Page 93 of Vengeful Eyes

“You think I'm ever letting go of you now?” he says, pulling me back to him sharply. “Because you already have everything, Hope. My heart, my fucking soul. You hold all the power now. The only person in the world who could rival you is your daughter, and—”

“Our daughter,” I cut in.

“Our daughter.” He nods and pulls me closer, his hands tangling into the back of my hair. “I’m fucking petrified of disappointing her or ruining something so innocent. You know that, right?” I plaster my body as close to him as I can, the cool chill of the ocean sloshing between us. “I'm gonna need your help, Hope. Make me remember this place. Us.” Those words coming from him and the light fading behind us seem to blend us into something new, special and cherished.

“You’ll love her with everything you have, as will I. And she’ll be just as tough as you. I promise she will. We'll make it happen. We're all the family we need.”

His mouth brushes mine, softly for once, a contented sigh coming soon after. I smile into the sound, enjoying his lips on mine after an afternoon without them.

“Then I’m happy, Hope. We'll be happy together.”

My heart soars at the declaration as he wraps me into his hold and keeps backing us deeper into the water. I know I’ll need more, and that I'll get it bit by bit. Living a life with Benjamin won’t be filled with romance or normality, and at times, that will weigh heavy, gnawing away at my belief and trust in his love for me.

But tonight, here and now, I couldn’t be happier.

Everything is here. Him. Our child. This house and our beach. It's our home, our hope for a life beyond his norm.

He wipes the tears I didn’t know I’d spilt from my cheeks and lifts my body into his arms. I'm barely aware of the water anymore because the honesty in his eyes is all I need. All Iwantto need anymore. “I love you, Benjamin.”

“I love you right back.”

The End