A Pact For Life (43 page)

Cale didn't say anything.

“No expectations, we just do what works for us as we go along. We can share custody, but that's as far as we'll plan. After that, whatever happens, happens.”

Cale leaned over and kissed her on a cheek. It was his way of agreeing to the new deal.

Hand in hand, they walked home. They didn't know what their life would be like in the weeks, months, and years to come, and frankly they didn't care. As untraditional as the millions of other untraditional relationships in the world, they were in a 21st century romance. It was love.

AN EPILOGUE OF SORTS

The Diana Young Pregnancy Update 

Estimated weeks till delivery: 2 

Shape of stomach: Deflated

Food Craving: Water

Mood: Sore and exhausted

Just like her mother, Sophie Cleopatra Dawkins-Young would always be early for appointments. It was a trait that started with her own birth. The similarities with her mother didn't stop there, though. With a head full of red hair and a grip that made Dr. Lincoln wince, she really was her mother's daughter.

But there was some of Cale in that little girl too. The Dawkins’ gene had a penchant for interrupting at the worst possible moments. Such as having your water break in the middle of a client meeting.

As for the actual birthing process, like the ultrasound before it, they’ve been described to death. It was long, painful, nerve-wracking, beautiful, crazed, hectic, tearful, glorious, and the happiest day in the lives of at least four of the twelve people there.

Terri Young was elated beyond belief as she called friends, relatives, and pretty much everyone who would listen to share the news that she was now a grandmother. Her most common quote, which happened to be identical to every enthusiastic new grandmother, was, “I wish I could've gone straight to being a grandmother!”

Thanks to a chartered plane, Donald Dawkins arrived just after the birth. He would’ve been earlier, but he had to make a few stops beforehand. All the women including Dr. Lincoln and the nurses received a rose while Cale was handed a bottle of gin. Later that day, the Dawkins men as well as Benjamin Young had killed that bottle.

With the birth, the two families were intertwined for the rest of their lives. This went beyond seeing each other at holidays or school, sports, musicals, or religious events into something much deeper. Cale and Diana might split up for good one day, but because of that little girl, they would always be connected.

Three years later...

It was an early fall day in Denver. The kind where summer can still be felt during the day, but the nights let you know winter is on the way.

Back to her original shape thanks to many miles ran, Diana sat under a tree at Cheesman Park with a laptop open. In a technique she developed after Sophie was born, one eye was focused on the screen while the other was on her daughter.

“Mommy, look!” Sophie beckoned as she held up a picture of a tree. As a three year old, she had mastered the subtle art of the crayon.

Diana looked up briefly and replied, “That's great, honey.”

“You didn't look!” Sophie said as she ran up and shoved the picture in Diana's face.

“Alright, alright, you got me.” Diana admitted and took the picture from Sophie. In the typical tone a parent uses toward their young child's creations, Diana exclaimed, “This is wonderful!”

“It's for daddy!”

“Well, I'm sure he's gonna love it. Speaking of that...” Diana looked down at her watch. “We need to go home so you can get nice and pretty for his show.”

“I wanna drive!” The bossy little redhead demanded.

“Well too bad. That isn't happening.” The bossy older redhead replied.

Diana saved her work and packed up their stuff. With the little girl in one arm and a rolling suitcase in the other, she headed for the car. This was her life now. The artful juggling of work and parenting. So far, she was doing a pretty good job at it.

It would've been a lie to say everything was perfect and there weren't any problems in her life. Parenthood proved to be the toughest job Diana ever had, and despite the occasional frustration, anger, hopelessness, and fear, she found relief through her family.

She buckled Sophie into her car seat in the back of her black Mercedes SUV, turned the key, and checked herself one last time in the rear-view mirror before leaving.

It was a happy reflection.

In what had become a yearly fall tradition, Cale put on a showcase of the pieces he deemed his best over the previous twelve months. Unlike most modern art shows, it had very little flash. There were no lasers, spotlights, or turn-tables. It would not be confused with a fashion show, rave, or concert. The pieces were the main attraction.

“Daddy!” Sophie Dawkins shouted as she and Diana walked into the brightly lit gallery.

“There's my sweet honey child,” Cale said as his daughter raced toward him.

Cale always called Sophie his sweet honey child. It was endearing and heartfelt in a way only a father could be toward his daughter. His love for her knew no boundaries. That's why it was so fitting that he pronounced every single letter.

Halfway to her Dad, Sophie stopped dead in her tracks as the favorite person of every girl ages three through infinity came into view.

“Grandpa!”

“Is this my stunning little granddaughter coming my way? Look how beautiful you are in your dress!” Donald exclaimed and reached down to pick her up. He mouthed to Diana, “Good job.”

“Thanks,” She silently replied and turned to Cale. “Wow, what a turnout. Did you see the line of people waiting outside?”

Cale blushed, “Yeah, the gallery owners said they are expecting five hundred more people than last year.”

“Are you happy about it?”

“Actually, to be honest with you, I'm pretty indifferent. This show stuff doesn't have the same appeal it did when I was younger. It was all a big party back then. But I'm glad you guys showed up.”

Diana smiled and came in close for a hug. While embraced, they exchanged a kiss. Short and sweet.

Still in each other's arms, Cale asked, “Are you free any time this week? My dad wants to take Sophie to the park tomorrow, and I was thinking we could sneak a date in if you're not busy.”

“Yeah, I would like that. What about tonight? Do you wanna spend the night?”

Cale went in for another kiss that was supposed to symbolize a yes answer, but halfway there, the lights dimmed and the owner of the gallery stepped up to a podium to address the crowd.

“Ladies and Gentleman, Cale Dawkins.”

Not wanting to leave Diana hanging, Cale gave her a quick kiss so there wouldn't be any doubt that he'd be spending the night.

In his standard gray shirt and jeans, Cale weaved his way through men in suits and women in cocktail dresses toward the podium. At the front of the stage, he took a moment to survey the crowd. Brian was covertly high and staring at a sculpture of a laughing older man with bushy hair, raccoon-like eyes, and a smoker's weathered face. Nick was putting his phone away after spending most of the show reading Wikipedia. His father, esteemed looking as ever, held his daughter. Sophie was waving at Cale with the type of gusto a little girl can only show her dad. Diana, in a slim black dress, was next to them. She held a glass of red wine that mixed well with the look of pride.

He cleared his throat and opened his speech with, “First off, I would like to thank everyone for coming out, especially my little girl. This is her first show so say hi if you see her around. Be quick though, she has her mom's temper.”

There was a wave of laughter from the crowd as Sophie scrunched up her face in jest. When the crowd grew silent, Cale continued.

“The inspiration behind these pieces is hope. A promise that things will turn out alright in the end if you just keep yourself open to the world. Sure, there are moments where you may be frustrated beyond belief or in so much pain that simply getting out of bed is too much to ask, but no matter how unbearable things might seem, the important thing is to just keep trying. Things might not work out exactly as planned, but chances are that as long as you at least try, something good is bound to result.”

Cale stepped away from the podium to a barrage of cheers, and headed for Diana and Sophie. As he made his way past the crowd to his family, one thought flashed in his mind.

1. This is my life.
⁵³

FOOTNOTES

1
 In everyone's life, there are moments of periods, moments of  question marks, and moments of exclamation points. No matter how  boring the periods, or doubtful the question marks, or frantic the  exclamation points, what is important is making it to the end of the  story. Things might not work out exactly as planned, but chances are  that as long as you at least see it through, something good is bound  to result. 

2
 Occupational Circumstance: This phrase was chosen for its brevity, but honestly, it sucks. To put it in simpler but longer terms, Jenny's job had the unwritten responsibility of being Diana's best friend. 

3
 In Cale's case, fight or flight wasn't exactly the proper term. It was more sex or skedaddle. 

4
 Think of how powerful sex is if such brief act can have such lifelong consequences. Babies aside, there are STD's, falling in love, jealousy, and hundreds of other things that can affect a person forever. Guns and sex, those are the only things that can change a person's life that much in such a short amount of time. It's kind of ironic that both involve a concentrated blast into a target. 

5
 And not just in coordination for standing upright. Being naked, speaking through nondescript sounds, and decreased brain activity all made a good case for comparison. Oh, and don't forget a vulnerability to his surroundings and its predators.

6
 Well she opined as best as a slightly buzzed, older sorority girl could. It was like seeing a child dress up in adult clothes. 

7
 As advances in travel and communication have progressed, kisses like that have slowly died out. They used to take place in airports and train stations all the time. There you would have two people saying goodbye and knowing they likely wouldn't see each other again for many month, years, or ever again. Now with cheap flights and webcams, the farewell kiss has become a romantic relic. 

8
 Like some college kids, Brian discovered weed in college. And like some weed smokers, Brian became a pothead shortly after starting. And like some potheads, Brian became a college dropout. But unlike them all, Brian was a boy genius who understood how the world worked. As both a drug dealer and user, he knew that above all else, moderation was the key to being safe.  

9
 One of the guiding principles of Diana's life was to always be early for every meeting, appointment, dinner, get together, etc. She never wanted anyone to wait for her.