Chapter 10
Today is Emily's eighth birthday.
Eight years old.
I can't believe how fast time flies.
She's in second grade now. She loves reading and math and art. She has a best friend named Lily. She plays soccer and takes dance lessons.
She's happy. Healthy. Safe.
Everything a child should be.
We're having a small party this year. Just family.
Megan and her family are here. Sophia's parents. A few close friends.
Emily is running around the backyard with her cousins. She's wearing a new dress Sophia bought her. Her hair is tied back with ribbons.
She looks like Lisa.
More and more every day.
I'm standing by the grill, cooking hamburgers and hot dogs. Sophia is next to me, making potato salad.
She looks at me and smiles. "You okay?"
"Yeah," I say. "I'm great."
And I am.
I'm really great.
Two years ago, my life was a nightmare. I walked through my front door and discovered that the woman I'd married was a monster. That my daughter had been living in fear. That everything I thought I knew was a lie.
I thought my world was over.
But it was just beginning.
I saved my daughter. And in doing so, I saved myself.
I found love again. Real love. With Sophia.
I built a new family. A real family.
I learned that it's okay to trust again. That not everyone is like Rachel. That there are good people in the world.
Emily runs over to me. "Daddy! Daddy! Can we open presents now?"
I laugh. "In a little while, baby. Let's eat first."
She pouts playfully. "But I want to open presents!"
Sophia comes over and tickles her. "Patience, birthday girl. Good things come to those who wait."
Emily giggles and runs away.
I look at Sophia. My wife. My partner. My best friend.
We got married six months ago. A small ceremony in the backyard. Emily was our flower girl.
It was perfect.
"Thank you," I say to Sophia.
She looks at me, confused. "For what?"
"For everything," I say. "For loving me. For loving Emily. For giving us a second chance."
Sophia takes my hand. "You gave me a second chance too. You and Emily. You're my family."
I kiss her.
And in that moment, everything feels right.
We eat. We laugh. We celebrate.
Then it's time for presents.
Emily sits in the middle of the living room floor, surrounded by gifts.
She opens them one by one. Clothes. Books. Art supplies. A new soccer ball.
She saves the biggest one for last.
It's from Sophia and me.
She tears off the wrapping paper. It's a large photo album.
"What's this?" she asks.
"Open it," I say.
She does.
The first page has a photo of Lisa holding newborn Emily.
The next page has photos of Emily as a baby. Toddler. Preschooler.
Then there are photos of us. Our new family.
Emily and Sophia baking cookies.
Emily and me at her soccer game.
All three of us at the beach.
Our wedding day.
The adoption day.
And on the last page, there's a letter.
I wrote it. Sophia wrote it. Together.
*Dear Emily,*
*You are the bravest, strongest, most amazing girl in the world.*
*You've been through more than most people go through in a lifetime. But you never gave up. You never lost hope. You kept smiling.*
*You have two mommies who love you very much. One in heaven who watches over you every day. And one here who will love you and take care of you forever.*
*And you have a daddy who will always, always protect you.*
*You are safe now. You are loved. You are home.*
*Never forget that.*
*With all our love,*
*Mommy, Daddy, and Mommy Lisa*
Emily reads the letter.
Tears stream down her face. But she's smiling.
She closes the album and looks at us.
"Thank you," she whispers.
She gets up and runs to us. She throws her arms around both of us.
We hold her. All three of us. Together.
A family.
"I love you," Emily says.
"We love you too," Sophia and I say together.
And in that moment, I know.
Everything is going to be okay.
The nightmare is over.
The bad people are gone.
Justice has been served.
And my daughter... my beautiful, brave daughter...
She is finally safe.
She is finally loved.
She is finally home.
May you like
And so am I.
The end.
