The words were perfect, everything she’d wanted him to say to her all those days ago. But he hadn’t, and that silence had wounded her more than words could express, and as badly as she wanted to sink into him now, could she trust him?
‘You let me walk out of the door, Caleb. Out of your life and our marriage.’ Guilty colour slashed across his cheeks and his head bowed with the weight of his regret, but the weight of her pain was heavy too. ‘You didn’t even try to stop me.’
‘I wanted to. At least a part of me did. But I was too scared.’ His eyes pleaded with her. ‘I wasn’t ready to accept how I felt. I regret it, Serena. More than anything I’ve ever done before. I’ll regret it forever. But I want to fix it. That’s why I’m here. To make it better. You deserve to have exactly the life you want, Serena. A life full of love and passion and happiness, and I want to give you that life.’
‘And what happens the next time you feel scared?’ she demanded, trembling with the force of her feeling. Her hope and her fear. ‘When you get overwhelmed by all your emotions? Are you going to push me away again?’
‘Never. Never again.’
‘Because it’s not just me, Caleb. It’s Kit and Alexis too. They have lost just as much as me, and in another few months there will be another little person, and I won’t do that to them. I won’t put them through it.’
‘It won’t happen, Serena.’ He stepped closer again, his eyes blazing. ‘I promise. I am here. I am in this. Every day, I will be here. With you. For you. In love with you. Trust me.Please trust me.I know I haven’t done much to deserve it, but trust me. I won’t let you down. I love you. And I won’t ever let you go ever again.’
‘Say that again.’
He took a breath. ‘I will never let you go…’
‘No. Not that part.’ Serena offered him a little smile. ‘The part about loving me.’
Taking her face in his hands, Caleb looked deep into her eyes with his own honest gaze, where she saw nothing but the truth. Pain. But also love. ‘I love you, Serena. I love everything about you, with everything that I am. You, and this little one, were the last thing I thought I wanted, but you’re the best things that have ever happened to me.’
It was impossible to last a moment more without throwing her arms around him and sinking into the heat and safety of his body. ‘I missed you, Caleb.’
‘Nowhere near as much as I’ve missed you,’ he breathed, pressing kisses to her mouth, her cheeks, her eyelids. ‘My life was empty without you, Serena. I never want to go back to that.’
‘You’ll never have to,’ she promised, holding tight and smiling. Because whilst she had no idea what life would throw at them, Serena trusted—no, sheknew—it would be alright because she had him.
Because they had each other.
EPILOGUE
Who knew thata toddler’s birthday party would create such widespread detritus?
As they did their usual divide-and-conquer routine, and Caleb put their three-year-old daughter to bed, Serena tackled the mess downstairs, clearing the rooms, tidying the new stack of toys, stacking the dishwasher and wiping down the counters. By the time she heard her husband descending the stairs, their living space was gleaming again.
‘Did Frankie go down okay?’
He smiled indulgently, sliding his arms around her from behind. ‘She was fast asleep in my arms before her head went anywhere near her pillow. She was worn-out.’
‘She did have a big day.’
‘I cannot believe how much she relished being the centre of attention at her party. I know shealwaysloves being the centre of attention,’ he added quickly, ‘but she revelled in it even more than usual today.’
Serena smiled, resting her head against his shoulder. ‘When we decided to name her after my mum, I hoped she would have a little of her spirit, but we definitely got more than we bargained for. I wouldn’t change her though, not a single thing.’ Even if she wasexhausting!
‘Me neither,’ he agreed, pressing a warm kiss to her cheek. ‘She’s perfect, just like her very beautiful, very sexy mother.’ Serena spun in his arms, feeling his arousal, and without delay heat swept through her body, delighted by the thought of surrendering to him. ‘Please tell me everyone has left,’ he breathed, seizing her mouth for a burning kiss.
‘Mm-hmm. Kit is staying at his friends down the road. Your father and Ellie have gone back to the hotel, and Evie is dropping Alexis off at Marcia’s.’
Marcia had been invited to the party, but preexisting plans meant she hadn’t been able to attend. She had sent a gift though, a gesture that Serena appreciated. The years hadn’t brought them any closer—too much had passed between them for there to be closeness—but they had learned to respect one another and had built a civil relationship for the sake of Kit and Alexis. It was peaceful, which was enough.
‘Excellent. I think we should make the most of this rare moment of peace and quiet—no toddler running around, no teenagers wandering in and out—and start practicing to make another perfect human all over again.’
Serena arched her eyebrows, smiling. ‘That’s really what you want? Another baby?’
‘Yes.’ He nodded, barely able to hide his eagerness.
He’d been talking about extending their family for a while. He loved being a father to Frankie and a surrogate father-cum-big brother to Kit and Alexis. And Serena loved watching him do it. He was so sure and steady, never holding back in his affection or guidance. Watching him, it was hard to believe he’d ever been worried about being a good father.
