But aside from setting up the surf school, I’ve given almost all my money away to charity. I gave the money to people who needed it a lot more than I do. Mostly kids who got the shit end of the stick in life.
I know money doesn’t fix everything. I grew up with it in abundance, and my life was still shit.
Love is what kids need. But I can’t love every kid in the world.
I can, however, give them a roof over their heads, clothes on their backs, and food in their bellies. So, that’s what I’ve done.
And I feel fucking good about it.
Doing things for others makes me feel great, especially doing things for Evie.
I pull up outside the shop and turn off the engine.
I feel her looking at me. Giving her a big smile, I climb out of the car, meeting her on the other side.
Taking her hand, I walk her to the door.
“What’s this?” she asks.
“It’s yours.” I open the door, walking inside. “You need somewhere to sell your drawings. This came up a week ago, so I bought it. It needs a bit of a cleanup, and some paint on the walls, but I think it’s a great spot for you to sell your work, and the bonus is you’ll be close by me all day long. I know we’re not married in the technical sense anymore, but to me, Evie, you will always be my wife, so it’s also an anniversary present.”
She’s staring at me, her eyes look a little glassy. Then, she glances around the store. Her eyes come back to me, and then out of nowhere, she bursts into tears.
“Hey.” I go straight over to her, taking her in my arms. “What’s wrong? Is this too much?”
“No. It’s amazing. It’s all amazing. Perfect. You’re perfect.” She pulls back, wiping her face with her hands. “Everything is just so perfect. And I didn’t get you anything because I didn’t know you were going to buy me something so huge. And I have something to tell you, and I’m scared that I’m going to ruin everything.”
My heart pauses. “Ruin everything? How?” My voice is tight. I can’t help it. After everything I’ve been through with Evie, it would be strange if I wasn’t tense right now.
She stares at my face. Her lips tremble, and she presses them together.
I know she does that when she’s holding something in, something she’s afraid to tell me.
My heart starts back up, beating in double time. “Evie, just fucking tell me because you’re really scaring me right now.”
“I’m pregnant.”
Everything stops for me. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. All I can hear are those words.
Her words.
“I’m pregnant.”
Evie’s pregnant. She is carrying my baby inside of her.
“I missed my period,” she starts to babble. “I was too afraid to take a home test, so I went to the doctor yesterday, and they took blood to do a test. I didn’t expect to hear for a few days, so I was forcing myself not to think about it, but they just called right before you got home, and they confirmed it. You had this surprise, and I didn’t want to spoil it for you. Fuck, I’m spoiling it.” Her voice shaking, she pushes her hands through her hair, stepping back. “We’re divorced, and we’ve only been back together for a year, so I understand if this is too much too soon, and I can—”
“Don’t finish that sentence.” I take her face in my hands.
Tears are swimming in her eyes, and I can feel tears filling my own. I know that might make me a pussy, but right now, I don’t care.
“Nothing has ever been too much too soon with you.” I brush my thumbs over her cheeks, tracing her tears. “You’re really pregnant?” My voice is suddenly hoarse.
Blinking, she gives a tentative, watery smile. “Yes, I’m really pregnant.”
I kiss her, hard. Then, I pull her into my arms, hugging her tight.
“Can’t breathe.” She laughs, softly.
I release my hold on her. Stepping back a touch, I press my hand to her stomach.
“My baby is really in there?” I can hardly believe it.
She nods her head, gently. “Yeah, it’s really in there.”
I drop to my knees in front of her. My face level with her stomach, I hold my hands on her hips, speaking to her belly…speaking to our baby…my baby, “Hey, if you can hear me in there, I’m making you a promise right now. I promise to be the best daddy ever. I promise to be there for every single moment in your life. Your first word. First step. I will be at every school play, every baseball game—”
“What if it’s a girl?” Evie brushes her hand through my hair.
I glance up at her. “Then, I’ll drive her to every ballet class and be there for every single show she does.” Looking back to her stomach, I press my lips to it. “Whatever you are, whoever you choose to be, whatever you want to do…just know that I’ll be there. And there will never be one second of your life that you don’t know that I love you.”