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Catherine found herself leaning into Lexi, who wrapped an arm around her. “This is nice,” Catherine said softly, her voice almost a whisper. “I can’t believe how much has changed. It feels like a dream.”

Lexi’s fingers lightly traced the curve of Catherine’s hand. “It’s real, baby. This is our family now, and we’ve earned every bit of it.”

Catherine smiled, watching as Rosie held up a cake-covered hand, giggling in delight as the icing smeared across her face. Itwas the purest form of happiness—a simple, unguarded joy that made Catherine’s heart ache with gratitude.

As the last crumbs of cake disappeared and the kids ran off to play, their sugar-fueled energy evident in the way they darted across the park, Josephine and Ember made their way over to Catherine and Lexi. The two women looked content, relaxed in the late afternoon sun, their hands intertwined as they watched the children with easy smiles.

Josephine, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, was carrying a bottle of sparkling water. Ember, ever the easygoing one, followed with a small cooler bag slung over her shoulder, probably full of snacks for later. They settled down on the blanket beside Catherine and Lexi, their movements a comfortable rhythm, like they’d been friends for years…which, at this point, they had.

Josephine glanced at Catherine, a smile tugging at her lips. “I have to admit, I didn’t think we’d ever get here,” she said, her voice light but sincere. “But look at this. You two—your family—it’s beautiful.”

Catherine chuckled softly, a mixture of pride and disbelief in her voice. “I never could’ve imagined this either. It’s…it’s everything I never knew I needed.”

Ember, who’d been taking in the scene of the kids running around, raised an eyebrow at her wife. “Don’t get too sentimental now, Josephine,” she teased, nudging her gently. “You’ll have us all crying before the cake’s even settled in our stomachs.”

Josephine rolled her eyes, but leaned over to give Ember a quick kiss on the cheek. “Well, I’m feeling sentimental,” she said,her tone playful but full of warmth. “Seeing the kids together like this…it makes you think about everything we’ve been through.”

Ember nodded in agreement, her eyes softening as she looked at Max, still running in circles, and Rosie, who’d finally tired herself out and was sitting in the grass, playing with a small toy. “It’s nice, though. We’ve come so far from where we started.”

Lexi’s smile was wide as she squeezed Catherine’s hand. “Yeah, we’ve definitely come a long way. But I wouldn’t change a thing. This…all of this is everything I’ve ever wanted.”

Josephine leaned back on the blanket, glancing over at the kids playing, then back at Catherine and Lexi. “It’s funny how life works, huh?” she mused, her voice quieter now. “You think you know what your future looks like, then it completely surprises you. I’m just glad it worked out the way it did…for all of us.”

Catherine nodded, her gaze lingering on the laughter and joy radiating from the kids. “Me too, Josephine. Me too.”

As they all sat back, letting the gentle hum of the park wash over them, Ember sighed contentedly and stretched her legs out on the grass. “We’ve got the whole afternoon to enjoy, don’t we?”

Lexi grinned. “Absolutely. And I’ll be here for every minute of it.”

Josephine, looking at her watch, raised an eyebrow. “How long before the kids burn off all that sugar?”

Catherine laughed, her eyes meeting Lexi’s. “Not long, I suspect. But as long as they’re happy, we’ll enjoy the chaos.”

“And,” Lexi smiled with a glimmer in her beautiful blue eyes, “next week, we will have someone new we want you to meet.”

“Oh, who is that?” Ember raised her eyebrows.

Catherine met Lexi’s gaze and smiled. “We are adopting a dog from the shelter. A Golden Retriever named Captain.”

Lexi smiled at them. “Captain is amazing. So good with the kids. We get to collect him tomorrow.”

Lexi took Catherine’s hand and smiled. Catherine had wanted a dog and a family for so long and now she had it all. And she knew she would never ever let it go.