“I neeeed yyyou to knowww that nooo matterrr where I gooo, my hearrrt will alwaysss belong to yooou. You’vve given me suuuch a wonderrrful life, Lincoln. There’sss not one thinnng I woulddd change. I lovvve you nooow. I’lll love you tommmorrow. I’ll looove you forreverrr.
My own eyes fill with tears, and I drop my head and whisper against her lips. “Forevermore.”
“Forevermore,” she breathes back.
A couple of hours later, I sit with my wife sideways on my lap in the backyard. The lights in the trees are still on, reminding us of the fireflies we used to catch as kids, and then later our children. Nuzzling my nose in Molly’s hair, I breathe in her unique scent.
A cool breeze blows over us and she shivers. I tuck the blanket Lindsay got for Molly a few minutes ago, tighter around her chest.
“Are you cold? Do you want to go in?”
Tipping her head back, she looks up at me, a smile gracing her face. “Nooo. I’m finnne. I like sittinnng out herrre and watching everrryone.”
“Then we’ll sit for as long as you want.”
“Thankkk you fooor todaaay. It wasss beautiiiful.”
“I wish I could give you something like this every day.”
She shakes her head slowly. “Nooo. Todayyy was ssspecial. If evvverydayyy was likkke thisss it wouldnn’t have beennn.”
Lacing our fingers together, I lift her hand to my mouth and press a kiss against the back of it, then lay them both down on her stomach. She sighs as she looks across the yard to everyone mingling. A pinch of pain twists in my stomach. Molly used to love having people over. We’d have a bar-be-que every couple of weeks during the warmer months. It’s been months since we had our last one. I don’t want to put pressure on Molly because of her illness. I know it embarrasses her, no matter how much I tell her no one is judging. And if someone did, I’d knock their teeth down their throat and send them on their way.
“Thisss is really niccce,” she says stiltedly. “Cann we do thisss more?”
“If you want.”
Her pretty green eyes meet mine again. “I do.”
Lindsay and Joe drop down in a set of chairs close to us. Lindsay looks around at the twinkling lights. “I still can’t believe how beautiful this turned out. They actually look like fireflies hovering around in the trees.”
“I waaanted to thannnk you and Jennna for helping Lincoln maaake thisss day sooo ssspecial.”
Lindsay smiles and reaches for Molly’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Anything for my big sister.” Her eyes move to me next. “I’m curious, why the firefly effect?”
In all of the years I’ve known Molly, I’ve never told her that her eyes remind me of the lightning bugs.
Pushing her hair to the side, I press a kiss against her pale shoulder, then leave my lips there when I answer Lindsay’s question. “Because they’ve always reminded me of Molly’s eyes when she’s happy.”
“Oh wow,” Lindsay breathes.
Molly jerks in my arms, her head darts up and her firefly eyes meet mine. “Thaaat’s really whyyy you like firefliiies so much?”
“Yeah,” I answer softly.
Her eyes glisten. “That’s ssso beautifuuul, Lincoln.”
“Not as beautiful as you.”
Jenna and Bryant walk over and take the chairs beside us. Jenna leans over and kisses Molly’s cheek.
“So, how does it feel to become Mrs. Bradshaw for the second time?” she asks, flashing her grin.
“Jussst as good asss the firrrst time.”
“And you looked just as gorgeous.”
Molly snorts, her lips twitching. “Liar.”
Jenna’s eyes go wide in offense. “Am not! When have you ever known me to lie? I’m the most honest person you’ll find.”
Molly full-on laughs, the action sending vibrations through me. “Whaaat about theee timmme you told yoour parentsss you werre stayinggg at my houssse, but you really went to thaaat parttty?”
“Pssht,” Jenna scoffs. “That was the only time.”
“Orrr what about wheenn you brokkke your arrrm sneakinggg out of yourrr winndowww to goo see Dilllion and you tollld yyyour parentsss you fell off your biiike?” Before Jenna can defend herself, Molly continues. “Orrr the time you ssspilt milk ooon your mom’sss favvvorittte dressss and blammmed it on yooour cattt?”
“Okay, okay, we all get it.” Jenna laughs. “So I have been known to lie at times. But I’m not lying about this. You truly did look just as beautiful as you did the first time you became Mrs. Bradshaw.”
Molly’s eyes twinkle at the compliment. “Thannnk you.” Jenna slips her hand into Molly’s when she lifts it toward her. “Thankkk yooou for everythinnng.”
“You don’t ever have to thank me, Molly,” she tells her quietly. “I know you’d be there for me if the roles were reversed.”
Molly nods. “Youuu know I wooould.”
“Are you two sure you don’t want us to keep the kids for more than one night? Bryant and I don’t mind if they stay with us longer.”
Molly’s already shaking her head as I answer. “One night is fine.”
“I dooon’t like beinggg awaaay from themmm long.”
Jenna’s lips twist into a sad smile. “I get it.”
The last several months, Molly’s been extra clingy with the kids. She doesn’t like it when they stay away from the house because she wants to absorb every bit of time she has left with them. It actually works out because they don’t generally like leaving her either. We’ve been woken up quite a few times by Gemma coming into our room wanting to sleep with us. Gray doesn’t do that, but he’s been extra loving toward his mother and no longer balks when she shows him affection. I’m the same way with Molly. Hell, I’d glue myself to her side if I could get away with it. You never realize how precious your moments are with loved ones until you’re told they’ll be taken away from you prematurely.
Gemma, Aubree, and Violet come bounding up to us, their hands interlocked together. Despite the several years separating them, the three have become extremely close since Jenna, Bryant, and Violet moved here.
They stop in front of Molly and me. “Can we go get some of my dolls from my room?” Gemma asks.
“Sure, beauty, but come right back out.”
Before they can run off, I snag her by the front of her dress and pull her to me. Leaning over the arm of the chair, I present my cheek to her. “After I get a kiss.”
She giggles as she leans over and kisses my bearded cheek. “Love you, Daddy.”
“Love you too, beauty.”
Molly’s cheek comes next. Still close to her ear, I hear Gemma say, “And I love you too, Momma.”
I hear the smile in Molly’s voice when she responds. “And I looove you back.”
“I really like your dress,” Violet says, her voice so soft I barely hear her.
“Thannnk yooou,” Molly says, her eyes soft as she watches Violet finger the lace at the bottom of her dress.
“You looked real pretty today. Gemma said she helped make your hair look pretty and she did your makeup.”