Page 51 of Say You're Mine

And then we're there, walking through halls that seem both familiar and strange. My heart pounds so hard I'm sure everyone can hear it. We stop outside a closed door, and Judith turns to me.

"Remember what we talked about," she says gently. "Take it slow. If you feel overwhelmed, just say the word and we'll end the visit."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. Judith squeezes my hand one last time, and then the door is opening, and-

Cara.

She stands there, backlit by the morning sun streaming through the windows, and for a moment I forget how to breathe. She's beautiful, radiant, her belly swollen with our child. Tears shine in her storm-gray eyes, and I want nothing more than to cross the room and gather her in my arms.

But I force myself to stay still, to give her the space to make the first move. "Cara," I whisper, her name a prayer on my lips. "I'm home."

A sob escapes her, and then she's moving, crossing the distance between us in what feels like a heartbeat. And then she's in my arms, warm and real and alive, and I'm home. I'm finally, finally home.

"June," she breathes, her fingers tracing the lines of my face as if memorizing every detail. "Oh God, June. I missed you so much."

I pull her closer, careful of her belly, and bury my face in her hair. She smells of jasmine and sunlight and everything good in this world. "I'm so sorry," I murmur, the words spilling out in a desperate flood. "I'm sorry I left you, sorry I couldn't-"

"Shh." She pulls back just enough to meet my gaze, her eyes fierce with love and determination. "You have nothing to apologize for. You came back to me. To us."

As if on cue, I feel a flutter of movement against my abdomen. Our child, kicking as if to say hello. A laugh bubbles up in my chest, surprised and joyful.

"He knows his daddy," Cara says, a watery smile on her face. "He's been waiting for you too."

I drop to my knees, pressing my forehead against the swell of her belly. "Hey there, little one," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "I'm here now. And I promise you, I'm never leaving again."

As I look up at Cara, at the love shining in her eyes, I feel something inside me shift and settle. The fractured pieces of my psyche, the jagged edges left by Faulkner's torture, begin to smooth and realign.

I am June Deveaux. Husband. Father-to-be. Survivor.

And I am home.

I stand, pulling Cara close once more. Our lips meet in a kiss that's both tender and desperate, months of longing and fear poured into a single touch. When we part, I rest my forehead against hers, breathing her in.

"I love you," I murmur, the words inadequate but all I have to offer. "God, Cara, I love you so much."

She cups my face in her hands, her touch gentle but grounding. "I love you too, June. Always. No matter what."

A soft cough reminds me we're not alone. I turn, keeping one arm around Cara, to see Judith watching us with a mixture of joy and caution.

"June," she says softly, "how are you feeling? Do you need a break?"

I take stock of myself, surprised to find that the usual undercurrent of anxiety and paranoia is quiet. Being here, with Cara in my arms, has silenced the demons that have plagued me for so long.

"I'm okay," I assure her, tightening my hold on Cara. "Better than okay."

Judith nods, but I can see the wariness in her eyes. "That's good, June. But remember, we need to take things slowly. This is a lot of stimulation after-"

"I know," I cut her off, trying to keep the edge out of my voice. "I know the risks. But please... just give us a few more minutes."

She hesitates, then nods. "Alright. But if you start feeling overwhelmed-"

"I'll say something," I promise. "Thank you."

As Judith steps back, giving us a semblance of privacy, I turn back to Cara. There's so much I want to say, so many apologies and promises crowding my tongue. But what comes out is:

"Tell me everything. About the baby, about you. I want to know it all."

Cara's eyes fill with tears, but she's smiling. "Well," she begins, guiding my hand to rest on her belly, "he's a night owl, just like his daddy. Loves to kick up a storm right when I'm trying to sleep..."

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