Page 12 of Her Grumpy Mountain Man

Jude appears in the doorway. Kat follows with a box of board games and their children.

“Last Man Sleeping would be more accurate.” Jude leans against the frame, a grin on his face.

“Nobody sleeps at our house.” Ava takes the box from Kat. “The children consider it a management failure.” She sets the box on the side table.

“Ben slept in the car.” Sam points to the small head resting against my shoulder.

“No sleep.” Ben lifts his chin, offended at the thought.

“Your eyes were closed.” Sam folds his arms, looking like a miniature version of me.

“Resting.” Ava brushes a curl from Ben's forehead, trying not to laugh.

Kat bends to look at Lucy's drawing while Jude opens the box of board games, and Noah pulls one out before his brother can claim it.

“Pick teams carefully.” Jude lifts the lid. “Your mom's ruthless.” He grins at Ava.

“Your uncle's a sore loser.” Ava slips her hand into mine.

I look at my wife beside the desk, then at the children pressing around the box of games and then at the old shirt above the door. Once, the joke pointed to an empty place in my life. Now it marks the beginning of everything that fills it.

When we leave the office, the older children race toward the car beneath Jude's watchful eye. Ben has fallen asleep against my shoulder, his fingers caught in my collar.

Ava puts her hand in my free one. “Porch swing tonight?” She looks up at me.

“Always.” I squeeze her fingers.

There will be noise tonight, from a fiercely contested board game, arguments over pajamas, and a bedtime story repeated because someone missed the beginning.

After the children fall asleep, Ava and I will sit on the old porch swing. She will lean against me, and I will remember the first time we sat like that.

“I love you, Maddox.”

“I love you, Ava.” I bend to kiss her.

Our oldest calls out that they are ready as Lucy announces she is on her mother's team tonight. My wife laughs against my mouth, already claiming her first victory when in fact, I'm the real winner here, thanks to Ava.

-The End-