“I can’t believe you had another emergency surgery,” Ellen groans as she walks into the kitchen. “That’s the third one this week.”
“And my last. I let them know that I need more stable hours so they’re going to hire an on-call physician.”
“Thank goodness. I miss seeing you around the house.”
Later that day, Valen felt the creaks of elderly age setting in.
“You’re still gorgeous,” Ellen assured him, kissing his cheek. “I love you.”
The days seemed to fly by after his hair turned grey.
He didn’t even remember Ellen telling him she was pregnant again.
Barely remembered the names of the women he’d been with before.
He spent his days working at the hospital and his nights helping Tate with her homework and reading books to Sera and Rain.
He was a Surgeon now and nearly had fulfilled his dream. It had taken a lot longer than he had anticipated, but everything had been worth it. He was calmer now and fully dedicated to his family. He’d sown his wild oats, albeit late in his life, and now he was grounded.
When Quiz Phillip and Penn Quincy were born, Valen was hit with a sense of doom and dread.
He was too old for this. An elder, raising five kids? He wouldn’t be around to meet his grandkids, to watch his babies grow and get married. He’d never get to see them succeed in life.
As he laid in bed one night listening to Ellen sing softly to their two newborns, he realized that actually he had failed at his dreams.
He’d wanted a career and a family, but for one he had sacrificed the other. He hadn’t balanced anything.
Later that night as he held Penn in his arms, he prayed.
Prayed for more time.
For forgiveness.
He prayed for his family. His wife. His five children.
He wasn’t religious, by any means, but he figured there was no harm in some last minute hail mary plays.
“I love you, Daddy. Congratulations on your promotion!”
“Thanks Tate. And I hear you have an A in all your classes.”
“Mrs. Goth just likes me a lot, but I’m still bad at math.”
Every day was a blessing.
Every birthday he was there for was a core memory for him now.
It had all come just a little too late.
Fierce & Wilde 