Page 21 of Ride the Line

Most of the folks have moved to the living room to watch whatever boring-ass golf or baseball match is on, on this hot summer afternoon, when I see Marley hand Kali a small square-wrapped item.

I have a bad feeling whatever’s in there is going to have me sobbing like a fucking titty baby, but I nut up and whisper to Kali, “Go ahead and open it.” I give her a wide smile and look up to Marley, now standing behind Kali’s chair with Maddox. All of us surrounding her—protecting her.

“Yay! I thought I was done opening my presents. You’re the best, Marley,” Kali shouts as she wraps her little arm around Marley’s leg to give her a hug.

She slowly unwraps the gift, and when it’s free of the paper, we both pause to read it, but Kali reads it out loud. “Kali, Aunt Marley wants to adopt you.”

Marley’s quick to add, “Before anyone says anything, think on it. This is your choice, baby girl, but I want you to have me to rely on too.” She grabs the sides of Kali’s face, placing a kiss on the top of her head, and whispers, “No matter what, I’ll be here for you. I love you, Kali.”

My eyes find Maddox’s, and his are lined with tears like mine are, and the sob that crawls up my throat is one I didn’t know was coming. I find Marley’s eyes next, and I stand, wrapping my arms around her shoulders.

We had talked about her adopting Kali once before for legalities if anything were to ever happen to me, but I never wanted to push the situation. That was a couple of months ago, and I thought she had forgotten about it by now.

But no, I should have known better when it comes to Marley.

“Marley, you want to adopt me?” Kali questions with a little shake in her voice.

Marley pulls away from me to kneel down by Kali. “Yes, of course I do. I’ve loved you since the first day I got to hold you in the hospital room. There’s no taking you away from me.”

Kali stands and wraps her arms around Marley’s neck and doesn’t let go. I can see her little body shaking from her crying, matching the fresh tears streaming down my cheeks.

“Yes. You can adopt me, Aunt Marley.”

All three of us group hug with my daughter in the middle, and I’m so so thankful for the inseparable bond we formed when I met Maddox.

There’s no way I could do life without these two. And now my daughter won’t have to either.

I used to ride the line of sadness, trying to chase away the numbness concreted in my heart, but now happiness and joy are what fill me.

And I’m soaking up every second of this life I get to call mine.