Page 150 of Dual

“Especially with all the complications,” I say. “Perfect would be boring.”

“Can’t have that,” Anna laughs, the sound bright and free, and Connor makes a small sound of contentment against my chest. In this moment, surrounded by the two people who mean everything to me, sitting in this room where we’ve worked so hard to heal and grow and become worthy of each other, I feel something I never thought I’d experience.

Peace.

Not the absence of struggle or pain or difficulty, but the deep, bone-deep certainty that whatever comes next, we’ll face it together. All of us.

As a family.

“Any final thoughts before we wrap up for the day?” Dr. Ezra asks.

Anna and I look at each other, one of those wordless communications that happen between people who’ve learned to truly see one another.

“We got married,” Anna says suddenly, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.

Dr. Ezra raises an eyebrow. “Congratulations. When?”

“Two weeks ago,” I say, unable to keep the grin off my face. “Justice of the peace. Nothing fancy.”

“Why keep it simple?” Dr. Ezra asks.

Anna’s hand finds mine again. “Honestly? I was afraid of anything else getting in the way. You know, that wholewaiting for the other shoe to drop thing. I just... I wanted to be his wife while I still could.”

The admission cuts through me. “Anna...”

“I know it sounds crazy,” she says quickly. “But I’ve been so happy, and I wasn’t sure I was allowed to be this happy.”

“You’re allowed,” I say fiercely, bringing her hand to my lips. “You’re allowed to be happy, love. We both are.”

She smiles, tears finally spilling over. “I’m starting to believe that.”

Connor shifts against my chest, and I look down at his perfect, peaceful face. “We’ve got time,” I say, as much to myself as to Anna and Dr. Ezra. “For the first time in our lives, we’re not running from anything or toward anything. We’re just... here.”

“And that’s enough?” Dr. Ezra asks.

I look at my wife, my son, this life we’ve built from the ashes of everything that tried to destroy us.

“More than enough,” I say. “It’s everything.”