Chapter 15
We walked out of the courthouse.
The sun was shining.
The sky was blue.
It was a beautiful day.
Sarah and I stood on the steps.
We held hands.
We didn't say anything.
We just stood there.
Basking in the feeling.
It was over.
Really over.
Karen came out and joined us.
"It's done," she said. "She'll be transferred to the state prison tomorrow. Your father's trial is next month. With David cooperating, he'll almost certainly be convicted. You won."
She smiled.
"Both of you. You fought hard. And you won."
"Thank you," I said.
For everything.
Karen nodded.
"Take care of each other," she said. "And take care of that little girl. She's lucky to have you."
She left.
Sarah and I stood there for a while longer.
Then we went to pick up Rosie.
Dr. Lopez had taken her to the park.
We found them on the swings.
Rosie was laughing.
Swinging high.
Her hair flying in the wind.
She saw us and jumped off the swing.
She ran to us.
"Daddy! Mommy!"
We both knelt down and hugged her.
She hugged us back.
Tight.
"Did you win?" she asked.
I smiled at her.
"Yes, baby," I said. "We won."
She clapped her hands.
"Yay!"
We said goodbye to Dr. Lopez.
We promised to continue Rosie's therapy.
Then we went home.
Our home.
The porch had been repaired.
The smoke stains were gone.
It was clean.
Bright.
Safe.
That night, we made dinner together.
Rosie helped stir the pasta.
Sarah made salad.
I set the table.
It was normal.
Peaceful.
Perfect.
After dinner, we watched a movie.
Rosie fell asleep between us on the couch.
Her head on my lap.
Her feet on Sarah's.
Sarah looked at me.
Her eyes were soft.
"We did it," she said.
"We did it," I agreed.
She reached over and touched my face.
Her hand was warm.
Gentle.
"I love you, Mark," she said.
I froze.
We hadn't said those words to each other in a long time.
Not since before the divorce.
But now...
Now they felt right.
True.
"I love you too, Sarah," I said.
She leaned in.
She kissed me.
Softly.
Tenderly.
It was a kiss of healing.
Of hope.
Of new beginnings.
We pulled back.
We looked at each other.
And we knew.
This was the start of something new.
Something better.
Something real.
We didn't talk about the divorce that night.
We didn't talk about the future.
We just sat there.
Holding each other.
Holding our daughter.
And we were happy.
May you like
Truly happy.
For the first time in a long time.
