Page 58 of Echos and Empires
Emma hesitated, then nodded, a small admission slipping past her defenses. “Everything just feels so damn big,” she confessed. “I think I’ve lost myself a bit.”
Her honesty tugged at him, making him painfully aware of how much she’d been carrying by herself. Liam had been so focused on finding community members they could trust and recruit, so intent on playing the role that their undercover mission required, that he hadn’t noticed how deeply it was affecting her.
“We’re fighting for our future,” he said, reaching for her hand as if that small connection could draw her back to him. “But it doesn’t mean you have to lose yourself in the process.”
Emma squeezed his fingers, the gesture both a reassurance and a plea. “I love you, Liam. I love all of this. I just wish I felt more at ease. Which is impossible with Victor alive.”
The admission hung between them, stark and raw. Liam knew it wasn’t a lack of love or commitment that troubled her, but the overwhelming magnitude of everything they faced. He needed to remind her of the joy, to bring back the lightness that had always defined her before the world became such a dangerous place.
“I have just the solution,” he declared, a spark of determination igniting within him that he wasn’t certain didn’t shine through his gaze. “Go back inside the clinic, you’ve got the needle in your hair and Alex is inside, anyway.”
She raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of skepticism and curiosity. “Liam?—”
“Trust me,” he said with a grin that was impossible to resist. “I’ll be quick.”
Without waiting for her to protest, Liam took off, the urgency of his plan driving him faster than he’d moved in weeks. He knew Emma needed more than words right now. She needed to feel the freedom and love that had gotten lost in the chaos of their lives.
As he ran, Liam’s mind was a blank slate except for thinking about helping Emma. They’d always been in sync, each stepforward taken together. But lately, he’d been consumed with the tactical side of their mission, leaving Emma to navigate her emotions alone. He hated the thought that he’d let her down, that he hadn’t noticed how deeply she was struggling until now.
Reaching their house, Liam burst inside and quickly called, “Ranger!” The dog came quickly, wagging his tail with excitement, clearly thrilled at the prospect of a new adventure. Liam clipped on the leash and headed out the door, his pace quick as he retraced his steps to where Emma was waiting at the clinic with Ranger happily bounding along beside him.
He was surprised to see her standing out front.
“Ranger!” She broke into a grin and squatted for him to rush up to her.
Liam let the leash go, more than confident Ranger wouldn’t go anywhere but to Emma.
“This is about you,” Liam said as he reached her, breathless but grinning. “Not me, not the twins. Just you.”
Ranger barked in agreement, and Emma’s laughter was like music he’d almost forgotten the sound of. The tension that had wrapped around them started to unravel, leaving room for the love and lightness he knew she needed.
Liam handed her Ranger’s leash, his fingers lingering over hers for a moment longer than necessary. “Come on,” he said, the promise of something better shining in his eyes. “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Consider it a surprise. Something I’d kill to do daily with you, would’ve done daily with you if we’d met before the world went to shit.”
She smiled and kissed his cheek. “Something tells me if we’d met before the world exploded you wouldn’t have picked me.”
He scoffed. “There isn’t enough time in the world for me to prove you wrong, but know that there is no one more importantthan you. Not even those two buns you’re warming in there.” he pointed to her stomach.
Their steps fell into a comfortable rhythm, the early tension dissolving as Liam talked about Ranger and how much he’d missed Emma. “Today is all about your first baby,” he joked, nodding to the eager dog. The words teased a smile from her, and Emma’s laugh was a sweet note in the air.
“Oh yeah? Well, think you’re going to love my babies when I’m the size of a whale?” She teased back.
He answered by tugging her close and kissing her, a promise in his lips that no matter what happened, his love would be constant.
The path swiftly unfurled to reveal the beach, an expansive stretch of sand shimmering like a golden promise beneath the sun’s warm embrace. Emma watched as Ranger darted forward, his boundless energy mirroring the sense of liberation that was gradually returning to her heart, and Liam watched her watching Ranger. The salty breeze tousled her hair as Liam hurled the ball through the air, and Ranger leaped into the foamy waves with an ecstatic bark, water droplets sparkling around him like tiny jewels.
Laughter bubbled up, genuine and carefree, as they watched Ranger chase the ball, the ocean lapping at his paws. The sight was almost surreal, so peaceful that Liam could hardly believe it belonged to them. It was a glimpse of the life they dreamed of, a world where fear didn’t overshadow every joy.
Liam’s eyes met hers, a shared understanding passing between them. It wouldn’t always be like this, they knew the reality waiting beyond the horizon. But for now, they let themselves believe, let themselves imagine that peace was something they could hold on to.
He released her hand and took a step back, giving her space to breathe in the serenity of the moment. Emma watched him,the man who had rescued her from the depths of despair, and felt a swell of gratitude so profound it almost undid her. She realized how much she needed this, how much she needed him.
“Go on, go with him.”
Emma joined Ranger at the water’s edge, calling his name as the dog raced through the surf. Her laughter echoed across the beach, mingling with the cries of distant gulls, and she felt a rare sense of contentment settle over her. This was the solution Liam had promised, the reminder that joy was still possible if she allowed herself to reach for it.
