Chapter 10 - The New FoundationFor a long,
agonizing moment,
Maria did not move,
completely frozen by the weight of my words.
Then,
slowly,
her hands came up to rest on my chest,
gripping the expensive fabric of my custom shirt,
pulling me just a fraction closer.
I have spent my whole life being afraid,
she whispered brokenly,
tears finally spilling over her dark lashes,
tracking silent paths down her flushed cheeks.
Afraid of being left behind,
afraid of not being good enough,
afraid of trusting a man with my heart again.
I know,
I replied softly,
wiping away the moisture with my thumbs,
my heart aching at the pain etched in her features.
But when I look at you,
Ethan,
she continued bravely,
her voice gaining a surprising sliver of strength,
I do not feel fear anymore.
I feel safe,
she admitted,
looking up at me with a vulnerability that stole my breath,
and I think I have loved you since the day you played with Lily.
A wave of immense relief crashed through my soul,
washing away years of bitterness and solitude,
leaving behind a bright,
untainted hope.
I captured her lips with mine,
kissing her with a fierce,
desperate passion,
pouring every ounce of my love into the embrace.
She kissed me back with equal fervor,
her arms wrapping tightly around my neck,
anchoring herself to me in the dimly lit hallway.
It was a promise,
a seal,
a quiet revolution happening right outside a nursery door.
When we finally broke apart,
gasping for air,
a soft giggle echoed from down near our feet,
breaking the romantic tension instantly.
We both looked down simultaneously,
startled by the sudden intrusion,
only to find Lily standing in her pajamas.
Efan kissing mommy,
she cheered happily,
clapping her small hands together in pure delight,
her honey-colored eyes sparkling with mischief.
Maria blushed a furious shade of crimson,
hiding her face against my shoulder,
letting out a muffled,
embarrassed groan.
I chuckled deeply,
scooping the little girl up with one arm,
pulling her mother close with the other,
holding my entire world in my embrace.
Yes,
little one,
I smiled down at the beautiful child,
pressing a quick kiss to her messy brown curls.
Does this mean you are staying forever,
Lily asked innocently,
tilting her head to the side,
waiting for my answer with absolute trust.
I looked at Maria,
seeing my own profound happiness reflected in her gaze,
knowing I had finally found what I was looking for.
Yes,
I promised them both,
my voice ringing with absolute certainty,
echoing through the halls of a house that finally felt like a home.
I am staying forever,
I repeated,
May you like
walking them back into the nursery,
ready to begin the rest of our beautiful lives together.
