Page 165 of Full Mountie

I take a deep breath. Even though the media won’t use our names, we’re going to be made a little public today. And that’s okay.

As the PM has said forcefully in interviews leading up to this moment, love is love. There’s no asterisk on that.

Gavin hangs up the phone and claps his hands together. “How are my favourite almost-one-year-olds?”

He and Ellie have an almost two-year-old at home, a little girl named Chandler, and Ellie recently found out she’s expecting again.

Babies everywhere.

He looks at me. “You ready for this afternoon?”

I take a deep breath and nod. “You bet.”

“I’m going to do my best for you.”

“I know you will.”

“And you’re coming back to work soon, right?”

I laugh. “In three weeks.”

“Thank God.”

It’s a surreal thing, watching your personal life influence a piece of legislation.

After Gavin introduces the bill, there are a lot of speakers for and against. It’s hard to sit there and hear people say that my family is immoral. But others stand up and talk about the benefits of formalizing loving relationships, and that makes my heart swell.

Then an aide leads us to a press room.

I was totally against the girls coming with us, but the press corps agreed not to take any pictures, and Hugh made a persuasive argument for how seeing the three of us interacting with our kids—just like any other family—would show in a single moment, what an entire speech couldn’t convey.

He’s exactly right.

My babies win over the press with a single shared giggle. My handsome husbands help, too.

My life. My family.

Mine.

I’m full of pride as I nod at the communications director. “We’re ready for questions now.”

Epilogue 2

Hugh

When I comedownstairs from putting the girls to bed, I find Beth in the kitchen.

“Where’s…” I trail off as she points to the master bedroom.

I cross the hall and push the door open. I find Lachlan on his knees, waiting for us.

Beth follows me in.

“Hands behind your back,” she tells him.

His grin is slow and easy as he obeys.

The position pushes his chest out. His hard nipples, front and centre. I itch to tug on them with my teeth.

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