Free Only Forever by Cristin Harber

two Delta jobs under my belt. Both pay in a way that lets Emma take a deep breath and open a savings account. She still gives a nervous glance at her receipts and our bank balance when she buys anything more than Ramen noodles, but I think she’s coming to grips with our new comfort level.
    Our little house is definitely our home. Quality time for the Kingsley family no longer revolves around arranging babysitting for her work schedule. Still, Emma refuses to buy anything special for herself. I’m done with that.
    There’s a brand new, fancy-ass camera waiting for her in the passenger’s seat of my truck. I kiss her neck them jump up with her in my arms. “Cally Bear—” I drop my head to Emma. “She gotta pee?”
    Emma laughs. “Already did it.”
    I learned that lesson the hard way once before. And it required me running with her in my arms to the restroom at Home Depot. We made it, but it was way too close. “Cally Bear, it’s go time, kid.”
    She squeals and runs toward the truck in our driveway. Patiently, she waits by her door as I carry Emma over and drop her on her feet. I’m convinced that Cally likes riding in my truck more than Emma’s Jeep because we’re higher up. I’ve playfully debated it with Emma. She loves her Jeep as much I dig my truck. “Ready for the beach?”
    “Yeah!” Cally jumps with her arms in the air.
    “Guess we need to buckle you in then.” It takes a couple seconds to get that job done, and as I click in the last part of the car seat, I catch Emma’s face lighting up.
    Holding up the wrapped box, she beams. “Daddy bought me a present.”
    Cally squeals. “It’s yur camera su-prise.”
    I laugh, shaking my head. “Surprise.”
    “ Camera? ” she mouths, eyes wide and overacting for Cally’s sake.
    New lesson learned: don’t tell Cally any secrets. Emma tears the paper off and opens the box, which was opened already once before when I put the pieces together and charged the battery. “It’s ready to go.”
    “Cheese!” Cally shouts, and I duck close to her for a picture.
    “Perfect.” Emma snaps one quickly and then a few more as I kiss my girl and jump in the driver’s seat. This weekend is going to rock.
     
    Emma
     
    Our lazy beach vacation has been perfect. The weekend is almost over, and I don’t want tonight to end. Tomorrow we go back home, and I can’t help but remember the last time we were together at the shore, when everything was so out of control and so perfect simultaneously.
    Cally’s asleep, and I’m lounging in Grayson’s arms outside on the deck overlooking the beach, feeling as though this night is supposed to make up for the one when he left me. There’s a glass of wine in my hand, and the baby monitor sits on the nearby table. The stars shine overhead, and a cool breeze rolls over us. I tug up the blanket and let the heavy weight of his arms tuck me in and hold me tight.
    My shoulders are a tiny bit sunburned, and we’ve grilled for almost every meal since we arrived—basically, my beach-time ideal. “This is how you’re supposed to do a vacation.”
    “Hooah to that.”
    His breath tickles my neck, and I snuggle closer. Grayson has taken up wearing his board-shorts uniform that I love, and I haven’t for a single moment taken for granted how ruggedly handsome he is and how amazingly sweet he is to Cally. Life is perfect in a way that I never saw coming. “Love you, baby. Thank you for this.”
    “Pretty mama, it’s you that deserves the thanks.” His lips press to the back of my head before he takes a pull from his beer.
    The ocean crashes around us. “Did you think we’d ever be at the beach again?”
    “I don’t know,” he murmurs. “I thought about what was best for you last time we were at the beach together, and I got it wrong that time. I’m not going to try and predict the future again. Maybe I’ll just pray I get it right.”
    I shift to gaze up at him and touch his cheek, letting the weekend’s worth of