golden retriever with a soft spot for his grandma, lies between us. Forrest is in one of the armchairs, and Hattie in the other, with my girlfriend and I next to my brother and his wife on the floor.
We’re all in matching Christmas pajamas, something that Lily and Presley forced us into. But, if you held my hand to a hot stovetop, I’d have to admit it’s kind of fun.
“What are we watching tonight?” Lily asks.
“The same movie we always watch on Christmas Eve. But for you newbies, it’s a surprise,” Fletcher answers.
Mom gets up to do the honors of setting up the DVD, something she had to learn after Dad passed and she took the duty from him. I push that sadness out of my mind and stand up.
“Actually, I have one announcement before we start.” I clear my throat, and my family looks at me expectantly. “I wanted to let you all know that, uh, Coach Hankins offered me the head coach position after he retires this June. And … I decided to take it. So, I’m going to be the baseball coach at the high school.”
Lily nods reassuringly, her beautiful smile beaming just for me.
We’ve talked about this at length over the last two months. After extending the deadline on the St. Louis job, which Daniel was very patient about, I wanted to include her in the decision-making process. After all, she was going to be the biggest part of my life. Lily insisted she didn’t mind moving, that it might give us a new start. And we both really did consider what life might be like if we left Fawn Hill.
But in the end, both of us just couldn’t do it. We agreed that this was our home, that our friends and family meant too much. And with an opportunity right in town to coach baseball, why would we even need to leave?
I’d told Coach Hankins last week I’d be honored to assume his duties as head coach, and he’d taken a bottle of whiskey out of his desk drawer and poured me a mug full to celebrate. It was still six months off, and a whole school year of sports seasons away, but I was damn excited.
“Oh, Bowen, I’m so happy that’s what you decided.” Mom comes at me with open arms, her small body wrapping me up in a tight bear hug.
Keaton uncurls from Presley and stands, offering me a clap on the back. “You’ll make a great coach, brother.”
“Imagine all the shithead teens you’ll have to put up with. I know Coach Hankins almost ran me over with his truck he was so annoyed at me most times.” Forrest cackles, but fist bumps me.
Fletcher comes over to make the hug Mom is giving me a group hug. “I’m proud of you, bro.”
He’s probably thinking about how much guidance Hankins gave him in the past. I only hope I can live up to our old coach’s reputation.
“All right, all right, can we please start the movie?” Forrest whines.
We all grumble at him, but settle back into our spots, under blankets, cuddling our loved ones. It’s the perfect representation of what I want for my life. What I want for our life, mine and Lily’s. She doesn’t know it yet, but one of those presents under our tree at home, the ones we’ll open on Christmas morning, is a diamond ring.
I’m going to ask her to marry me tomorrow.
Mom pops the DVD in the player just under her TV, and the opening title for It’s a Wonderful Life paints the screen.
And it is. Such a wonderful life.
Epilogue
Lily
Five Years Later
Sweet, cotton-candy sugared air wafts over the park, the summer wind carrying the scent of the carnival with it.
I sit on a blanket on the ground, my legs crossed at the ankles as I squint into the sun.
Our daughter runs to me, her little three-and-a-half-year-old legs chugging fast.
“Mommy! Aunt Penelope was kissing Uncle—”
“Hey, you know what I say about snitches!” Bowen interrupts her, scooping her up into an upside down hold.
She giggles loudly as he blows raspberries onto her belly, and I marvel at the similarities between them. Molly is every ounce of her father; dark hair, almost black, bright blue eyes, a stubborn personality and has absolutely no fear.
“They get stitches!” Molly tucks her hair behind her ears as he sets her back on her feet.
“That’s right.” Bowen fist bumps her, and I can’t help but laugh at their ridiculousness.
“The things you teach this kid.” I