Just stands there trembling, staring at the corpse of the man who called himself her husband. As if he ever understood what that word meant. What it took to be a husband, a father, a man.
He only wanted the image of them. The illusion.
Ewan Calder was never capable of loving anyone but himself.
I step behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. Hold her steady while the tremors work through her body.
"It's over," I say into her hair. "It's really over."
"I didn't think I'd ever be free," she whispers.
"You're free." I turn her gently, tilting her face up to mine. "You survived him. You outlasted him. You ended him. And now you get to live."
"We get to live," she corrects through tears, and the smile that breaks across her face is sunrise after years of darkness. "All three of us."
I kiss the corner of her quivering mouth. "All three of us."
Against the far wall, Aaron starts slow clapping.
"Well." His voice cuts through the silence with impeccable timing. "That was certainly something."
Cat elbows him. "Shut up. It was beautiful."
"It was definitely memorable." He pauses, considering. "I might need therapy."
"You're already past needing therapy."
Keira laughs, burying her face against my chest.
Marco steps out of the shadows, already pulling cleaning supplies from a cabinet. His expression is carefully neutral, but I catch the slight smirk tugging at his mouth.
"I'll handle the body. You two need a shower." He pauses. "Several showers. And possibly an exorcism."
"Thanks, Marco."
"Don't mention it." His eyes cut to Aaron and Cat, who have finally untangled themselves. "Seriously. Don't ever mention what I just witnessed. To anyone. Ever."
"Noted," Aaron says solemnly, hand over his heart.
"Don't be a prude, Marco." Cat rolls her eyes and moves toward the door, pausing to look back at us.
"Hale's been asking for you. He's having the best time with Zoe and Dom, but he wants his mom…" She smiles, eyes bright. "And his dad."
His dad.
That's me.
Hearing that, knowing it's really mine now, I can't stop my eyes from tearing up.
"We're right behind you," I reply.
Aaron raises his fist, meeting my gaze. He doesn't say anything, but the pride in him says it all.
You did it, brother. You got them back.
Then they're gone, and it's just us.
Keira and me.
