Page 43 of The Surgeon's Secret

EPILOGUE

5 YEARS LATER

Catherine awoke to the soft light of a Sunday morning filtering through the bedroom curtains, the familiar hum of the house around her. For a moment she just lay there, eyes closed, letting the peace of the morning wash over her. The warmth of the blankets cocooned her as the scent of freshly brewed coffee drifted up from downstairs. The house was quiet except for the soft, distant sounds of Lexi moving around in the kitchen.

The past five years had transformed her life in ways she could never have predicted. It seemed like a lifetime ago that she’d been tangled in the suffocating grip of her marriage to James, the constant fear of being a disappointment, and the loneliness that had gnawed at her even when she was surrounded by people. But that was before Lexi. Before everything changed.

How had five years passed since they’d met? It felt like both an eternity and the blink of an eye.

Catherine shifted quietly, not ready to get out of bed just yet. She let her eyes wander around their bedroom—the soft, muted colors of the walls, the photographs on the bedside table, and the small knickknacks they’d collected over the years. There was apicture of the kids at the beach from their last vacation. They’d grown so much since that picture, even though it was only a year old.

She thought back to the day they’d met, when everything had been so uncertain. Lexi had been there for her in ways she hadn’t known she needed, her steady support the one constant during the hardest time in Catherine’s life. Catherine could still remember the first time she’d admitted out loud how afraid she was—of being alone, of losing herself in the weight of her marriage, of everything she thought she should want. But Lexi had been patient, never pushing, just offering a safe space for Catherine to find her own path.

And now, five years later, Catherine couldn’t imagine her life without Lexi.

She gently slipped out of bed and stood, stretching to shake off the remnants of sleep. There was so much to do today. The kids had a soccer game in the morning, followed by a picnic in the park for Natalie’s birthday, and then a family dinner that evening. It was going to be one of those busy Sundays, the kind they’d grown to love. They’d built a life together, full of laughter, love, and moments like this—small and ordinary, but they meant everything to her.

Lexi was already downstairs, standing by the coffee maker with a cup in her hand as she looked out the window, the morning sun casting a warm glow on her face. Catherine watched her for a moment, taking in the way Lexi’s hair was still a bit tousled from sleep and how comfortably she stood in the kitchen, as though this was just another ordinary Sunday. But Catherine knew it wasn’t ordinary. It was extraordinary.

Five years ago, Lexi had walked into her life at a time when she hadn’t even realized how lost she was. Catherine hadn’t known how much she’d been yearning for someone who would truly see her. And Lexi had done that. She’d shown Catherinethat love didn’t have to be complicated or painful. It could be simple. It could be the way Lexi looked at her across a room, or the way she held her hand when they were together, as if she would never let go. It could be in the quiet moments they shared, the laughter that echoed around the house as they navigated their new life together.

Catherine walked up behind Lexi, wrapping her arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her shoulder. Lexi turned her head with a smile, her eyes still sleepy but full of warmth.

“Good morning,” Catherine murmured.

“Morning,” Lexi replied, her voice rough from sleep. She leaned back into Catherine’s embrace, and for a moment they stood there, just breathing, savoring the calm of the morning.

“How are you feeling about today?” Catherine asked, her voice light, even though there was a deeper tenderness in her tone.

Lexi shrugged. “Excited, mostly. Max is determined to score today. He’s been practicing nonstop in the backyard. And it’ll be nice to see family later.”

Catherine laughed softly, imagining the scene. “Ten years old. Natalie’s growing up too fast.”

The afternoon was warm with the lingering glow of late summer, the park bathed in golden light as families filled the space with laughter and chatter. The air smelled like fresh-cut grass and the faint hint of cake, carried on the breeze from the picnic tables where the birthday celebration was set up. Catherine leaned back against the blanket spread out on the grass, watching the bustling scene around her. It was one of those moments when everything felt just right—calm, full of love and life.

Max was bouncing around like he owned the world, his soccer match still fresh in his mind. He’d scored the winning goal, and his energy was infectiously high. His face was flushed from the excitement, his bright smile never leaving his face as he ran laps around the field with a few of his teammates, occasionally glancing over at the picnic to see if anyone was watching his impromptu victory lap. Catherine chuckled to herself as she watched him, her heart full. She couldn’t help but feel pride surge through her as she watched him.

Across the picnic blanket, Rosie—still a toddler, not quite two yet—was giggling as she chased after a butterfly near the swings. Her tiny hands reached out eagerly, her small steps unsteady but determined. Catherine’s heart melted at the sight. Rosie had her mother’s curiosity, always wanting to explore, to touch, to see the world with wide, eager eyes. Catherine knew she was still a little young to grasp all of the family dynamics, but she was already so loved, her joy pure and untainted. Rosie’s laughter filled the air, echoing through the park as she toddled back toward the group, her tiny hands still sticky from the apple juice she’d had earlier.

Speaking of cake, Catherine glanced toward the table where Natalie was helping Josephine and Ember cut slices of her birthday cake and hand them out. It was hard to believe that not too long ago, their relationship had been so tenuous, full of misunderstandings and doubt. Now Josephine was part of their family in a way that felt effortless, like she’d always been there.

Catherine shifted on the blanket as Lexi joined her, a plate of cake in hand. She handed it to Catherine with a smile, then sat beside her, nudging her gently with her elbow. “You didn’t think you’d escape the birthday cake, did you?”

Catherine grinned as she accepted the slice. Her eyes twinkled as she watched Rosie, who was now holding up a pieceof cake like it was the most important thing in the world. “It looks like she’s having her own party.”

Lexi laughed softly, leaning back on her elbows as she took a bite of her own cake. Her eyes flicked toward the table, her expression warm as she observed her niece. “Natalie’s going to love the cake. I swear, Ember’s baking gets better every year. Next year the cake will be three tiers high!”

Catherine chuckled. “I’m sure she’ll try.”

Max bounded back toward the blanket, flushed and breathing heavily from tearing around the playground. He plopped down next to Catherine, his energy still vibrating through him. “Did you see me, Mom? I scored the goal! I won the game!” He grinned at her, his eyes alight with pride.

Catherine placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it affectionately. “I saw. You did an amazing job out there. I’m so proud of you.”

He beamed and took a bite of his cake, barely pausing to chew before he jumped up again. “I’m gonna go see if I can kick the ball to the other side of the park!”

“Not so fast, soccer star,” Lexi called out, laughing. “Eat your cake first.”

Max groaned dramatically, but sat down long enough to finish his slice before bounding off again toward the open field, soccer ball in tow.

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