Page 73 of Worth the Fall

The moment deepens, the world outside her apartment fading completely as we lose ourselves in each other. Every touch, every kiss, every whispered word cements the connection between us, a bond that feels unbreakable despite everything we’ve faced.

And as I look into her eyes, I know one thing for certain; I’ll do whatever it takes to keep this. To keep her.

The room feels smaller than it is, but not uncomfortable. Just… full. Full of unspoken things that we’re all trying to say. Felicity sits beside me, her little hand gripping Princess Waddles. Celine is across from me, her posture perfect, as if sitting just right can somehow make the emotions she’s working through easier to bear.

Dr. Grant glances between us, his face calm and patient. "Why don’t we start by addressing the elephant in the room?"

Celine raises an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth twitching. "Oh, which one? The fact that I hired Miguel’s girlfriend’s law firm out of what can only be described as a spiral of questionable judgment? Or the fire alarm that got pulled during Mia’s meltdown in said law firm?"

Felicity perks up. "What fire alarm?"

"Never mind," Celine says quickly, waving her hand.

I rub the back of my neck, trying not to laugh. "Yeah, let’s not make that a bedtime story, kiddo."

Dr. Grant chuckles, leaning forward slightly. "Let’s focus on what came from that, though. Celine, would you like to share how that experience shaped where you are now?"

Celine sighs, crossing one leg over the other. "I’ll admit, what I did wasn’t my finest moment. I was… scared. Angry. When Felicity started talking about Miss Mia all the time—how much she loved her, how great she was—I felt like I was being replaced." She hesitates, glancing at Felicity, who is blissfully preoccupied fixing Princess Waddles’ bow. "So, in a moment of panic, I decided to hire Mia’s firm. It was partly curiosity, partly insecurity, and—if I’m being honest—partly spite."

I look at her, surprised by how easily she admits it.

"But," Celine continues, her voice softening, "after meeting Mia and seeing how much Miguel and Felicity love her, I realized I was being unfair—to everyone, especially myself." She turns to Dr. Grant. "I worked with the firm to make things right. I apologized to Mia, explained my actions, and withdrew my account. And I’ve been working with you to deal with those feelings, to understand why I reacted the way I did."

Dr. Grant nods approvingly. "That’s a big step, Celine. Acknowledging the emotions behind your actions is an important part of this process."

Celine smiles faintly. "I’m trying. It’s not easy, but I want to be better for Felicity—and for you, Miguel. You deserve to have someone in your life who makes you happy, and if Mia is that person, I want to support that."

Her voice cracks slightly, and she blinks quickly, trying to keep her tears at bay.

Felicity notices immediately. She scrambles off the couch, Princess Waddles in hand, and climbs onto Celine’s lap. "Mommy, don’t cry," she says, her little voice full of concern."Miss Mia is great, but you’re the best. You’re my favorite person."

Celine lets out a soft sob, hugging Felicity tightly. "Oh, sweetheart," she whispers. "I love you so much."

I clear my throat, the moment hitting me harder than I expected.

Dr. Grant smiles, his voice lightening. "You know what? I think I just might have some toys." He stands and walks over to a closet, pulling out a box of brightly colored blocks and puzzles.

Felicity’s face lights up. "You do have toys!" she exclaims, leaping off Celine’s lap and running to the box.

"Have fun, kiddo," I say, watching as she dives into the pile, immediately engrossed in a castle-building project.

Dr. Grant sits back down, turning his attention to Celine and me. "This gives us a chance to talk more openly. Miguel, how do you feel about how Mia was introduced into Felicity’s life?"

I shift uncomfortably, running a hand through my hair. "Honestly? I didn’t handle it the right way. I should have talked to Celine first, given her a heads-up. But I…" I pause, my jaw tightening. "I let my bitterness get in the way. I was still angry about the past, and I held that against her. I thought, if she didn’t give me a say in how our marriage ended, why should I give her a say in my new relationship?"

Celine winces, and I immediately regret my phrasing. "I’m sorry," I say quickly. "I know that’s not fair. It was petty, and it wasn’t about Felicity. I should have put her first."

Celine nods slowly, her expression unreadable. "I appreciate you saying that. And for what it’s worth, I understand. I didn’t make it easy for you to trust me, Miguel. And I know this wasn’t about Mia—it was about us. About the hurt we caused each other."

Dr. Grant interjects gently. "It sounds like you’re both acknowledging the need for more communication and mutual respect moving forward. That’s a strong foundation to build on."

I glance at Celine, then at Felicity, who’s deep in toy play, her little tongue sticking out as she concentrates. "I just want to get this right," I say quietly.

Celine nods, her voice soft. "Me too."

For the first time in years, I feel like we’re on the same page. It’s a strange feeling, but a good one.

Dr. Grant smiles, closing his notebook. "That’s a good place to end for today. Felicity seems pretty happy with her toys, so take your time transitioning back into the real world."

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