The fear sits behind my ribs like a shadow, but Ethan catches me watching Mia, his eyes softening. He crosses the room, touches my waist, and presses his forehead to mine.
“You are safe,” he whispers.“Both of you. We are not losing this. I swear it.”
I nod, inhaling cinnamon, cocoa, and the familiar warmth of him.
I really want to believe him.
By the time the parade ends, Mia is fighting sleep with every blink. She makes it two steps toward the truck before her little head tips against Ethan’s shoulder, her hat sliding over one eye again.
“She is out,” Ethan whispers, his voice soft like he is afraid to wake her.
I run my hand down her back.“Long day.”
“Best one,” he murmurs.
He shifts her gently into his arms, her cheek pressed to the thick layer of fleece on his jacket, her tiny mitten clinging to his shirt collar even in sleep. His whole body softens around her. Protective. Careful. Like she is the most precious thing he has ever held.
We walk through the snow-dusted parking lot to his truck, our steps quiet, our breath visible in the cold. The world feels hushed, like the night itself wants to keep this memory safe.
Ethan opens the back door and moves slowly, so gently, as he buckles her into her princess car seat. She barely stirs, just sighs and curls deeper into the pink blanket he tucks around her.
I love watching him with her.
I love it so much it hurts.
The drive home is quiet. Mia sleeps the whole way, and Ethan rests one hand over mine on the console, his thumb tracing slow circles that keep me breathing.
When we reach his parents’ranch, he kills the engine and comes around to get her. Snowflakes cling to his hair as he lifts her against his chest again, her little face tucked under his chin like it belongs there.
We climb the steps as silently as possible. Inside, the heater hums softly, and the Christmas lights I hung on the railing cast a warm glow over Ethan’s shoulders as he carries her up to her bed.
He lays her down like she is made of something fragile and sacred. A kiss to her forehead. A soft brush of her curls away from her cheek.
And then he turns to me.
We walk downstairs together, but as soon as I open the front door to walk him out, everything inside me cracks. The cold air hits my face and I break.
Ethan barely steps onto the porch when the first sob slips out.
His head snaps toward me.“Hey, come here.”
I fold into him before I can think. His arms lock around me, strong, sure, warm. He holds me like he is holding up the entire world.
My voice shakes.“I am so scared, Ethan. I cannot… I cannot lose her. I cannot lose this.”
He cups the back of my head, pulling me in tighter.“Listen to me.” His thumb sweeps my cheek, catching tears faster than I can spill them. He searches my eyes, steady and fierce.“Wewill fight them with everything we have got. Every lawyer, every resource, every ounce of strength we have.”
My breath catches.
“But,” he whispers, voice dropping low,“if it does not end like we want… we run.”
I freeze.“Ethan…”
“You, Mia, and me.” He presses his forehead to mine, grounding me.“I mean it, Summer. I do not care where. I do not care how far. If they try to take her, we go.”
My tears spill harder.“But you love it here. You told me you would never leave Lander.”
He smiles softly, painfully, like the truth hurts but he would still choose it.“The only thing I could never live without is my two girls.”
