25. Leah
Marco was opening a bottle of wine and humming along to the music. He looked utterly delicious, dressed in dark jeans and a fitted sweater.
I stood at the kitchen island, arranging a charcuterie board. It was our first dinner party together in our new home, and I wanted everything to be perfect. Our home . Just thinking about those words filled me with a kind of warmth I hadn’t felt in my years of marriage.
Marco and I moved in around Thanksgiving, and for Christmas, we gave each other ballroom dancing classes. Now that we’d mastered the art of salsa (not), we felt we were ready to move on to something more classical.
“How’s it going over there, chef?” Marco asked as he set a glass of white wine in front of me.
I flashed him a grin. “I’m killing it, obviously.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Modest as ever.”
I sipped the wine and nodded appreciatively. “Meursault?”
“Yes! You know, this summer, we should go to Burgundy and drink wine.”
“That sounds amazing.”
“Yeah?” He looked at me for assurance, and when I nodded, he grinned. “Great. I’ll book tickets.”
In the past, I would’ve worried that January was too early to make plans for the summer because who knew if we’d be together then or not. But that was in the past. Now, I don’t worry all that much about us . I was re-learning how to be in a relationship—or, rather, learning to be in a healthy one. I was reprogramming myself from always seeing myself as small and less to believing in myself, raising my self-esteem.
The doorbell rang, and my stomach did a little flip. “They’re here.” I wiped my hands with a towel.
Marco gave me a reassuring smile. “Relax, Leah. It’s going to be great.”
I took a deep breath before heading to the door.
Davis and Olivia were the first to arrive. My son greeted me with a hug that still felt new but wonderful, and Olivia gave me a polite smile that told me she was trying. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress, and I’d take it.
Not long after, Presley arrived at the same time as Isabella and Ethan. Sofia was going to be a little late.
Our kids had met and got along like a house on fire. Presley had spent both Thanksgiving and Christmas with us. Davis had only been able to spend Thanksgiving with us as he’d gone to Boca Raton for Christmas with Olivia’s family.
They’d juggled time with us and Kevin—but the truth was that they were distancing themselves from their father as they started to feel his toxicity more and more. I stayed out of their relationship with my former husband—my kids were grown-ups, and they needed to navigate this on their own. If they asked me for advice, I’d give it to them, but outside of that, I was not involved.
“He’s onto a new one,” Presley told me. “A yoga instructor this time.”
“We had to tell him that we didn’t want to meet his girlfriends until it got serious,” Davis added and then glanced at Olivia, who was talking with Sofia. “Olivia is looking for a new job. She feels uncomfortable working there. Dad keeps asking her if I’ve seen you, and it’s….”
My children had more than made amends, but the truth was that even if they didn’t, I’d have a relationship with them on any terms.
By the time we all gathered around the dining table, the room was filled with the sounds of a get-together. It was the best music in the world.
For a moment, I just sat back and watched our families interact and connect. The room was filled with warmth and light, the sound of voices overlapping in that beautiful, chaotic way that only happens when people feel comfortable and safe.
This was my family now. Not just my kids but Marco and his daughters, too.
At one point, Davis leaned over to me, his expression soft. “Mom,” he said quietly, “this is really nice. Thank you.”
I smiled, reaching out to squeeze his hand. “Thank you for being here,” I said.
After dinner, we moved to the living room, where Marco poured glasses of wine while the kids were discussing a tech privacy case in front of the Supreme Court.
I caught Marco’s eye from across the room, and he gave me a look that made my heart flutter.
This was our life now. A life we’d built together, filled with love and laughter and a sense of peace I hadn’t thought was possible.
Kevin was a distant memory. That part of my life was over. Kevin no longer held any power over me. When I saw him, which happened, I ignored him. When he threw his jabs at me, they didn’t land.
Marco wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close. “Happy.” It wasn’t a question but a statement.
I smiled up at him, leaning into his warmth. “Very.”
He kissed my forehead, and I closed my eyes, enjoying this moment.
“I love you,” he whispered.
He said it all the time. We were that kind of a family, the one where people said they loved each other and gave each other hugs.
“I love you.” I turned around to face him and slid my hands around his neck. “So, so, so much. More every day.”
“Yeah?” He nuzzled my nose with his.
“So much that once we get rid of your kids and mine, I’ll show you stars.”
He quirked an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. “I hope that doesn’t mean you’re going to knock me out.”
“You’ll just have to wait and find out.”
He chuckled and kissed me.
My heart was full. My life was full. And I wasn’t looking back anymore. I was only moving forward.