Isn't She Lovely | Impractical Jokers

Made from Love: An Epilogue

[I wrote the first draft in early 2020 and so much has happened since then, just keep in mind a lot of this is from the perspective of The Before Times™]

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A calm blue sky blanketed the park in the June heat. Children climbed over the playground structures as their parents paid close attention from nearby benches. Beneath spandrels draped with purple streamers, exclamations of joy and excitement came from all around while Sal desperately tried to keep his daughters attention. Kaylee had climbed on top of the picnic table, watching with delight as Q sucked helium out of a mylar balloon.

"Your daddy's a dork," he said in a squeaky voice that made her burst into giggles. Sal breathed a laugh and playfully nudged Q's arm.

Bessy stepped between them with a decorated sheet cake in her arms. "Alright, boys. Round 'em up."

Kaylee's eyes lit up as she placed the cake on the table next to her. Sal quickly scooped up the toddler just before her hovering fingertips could get a swipe of frosting.

"Time for cake!" Q called, his voice lowering as helium left his lungs. A dozen kids charged to the pavilion, screeching with anticipation as they clamored onto the benches. They each were pointing to the globs of frosting, calling dibs on the slices with the biggest balloons.

Joe shushed them as Sal lit the three candles in the middle, then all four Jokers led them in singing to the birthday girl. Kaylee was wiggling and clapping along in her chair at the end of the table. Sal leaned back and watched the smile grow across her face, trying to ignore the pang in his chest when he saw so much of Dylan in her.

It's been almost three years since they died, longer than that since Sal said goodbye not knowing it was forever. Every one of their daughter's birthdays marked another year Dylan wasn't here, each as bittersweet as the last. Dylan was the first person to ever make him feel loved. And the only person he'd loved since, as genuinely and unconditionally, was Kaylee.

Sal was determined to protect his daughter from any danger, whether it be germs, sharp objects, or the bathtub. He would die to keep her safe.

The parties were always more of a distraction for himself, as much as he hated that. He wanted to make sure Kaylee was happy, and tried his best to make life normal for her all on his own. But he couldn't help but think that this would be so much easier if Dylan were still here.

The crowd cheered as the song ended, pulling him out of his thoughts. Murr blew a tasseled noise maker in Sal's face before urging Kaylee to make a wish.

Sal lifted her to the cake, careful not to let her hair touch the frosting or, God forbid, the candles. She spluttered at the tiny flames that were already creeping halfway down the cheap candles from the bodega down the street.

He laughed as he watched the strain on her little face. "C'mon, you got this!" he quietly cheered. "Watch, like this," he said before dramatically holding a big breath of air in puffed up cheeks.

Kaylee giggled and copied him, then confidently blew out the candles.

Everyone cheered again as Joe moved to cut the cake. He cut a piece from the corner with a pile of pink frosting in the shape of a rose and put it in front of Kaylee. Then he handed the next slice to Sal, who slid it over to Q.

Q eyed him quizzically for a moment, so Sal gestured to the plate in front of Kaylee; more than enough to share. Q shrugged it off and started eating.

By the time Sal turned back to Kaylee, she had messily dug a plastic spoon through half the slice and had icing smeared on her cheeks. She giggled when he wiped her face with a napkin.