At least Josie was visiting for a few weeks. The poor girl fussed over Bethany more than Renner did.
The bridge vibrated with heavy steps, and he turned to find Magic approaching.
“How’s she doing?” he murmured.
“Good. Doc Davis says everything’s coming along perfectly.”
“And you?”
“Me? I’m nervous as hell, but other than that, I’ve never been better.”
“It’s only been a year, Renner,” Magic said, skeptically. “There’s no way to know if this is working.”
Renner shrugged. “No. I guess not. But… what do you see, when you look at us?”
Magic leaned his elbows on the rail. “You love her. That’s clear. You’re face lights up like a fucking LED pre-lit piece of shit tree from Walmart.”
Renner smirked. “Go ahead, tell me how you really feel.”
Magic shook his head.
“When you see us, do you see any trace of our parents? Because, I’ll tell you right now, it feels all different to me. I can protect her like a cat and love her like a man. Every day that I’m with her, I believe it more and more. But tell me, what do you see?”
Magic stared into the twinkling multi-color lighted darkness, watching as Beth handed a steaming hot cup of cocoa to Josie.
“Shit, man.” He shook his head. “When I see the two of you together... I see hope. Maybe things really can be different. I don’t know.”
Renner smiled as Bethy noticed him watching. She blew him a kiss. He’d return the sentiment later, when they were alone. And in a way that would make her knees shake.
“Hope,” he told Magic, “is just the evidence of a wish.” He clapped him on the back. “Maybe it’s time for you to make a wish of your own.”
“You are one sappy motherfucker, you know that?”
Renner nodded as he strolled down to meet his mate at the end of the bridge. “Takes one to know one.”
THE END