“I own a few rental properties around Winter Bay,” I say simply. “The lake house, the place two streets over from Mav, the downtown condo. Pick whichever one feels right. It’s yours. For you and Bella.”
Her eyes well up. “You can’t just—”
“I can. I am.” I lean closer, lowering my voice. “You said you wanted to start over. So let’s do it right. You and Bella deserve a home here, close to family. Close to me.”
She stares at the keys, then at me. “You’re serious.”
“Completely.”
“Mommy!” Bella appears, oblivious to the heavy moment. “Look what Asher got! A whole science kit!”
Desiree wipes her eyes quickly, laughing. “That’s wonderful, baby.”
“Too presumptuous? We can look at bigger homes or even build one from—”
She silences me with a kiss. “Thank you.”
I pull her closer. “Fair warning: I’m going to wife you so hard your head will spin.”
“Wife me?” She’s laughing now, her whole face lighting up. “Is that even a verb?”
“It is now.” I kiss her nose, then her cheek, unable to stop touching her. “I’m talking ring, vows, hyphenated last names if you want them—the whole thing. But I’ll give you time to catch up to where I already am.”
Her smile softens, turns tender. “How much time?”
“However long you need.” I thread my fingers through hers. “A year, two years, ten. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Mommy! Daddy!” Bella’s voice shatters the moment as she barrels toward us with Isa and Penny in tow. “Can we go sledding? Please please please? Uncle Mav said the hill’s perfect!”
“Did he now?” I raise an eyebrow at my brother across the room.
Maverick grins, completely unapologetic. “What? I’m not wrong.”
And just like that, we’re swept back into the beautiful chaos of family. Throughout the day—building snowmen that actually stay upright, sledding races down the hill behind the house, hot chocolate breaks that turn into marshmallow wars—Desiree and I orbit each other. Stolen kisses when the kids aren’t looking. Hands finding each other in the crowd. Small touches that say I’m here, you’re here, we’re real.
By late afternoon, we’ve collapsed onto the sofa in the living room, exhausted and content. Bella and her cousins sprawl on the floor with their new toys, a sea of wrapping paper and ribbons still scattered around the tree.
I pull Desiree against my side, and she comes willingly, tucking herself into the curve of my body. She fits perfectly, like she was always meant to be there.
“You were right, you know,” I say quietly, my lips against her hair.
“About what?” She tilts her head to look up at me.
“Before Margot left.” I tighten my hold on her waist. “She told me she’d been waiting years for me to look at her the way I look at you.”
Desiree goes still against me. “Oh.”
“Yeah.”
She shifts to face me more fully, tucking her legs underneath her, and I can see her processing. “What did you say to her?”
“I was too stunned to speak. Then she asked me not to.” I blow out a breath, scrubbing my free hand over my face. “She said we’re good, that we’ll always be good. Then she left.”
“But it changes things.” Desiree’s not asking, she’s stating a fact, her empathy for Margot written across her face. “She’s your best friend, Enrick. She’s been there for you and Bella all these years—”
“And I’ll always care about her as a friend,” I cut in. I cup her face, making sure she’s looking at me when I say this. “But that’s all it’s ever been for me, Desiree. All it will ever be.” I stroke my thumb across her cheekbone, feeling the softness of her skin. “The only woman I’ve ever wanted—the only woman I want now—is sitting right here.”
“She must be hurting.”
