Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Please,” I mutter, more desperate than I’d like to admit.
She takes Grayce from me, and I accept the envelope, its weight suddenly far heavier than the baby. “Do you know what it says?” I ask as I sit down on one of the chairs.
Maddie shakes her head as she perches on the edge of the couch. “I only know he wanted you and me to be together when we read it, and he wanted us to read it as soon as possible.”
“Probably to tell us to be nice to each other,” I grumble.
“Which wouldn’t be necessary if you weren’t such a jerk most of the time,” she retorts, and I don’t know if she’s joking. “Go ahead and read it.”
I slide a finger under the flap to break the seal, unfold the paper inside, and see that it’s a letter written in Gray’s penmanship. I clear my throat.
Dear Atlas and Maddie,
If you’re reading this, I’m no longer with you, and I imagine both of you are staring morosely at each other, not sure what to do. I won’t waste time telling you I’m in a better place, because I have no clue what happens after you die. The only thing I can speak to with any surety is my unwavering faith in the two of you to continue without me. I want you to know in the end, I wasn’t scared.
My throat clogs, an unrealized fear taking hold. To know he wasn’t scared is a balm, but I experience a rush of fear over my own mortality. I’ve never given it much thought until this very moment. I shake off the doom and continue.
You are both my best friends. A man could not have been luckier than to have you both in my corner, through all the good times and in the end, the bad.
Atlas… you’ve been my wingman since we were five. You weren’t just a friend, you were my brother. And Maddie… you were the sister I never had, and my only sadness is that I wish I’d known you longer.
Maddie, I know you’ve already agreed to take Grayce—
My head jerks up and I look at Maddie. I had no idea that was going to happen, but then again, I never asked those questions. It makes sense though. Gray has no family and Grayce’s mother’s family hasn’t shown much interest in the baby.
Maddie stares back at me resolutely, then nods down to the letter in my hands, so I continue reading out loud.
I don’t need to say how much that means to me, knowing that Grayce will grow up under your loving touch. You’re going to make the most amazing mother, and I hope Grayce turns out to be just like you.
But you can’t do it alone. No offense, but Grayce needs more than one person trying to fill in for me. She needs every ounce of love and support she can get. Which is where you come in, Atlas.
My stomach pitches and I glance over at Maddie to see her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. She had no clue.
Every instinct in me says to shove the letter back in the envelope and ignore it, but I also know there’s no way I could look at myself in the mirror if I did.
I need you to help Maddie raise my daughter. Not just as an uncle or a stand-in, but as her dad. I want you to be her dad. She needs your steady hand, your stubborn will, your heart. Everything about the man you are—that’s what I want for her. I can’t give it to her anymore, but you can.
You’re not my brother by blood but through all of our life experience together. I trust you implicitly, and I know you’ll show up, even when it’s hard. It’s why I waited until after I was gone to ask this of you, so you couldn’t argue with me about it. Now, I know you won’t say no.
All the legal stuff is handled. The papers are in my safe deposit box. Everything is set for guardianship and eventually adoption. I wanted to make it simple for you, because life is about to get complicated enough.
Take care of her. Take care of each other. Don’t let me down.
Gray
P.S. Be nice to each other.
I lower the letter, my throat tight. Maddie’s eyes glisten, fixed on Grayce.
“Did you know about this?” I rasp, my mouth so dry, it’s difficult to talk.
Maddie shakes her head, those eyes coming to me. I still see the grief there, but I can also see a tinge of anger. She doesn’t like this any more than I do. “I don’t need your help,” she says. “Despite what Gray seems to think.”
Strong words from a seemingly strong woman. Yet I don’t know her, and I don’t necessarily trust her. Gray obviously discussed plans with Maddie, including that she’d become Grayce’s mom. But he didn’t discuss with me this insane idea that I need to be involved. Perhaps it’s a money thing? He knows I’ve got the means to give his daughter anything she could ever want.