, my husband and I, walking arm in arm.

Noah waves at us, yelling, “Hi, Daddy! Hi, Papa!” as he stands in front of Creed. Lily looks embarrassed but then waves at us too, not to be outdone by her brother.

Dom laughs as we approach, looking flushed and happier than I’ve ever seen him before. His suit is tight across his arms and chest, and his hands are clasped in front of him. But I can see the way his eyes dart behind us, knowing who he’s waiting for. What it means. His son, Ben, stands at his side. Next to him is Stacey, holding Ben’s hand, and Ben is staring at his father adoringly.

Alice and Jerry sit next to Ian and Stephanie in the front row, Jerry and Ian dabbing their eyes while Alice and Stephanie con