19. Sophie
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Sophie
Three weeks later, Dominic comes home.
The recovery was slow - the bullet did more damage than they initially thought - but he’s stubborn and determined and refused to spend another day in that hospital bed.
Anna practically leaps out of my arms when she sees him. She’s been fussy and miserable without him, reaching for the door whenever someone comes in, crying when it’s not him.
Now she’s making happy sounds, grabbing at his face, patting his cheeks like she needs to make sure he’s real.
“Hey, troublemaker.” Dominic’s voice is soft, reverent. “I missed you too.”
I watch them together - this man and my daughter - and my heart swells until I think it might burst.
This is my family. My real family.
Not Caleb and his manipulation. Not my absent father or my overworked mother. This.
“The lawyer called,” I say as Dominic settles onto the couch with Anna. “The divorce is final. And Caleb pled guilty to kidnapping charges.”
“What’s his sentence?”
“Fifteen years.” I sit beside them, lean against Dominic’s good shoulder. “Andrea got five. She testified against him in exchange for a lighter sentence.”
“She turned on him?”
“Apparently he was planning to pin the whole thing on her. She overheard him telling his lawyers that she was the ‘mastermind’ and he was just a concerned father.” I shake my head. “She didn’t take it well.”
“Couldn’t have happened to a nicer person.”
“Dominic.”
“What? It’s true.”
I want to argue, but I can’t. Caleb getting exactly what he deserves doesn’t bring me any joy, but it does bring me peace. He can’t hurt us anymore. Can’t touch Anna. Can’t control my life.
I’m free.
“So,” Dominic says, shifting to look at me. “About that proposal.”
“The one from the hospital bed?”
“That’s the one.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small velvet box. “I wanted to do it properly.”
“Dominic, you don’t have to-”
“I want to.” He opens the box.
Inside is a ring. Simple, elegant - a single diamond on a thin gold band. Nothing ostentatious. Nothing showy.
Perfect.
“Sophie Brennan,” he says, and his voice is steady even though his hands are shaking. “Will you marry me? For real this time?”
“I already said yes.”
“Say it again.”
I look at him - at this man who fought for me, who chose me, who nearly died to keep my daughter safe. At the future we’re building together, brick by brick, out of honesty and trust and love.
“Yes,” I say. “Always yes.”
He slides the ring onto my finger, and it fits like it was made for me.
“I love you,” he says.
“I love you too.”
Anna makes a demanding sound, clearly annoyed that she’s not the center of attention.
“And I love you, troublemaker.” Dominic kisses her forehead. “Don’t worry, you’re still my favorite.”
“Hey,” I protest.
“Joint favorite.” He pulls me closer. “Both of you. Always.”
We sit there, the three of us, wrapped up in each other.
It’s not perfect. There will still be hard days, difficult conversations, moments when the past rises up to haunt us.
But we’ll face them together.
That’s what family does.