Once I had Ophelia’s tiny hangnail cut off, and Rowan tucked into bed, I walked outside to the cool evening air, feeling a new sense of wellbeing. Even with the possibility of it being fake, the doubt of it never being okay, I knew it would be.

I looked up to a clear, star filled sky and breathed in the air as my eyes closed.

“You okay,” Paxton asked from behind me.

For the first time in almost two weeks, I let him touch me, wrap me in his arms, and make me feel like I was his. That he was mine, and we were going to fight this fight together. We had to.

“I’m sorry I threw your magic rock in the ocean,” he said into my hair.

I smiled and leaned into him more. “I’m sorry I threw yours in there, too.”

One arm left my body and reached into his pocket. “I got a new one.”

I took his hand in mine, letting the magic stone nestled in the palm of my hand click with his. Once again, becoming one.

“I love you so much Gabriella.”

“I love you too, Pax. I swear I do.”

“You say that like it’s a hard thing to do.”

I giggled a little with that one. That was an understatement. Paxton was a hard man to love, but he also loved hard when he loved back. Deep shit, that doesn’t even make any sense. The kind of love that you have to work hard as hell for, because you know how good it could be. That’s what I had to push for.

“We don’t have to talk about this right now if you don’t want, but I need to know what to put on the tombstone. I’m perfectly fine with whatever you choose. I just didn’t know if you wanted, you know. Do you want it to say Gabriella? That is who she is. I can put whatever you want on it. It doesn’t have to be what the death certificate says.”

“No, I want it to say Izabella. That’s the way it should be. I’d rather keep her name. It makes me feel closer to her, but you’re right. Talk about something else. I’ve had enough sadness for one day.

“We haven’t made love in almost two weeks.”

I laughed. “Is that unusual?”

“Unheard of. Can we? I’ll lick your pussy.”

Another laugh. “You’re going to last like two minutes.”

“I know; that’s why I’m offering to lick your pussy first.”

I turned to my husband and kissed him, all joking aside. I was in love with a family I didn’t remember, and loved it. All of it.

Stupid little fish.

The End Turn the page for a surprise.

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