Page 119 of Claiming Tomorrow (Shadows Before Dawn)

Sure enough, there’s a picture of Peter grinning like he just hooked Jaws. It’s about the size of a goldfish, but it’s the cutest picture, and I'll be sure to get it printed so I can hang it on the fridge.

“Send it to grandpa too, Dad,” Peter insists, his voice earnest as he bounces with energy.

“I’ll send it now,” Julian replies.“Now go inside and wash up.”

“Okay,” Peter replies, then he skips inside, shouting to Emma and Harper about his catch of a lifetime.

Julian comes and joins me as we lean against the railing.“I honestly thought he was reeling in the Loch Ness Monster. The drama,” Julian shakes his head.“He thinks my shock was from the fish and not its small size.”

“Size doesn’t matter,” I elbow him.

“People who say that have a guy with a huge cock. No woman with a man who has a pencil penis says size doesn’t matter.”

I swat his shoulder,“Stop it.” I giggle.

“I’m right. If you need a reminder, I’ll be down to show you tonight.” His grey eyes darken with lust.

I pat my stomach.“I have a reminder right here. Two. You owe me for this. Nine months of turning into a beluga whale.”

He bends down and kisses me.“You were sexy as hell the last time you were pregnant, and you’ll be the same this time.”

“I was huge,” I protest.

“You were beautiful and growing our kids.” He presses his lips against mine, silencing my objections.

“I miss you,” Julian whispers as he kisses my neck.

I lean into him.“I missed you, too,” I reply as I rest my head on his shoulder.

I feel...complete. Utterly happy, loved, protected, and healed.

I used to wake up and only see the shadows of the past on my horizon, but now I see bright, beautiful sunrises. Of course, there are going to be rainy days, but the sunny forecast I have outshines the moody ones.

I tried to outrun my demons, but all I had to do was turn around and be brave enough to face them. It's like when you're a kid, and you're scared to get out of bed because of the monsters under it. I needed someone to help me shine a light on the monsters. Julian did.

I realized the monsters were just broken people. Broken things crumble quickly. I’m free of my monsters, and I have the love of my life and our growing family to remind me that fighting, even in the darkest and hardest of times, is worth it.

Life isn’t a fairytale, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a happy ending.

“I love you, Pumpkin,” Julian kisses the top of my head as his hands gently wrap around me, resting on my stomach.

“I love you, too.”

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