Page 109 of Lieutenant

Smiling, Carter steps behind us, makes a point of putting his hands over ours, where they’re still joined, and holds them up as he nudges us forward. Then he stands back to let us bask in this moment.

What a photo opp. I definitely want an enlarged and framed copy of this picture to hang on our wall.

I glance back to see Carter walking back and forth across the state while fiercely waving both arms now, urging the crowd louder, leading chants ofTAY-LOR! TAY-LOR!before he starts applauding us and gives us a bow from the waist.

Then he stands behind us again, the implication clear—Fuck any of you who want to try to make something of this, because I’m behind them one-hundred-percent.

Owen pulls me in for a hug and stares down into my eyes for a long moment. I think maybe he’s actually going to kiss me, but he doesn’t. A long, slow blink, our special code. In this case, I know it meansI love you.

I blink back, give him one more hug, then I lean in closer to the microphone, clapping as I speak.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you your current and future governor of the great state of Florida,Governor Owen Taylor!”

I don’t even care who sees me crying now. I’m so fucking proud of him that I’m clapping just as hard as everyone else. Harder, even.

This fucking photo op isn’t merely gold, it’s platinum, and fuck you if you think I won’t exploit it for every millisecond I can wring from it.

I glance over and catch Carter’s eye, and he smirks, winking at me.

I wink back.

God I love that fucking bastardsofucking hard.

We’ve sacrificed so much over the years, my men doubly so. They’ve done this forme. That proves to me how much Carter loves me. He could have easily worked on Owen all those years ago, seduced him into his arms, and cut me completely out of the equation.

By now, they’d have been married a few years, maybe adopted a couple of kids, living a quiet life as attorneys.

Not…this.

Instead, Carter took a chanceonme, and keeps taking chancesforme.

Because he loves me.

Don’t think I don’t know how precious this thing is that we all share.

Loyalty.

Devotion.

They’re not just kneeling positions. They’re words that describe my husbands’ hearts, even if we’re the only three who can truly know that.

They’remine, and I love them.

It was only thinking about them that kept me from giving up during my ordeal, until the very end, when my body was close to failing me.

Carter’s order to me to stay safe.

Knowing that, despite what I went through, theystillwant to support me being in politics, instead of all of us immediately returning to private life and being able to openly be spouses and parents and enjoy this compounded miracle.

We stand here tonight because they loveme.

We stand here tonight because they supportme.

We stand here tonight because I am the luckiest woman in the damn world.

I had been certain I’d never have a baby. I don’t believe in divine intervention, but the confluence of events is almost enough to make me consider that it’s possible.

Almost.

But not quite.

Because my baby isn’t born yet. Maybe one day I might consider taking a more spiritual path in my life, but today is not that day.

Tomorrow’s not looking so hot, either. Because I am my Daddy’s daughter, and I am also Senator Benchley Evans’ daughter—a politician, first and foremost.

A politician who’s about to spend another four years as the lieutenant governor of the great state of Florida.

The End