Six years later…
Seraphina sat near the window of her and Nathan’s bedroom, her eyes softening when she looked down, sometimes glancing out at the front drive where she watched people come and go while simultaneously looking over her recent photos.
Over the last few years, she had slowed down on work. The attention she had received after doing the album art had slowly dwindled when she had continued to decline work during a time in which she couldn’t even get a grasp on herself. Cruz’s and Laurens’ trials, well, they had been trying, testing Seraphina’s disorder.
For a while, all her years of therapy were for naught. She had lost complete control of herself and had no control over Tristana’s appearances. Nathan had been beside himself, swearing to kill Cruz before the trial was over. She had been back in intense therapy sessions daily until something finally clicked inside her.
For the first time, she could truly communicate with Tristana. It was like a voice in the back of her mind, like having a second conscience, helping her weigh the pros and cons of a situation, much like having an angel and devil on her shoulder. Tristana pushed her and pushed her to be strong, letting her know she was there for her, essentially holding her hand along the way. Now the two women coexisted, never shutting the other out.
That didn’t mean Tristana didn’t still make appearances. She would come out whenever Seraphina was lost in something, whether that be work or gardening or even watching a movie. And she came out often when Chastity was around.
The defense had used her disorder against her in court, but in the end, they were the ones who had lost. Cruz had been found guilty of all charges and had received a sentencing of forty years. Then, because Seraphina had finally come forward, so had others. To this day, Cruz was still in and out of court.
Laurens had plea bargained and had received fifteen years. However, Cruz had ended up indicting himself, Laurens, Jason, and three others in the death of a Marine that had previously been deemed an accident. A hazing ritual gone wrong, the six men had participated in drowning a nineteen-year-old while waterboarding him then covering it up by saying he had drowned in a pool.
So many lives ruined. The thought made Seraphina lose her breath whenever she thought about it.
After testifying in the trials, they had decided to settle back in Virginia. It offered a happy medium—close enough to easily visit Jared and Chastity, and likewise; far away from the memories of California; and they had Ms. Diana, who had harassed them endlessly until they were back under her roof. Neither could say no to that lovable yet demanding woman.
At eleven years old, Chastity still did not know her parentage and hadn’t questioned it. She was a happy child, assured in the love Jared gave her as her doting father, assured in her grandmother’s love, and assured in the love of her aunt and now uncle Nathan.
Seraphina was still Tristana to her, though Nathan called her Seraphina often in the girl’s presence. They just told her that was a nickname, like they had told her Peter had been a nickname for Nathan. A younger Chastity had just shrugged it off, still calling him Peter until the name slowly faded from her maturing lips.
Jared had started dating more frequently now that Chastity was older, yet that was as far as the progression went. Seraphina and Ms. Diana were starting to think Jared would be a perpetual bachelor. They were always giving him a tough time for not trying harder. The man just waved them off. He was perfectly happy with his life the way it was.
Jared and Chastity had recently been in Virginia for two weeks before school had started back up for Chastity. Neither had wanted to leave.
Nathan’s parents had also been in Virginia while Jared and Chastity were there … before Kevin had to practically drag Vivian away. Seraphina had told them about Chastity before the trials. And though they knew not to say anything, they couldn’t help themselves from doting over the young girl. This visit, though, the doting had been shared.
“There are my beautiful ladies.”
Seraphina looked up, smiling blissfully at the love of her life.
“I dare you to try some,” Seraphina teased, still smiling up at Nathan.
Nathan knelt beside her and leaned over, nuzzling her breast before licking off the milk that had leaked out of her nipple. Then he picked up his three-month-old daughter and kissed her nose.
“Your mama will never learn that there is nothing I won’t back down from.”
“Where did you go anyway?” Seraphina asked, looking him over.
Shirtless and hair mussed, he had sweat and dirt all over him. Still, he looked gorgeous. His eyes were shining down on the sleeping baby in his arms, so much love and pride held in that gaze.
Seraphina hadn’t been sure she wanted to be a mother, especially because she had given up Chastity, an ache that would never leave her heart. Nathan had stood by her decision, telling her that he would be happy either way. All he wanted was to remain at her side, unable to live with only half of himself. However, fate had had other plans.
Over a year ago, Nathan had come back from his morning run to find Seraphina crying in the bathroom. She had been so scared, so distraught.
Opening the door, he had found her sitting fully clothed in the bathtub, looking green, a pregnancy test in her hand. He hadn’t known what to say. All he could think to do was crawl into that too-small tub behind her and hold her.
“I … I don’t even know how it could happen,” she had rushed out between sobs.
Though they had never used condoms, Seraphina had been on birth control for years, and in five years, they had never even had a pregnancy scare. Yet the proof of the pregnancy was in those two little lines on the stick she gripped tightly in her hand.
When her sobs had finally succumbed to sniffles, he had lifted her face to his and kissed her gently. Then he had looked into her watery eyes, placed his hand low on her belly, and told her, “This happened because this baby is a strong and determined soul who wants us to be their parents. They want to gift us with their life, to link us together forever. They want to give you another chance at motherhood. To make our lives overflowing with love, with laughter and beauty and innocence. They want to fill you with love and prove to you that you deserve it.” He had then kissed the tears spilling slowly down her already wet cheeks. “This baby is a gift, Seraph. Your gift.”
Her sobs renewed, she buried her face in his neck and gripped his shirt with one hand, her other hand tightening around the stick until her knuckles were white. “You always say the most beautiful things.”
He kissed her head then pressed his cheek against her crown. “I promised myself a long time ago to never hold back my words from you again.”
He continued to hold her through her next wrack of sobs, through the sniffles and hiccups that followed those. When she finally lifted her head and sat away from him with a sigh, looking down at the pregnancy stick lovingly now and not with a fearful look, he knew it was time.
“Seraph?”
She lifted her eyes to his, so much love and trust shooting out of them; a direct hit to his chest, making his heart feel like it had swelled.
He pushed himself up from the back of the tub and kneeled in front of her, taking her free hand. “Marry me.”
Seraphina gasped, her eyes widening. “What …?”
They had talked about marriage, yet it had always been mentioned in a future context. They were both secure in their relationship, not needing a contract to bind them. Now, though, with a baby in the equation, now she knew, as he had already realized, that the future was now.
Nathan just quietly waited for her to process his words, a small smile playing on the edge of his lips. Her shock was adorable.
Finally, Seraphina grinned broadly at him. “Where’s my ring?”
“Don’t you already have one?” He lifted a brow at her.
“I can’t use someone else’s ring!” she exclaimed, referring to the engagement ring a woman named Rachel had given her years ago as a thank you for saving her from the mistake of marrying a cheating man. She had kept it for unknown reasons, and to this day, it still rested at the bottom of her sock drawer.
Nathan simply grinned. Then he got up and helped her out of the bathtub before leading her to their bedroom. There, he released her hand and left her in the middle of the room as he made his way to the chest under the window. Inside, he retrieved the blue box before returning to her.
Kneeling on one knee this time, he took her hand and said, “I gave you my vows years ago, inside a bar, and they still hold true today. You are my best friend, my solace, my sympathy, my beauty, my lover, and soon to be the mother of our child. I promise to protect you and keep you safe. To worship you and give you everything and anything you could possibly want. To continue to build our future together and give you beautiful memories. To make you laugh and smile every day. To give you something to look forward to every morning when you wake up. To always be by your side.
“I promise you all this whether you marry me or not, but for the sake of tradition, I hope you’ll say yes.” He held the box open to her, exposing the simple princess-cut solitaire.
Unable to form words, Seraphina nodded vigorously, unable to take her eyes off his, not even looking at the beautiful diamond. All the diamonds she wanted were in the sparkle of his eyes that looked so happy right now as they beamed up at her, a smile widening his features into true bliss.
Kissing her hand, he then slipped the ring onto her finger.
The day had then been spent making love and talking over wedding plans. In the end, they had been married on the beach at his parents’ house, having a private ceremony with only their family, which included his parents, Jared and Chastity, Ms. Diana, Mabel and her husband. Afterward, to everyone’s surprise and delight, they had broken the news that Seraphina was four months pregnant.
“The attic,” Nathan answered her previous question of where he had been to get so sweaty and dirty. He shook his head with a scowl before looking back down at baby Stella and smiling. “Ms. Diana now wants to turn the entire attic into a museum.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea!”
They continued to help Ms. Diana run her bed and breakfast while still maintaining their own jobs. The house had never felt more like a home to them. Everything was becoming like new again. The yard was absolutely beautiful after all the work they had put into it, with large gardens to walk through and plenty of fruits and vegetables to keep Ms. Diana happy for half the year. The kitchen had finally been remodeled, yet it still held all the charm of an older home with its new older-looking, retro appliances. The gathering rooms had all been redone; upholstery refurbished, woodwork sanded and polished, rugs replaced, and more antiques decorated the rooms. Since Seraphina and Nathan had done most of the work themselves, it felt like a real home.
Secretly, that had been Ms. Diana’s plan all along.
Nathan glowered at her before taking on a mischievous look. “Glad you like it so much. I’ll just hand Stella over to Ms. Diana for a while so you can get a few hours’ worth of work in with me.”
Now it was Seraphina’s turn to glower. “Ha, ha.” She stood up, adjusting her shirt back into place, before taking the baby from him and setting her down in her bassinet.
Nathan pressed himself against her back suggestively, whispering in her ear, “It will be like old times. We’ll get all hot and sweaty up there, and then we can have some alone time in the pool.”
Goosebumps broke out over Seraphina’s arms as she sank back against him. “I’d prefer the pond. More privacy.”
“Me, too.” Feeling more complete than he had in his entire life, he turned her face toward him and kissed her like he always kissed her—as if it were the first and last time.
The End