Chapter 12 - My Son’s First Birthday Was the Day We Burned the Last Document My Father Had Left BehindEthan's first birthday was small.
Maya.
Me.
A few friends.
My mother.
Darla's former legal counsel wasn't there.
None of the old network.
Just family.
Ethan sat in a high chair.
His cake was blue.
He grabbed it with both hands.
Maya laughed.
“You'll never get that shirt clean.”
I smiled.
“Worth it.”
We sang.
He laughed.
I cried.
Again.
After dinner, I brought out a box.
Inside was the final trust document.
The original.
The one my father had written.
Maya looked at me.
“What are you doing?”
“Ending it.”
“You already dissolved it.”
“This is the symbolic part.”
We went outside.
The fire pit was ready.
I held the document.
For years, this paper had represented power.
Control.
Fear.
Inheritance.
Now it meant nothing.
I put it into the fire.
Maya watched.
“What are you thinking?”
“That my son will never grow up believing this matters more than he does.”
She smiled.
“That sounds like a good birthday promise.”
I looked at Ethan.
“Happy birthday, little man.”
He laughed.
The paper turned to ash.
For the first time, I felt completely free.
Then Maya came beside me.
“Caleb.”
“Yes?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“What are we?”
I looked at her.
“Family.”
“That's easy.”
“Partners.”
“Better.”
“Friends.”
She smiled.
“And?”
I took her hand.
“I want you to be my wife again.”
She stared.
“No.”
My heart dropped.
Then she smiled.
“No more paperwork.”
I laughed.
She continued.
“If we're doing this again, we do it because we choose each other.”
“Yes.”
“Not because of Ethan.”
“No.”
“Not because of money.”
“No.”
“Not because of the company.”
“No.”
She smiled.
“Then yes.”
I kissed her.
May you like
The fire burned behind us.
And the last piece of my father's empire disappeared into smoke.
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