Page 112 of What He Never Knew

My daughter danced again, as if she was speaking on behalf of her grandfather, and I laughed, placing the hand not on my crystal over my belly, instead.

“Alright, Mallory,” I said, testing out the name. I hadn’t told Reese yet, that I wanted to name our daughter after his sister. But when I said her name in that moment, a smile split my face.

Because everything about it felt right.

“Let’s go knock ‘em dead, shall we?” I said, squeezing my crystal and patting my belly one last time.

My eyes found the woman’s eyes who stared back at me, and my heart kicked to life in my chest.

This is it.

This is what you’ve worked for.

And seemingly before I even did, that reflection smiled back at me, pointing her finger directly at my chest. She and I, we were survivors — warriors who had fought one hell of a battle. Despite the losses that had broken us. Despite the injuries that had hindered us. Despite the enemies who had tried to take us out.

We were still here. We were still fighting.

And this was our victory dance.

As I turned out the lights, making my way through the hallway and down the stairs that led to the stage, I couldn’t help but count the biggest blessing of all: that I had the best dance partner in the world to celebrate with.

When the lights went out, when I stepped onto that stage to the tune of a thunderous applause, it was his eyes I found.

It was his smile that made my heart stop.

It was him I had in my heart as I played.

And it was him I would have in my heart always.

THE END