Even after a month has passed, I can still remember that afternoon in my old apartment when we told my parents that I’m pregnant.

I keep reliving that moment. My mother’s scorn was palpable, and I could feel my father’s disappointment in my bones. I wish I could go back and say something, anything, that would make them understand that this isn’t just some stupid childish fling. I wish I could make them really see how I feel about Gavin.

But I can’t and I won’t. Not after what they said to me. And not after that letter.

I look over at Gavin and force myself to smile. We’re on the elevator up to the apartment again, though this time we’re only meeting with my father. I doubt my mother even knows we’re coming, Gavin smiles back and squeezes my hand, just like before.

He’s been so good through all of this. I never imagined I’d have someone who could keep me as centered and as grounded as he can, but it’s exactly what I need. He calms me when I’m stressed and makes me feel like everything is going to be okay in the future. Even when the future seems terrifying, he’s there for me.

I don’t know a damn thing about having a baby. I don’t know how to raise one. I’ve never even held one. But Gavin bought all the books and even read them, and I know he’s going to be a good father. He’s changed over the last month, in subtle ways, but they’re noticeable. He doesn’t go out with his friends as often and he doesn’t drink as much. He works out even more and seems very intent on the future. He’s stressed with work, of course, since my father is trying to destroy him, but he’s still there for me.

And he wants me to fight. I have to admit that it’s tempting. I don’t want my family’s money. I don’t want a single freaking dime from them at all. But I don’t want to make this easy on them either. I want it to be difficult to kick me out of the family, because it should be. It shouldn’t be easy to send me away and to forget about me.

I was their daughter for so long. And maybe I made some mistakes, at least in their eyes, but I’m still their daughter no matter what. Of course, they don’t see me that way, and they never did. It’s hard to accept that, really and truly accept it, even though I know it’s the truth.

That’s what I’m here for today, though. I’m going to accept my place in the world. I’m going to accept that my family doesn’t want me and that I’m making a new family with Gavin, one where I’m going to be much happier.

“Ready?” Gavin asks when the elevator reaches the top floor.

“Ready,” I say, feeling anything but.

We step out and head down the hall. Like before, I knock on the door, feeling awkward. But instead of Thomas opening up, Peter stands there.

I look back at him, surprised. He looks like the same old Peter, but instead of his usually sly smile for me, he stares blankly.

“You’re right on time,” he says.

“Hi, Peter,” I respond. “It’s good to see you.”

He nods. “Father’s in his study.”

I glance back at Gavin as we follow Peter into the apartment. Of everything that has happened, the way Peter’s acting toward me right now hurts the most. We follow him down the hall and he doesn’t look at me again, like I’m some stranger visiting instead of the sister he’s been so close with for so long.

“Hold on,” I say to Gavin. “Can you wait here?”

He pauses. “Sure,” he says.

I turn to Peter, who looks a little surprised. “Can I talk to you?” I ask him.

He hesitates, then nods. “Yeah. Sure.”

I lead him into the dining room and shut the door behind us. I turn to him and for a second, I think that I see the brother I once loved so much.

“I’ve missed you,” I say to him. “I’m sorry things are so weird right now.”

He glances away. “Why’d you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Get pregnant. By that… person.”

I frown and shake my head. “I didn’t meant to get pregnant. And I like Gavin… I like him a lot. He makes me happy.”

“Still.” Peter looks back at me and I think he might be pleading with me. “The family comes over everything. You know that.”

“They were going to marry me off to Milo,” I say softly. “Doesn’t what I want count at all?”

“No,” Peter says firmly. “It doesn’t count for any of us. You know that. And you’re still turning your back on us.”

“I’m not,” I say. “I’m not turning my back at all. Father is forcing me to leave.”

“If you got rid of that… thing, you could stay.”

I stare at him, shocked. How could Peter, my loving brother, say something like that to me?

“It’s my baby,” I say flatly.

“It’s a mistake.” He stares at me again with that blank expression. “Come on. Father’s waiting.”

Peter opens the doors and steps back out into the hall. I watch him for a second then follow, biting back my tears.

I won’t freaking cry. I won’t give them the satisfaction.

But that moment back there, that was the end. He was my last hope. Part of me hoped that Peter was still somehow on my side, despite everything, and that he’d make it all okay. He used to do that all the time when I fought with Michael, back when we were kids.

We’re not kids anymore. And Peter isn’t my brother.

“Go right in,” Peter says as we reach my father’s study. I don’t look at him as he walks past me and disappears back into the apartment.

Gavin takes my hand again. “You okay?” he whispers. “What did he say?”

“Nothing,” I answer. “Let’s get this over with.”

Gavin frowns but doesn’t argue. I open the doors and we step into my father’s office.

Hans Tillman looks up as we enter. He’s sitting behind his desk just like last time. We walk straight in and sit down in the chairs in front of his desk like it’s some business meeting. He arches his fingers in front of him and looks at me.

“I’m glad you came,” he says.

“I had no other choice.”

He smiles a bit. “You always have a choice, Sadie.”

“Well, here I am. Let’s talk.”

“I don’t feel like dragging this out anymore, so I’m going to get right to the point.” Father looks at Gavin and smiles a bit. “You’re hurting right now. I know that. You’re angry with me and my family, and your business isn’t doing so hot. Am I right?”

Gavin hesitates then nods. “You’re right.”

“You probably want to fight this,” father says.

“I do,” Gavin confirms.

“Here’s what I’ll offer. If Sadie accepts a complete and utter separation from the Tillman family, including changing her surname to something else, then I will back off your businesses and leave the two of you alone. Provided you never enter into our lives again.”

Gavin stares at my father then looks at me. “I’d turn him down right now if I were you,” he says. “But it’s your choice.”

I stare at my father, at the lines on his face, at the wrinkles forming. He looks older than he did a month ago, somehow frailer. I don’t know why but I suddenly see him as the man he’s always been, a mean and spiteful man, but not as my father. That façade is gone now, and he’s just Hans Tillman.

That makes what I say next easy.

“Okay.”

Both men look at me. Gavin seems sad, but not surprised, while my father seems genuinely shocked.

“Okay?” he asks. “You agree to all of my terms?”

“Yes,” I say. “I want to leave this family. I don’t want your money. If I fought, it would just be out of spite, but I’m done with that. I don’t want to be like you anymore. So I’ll sign any documents you want and I’ll change my name, as long as you leave us alone just as we’ll leave you alone.”

Hans Tillman stares at me for a second then nods slowly. He doesn’t smile and he doesn’t seem triumphant. In fact, he just seems tired.

“Very well,” he says. “It’ll all be in writing. I’ll have my lawyers send over the paperwork as soon as possible.”

“Good,” I say. “Are we done here?”

He hesitates before nodding. “We’re done here.”

“Have a good life, Hans,” I say, standing. He watches me, but doesn’t answer.

Gavin takes my hand and we leave the office without another word. I manage to make it out into the elevator before I start crying.

“It’s okay,” Gavin whispers. “It’s okay. It’s over now.” He pulls me in close and holds me as we sink back down toward the street.

“I just want you to know, I’m not crying about what happened back there,” I say as we finally reach the lobby. I get myself together as we walk across the marble floor. “I’m really not.”

“Why are you crying, then?” he asks me, holding my hand as we step out into the warm city afternoon.

“I’m sad for the person that I used to be,” I say. “I’m sad for that naïve girl. But I’m really, really happy that this is what happened. I’m happy it’s with you.”

He smiles at me and kisses me softly. “Come on, I want to show you something.”

I follow him as we walk down the sidewalk. “Where are we going?” I ask.

“Don’t worry. We’re almost there.”

We pass by familiar shops, restaurants, and churches. This was my neighborhood once, although it’s not anymore. I’ll miss parts of it and won’t miss other parts, but it’ll always be important to me.

We walk a few blocks and ahead I can see the park rising up in the middle of all the concrete. He strides up to the streetlight that I used to stand under when he’d come pick me up after I snuck out. I join him there, smiling a little bit.

“This is familiar,” I say.

“It wasn’t so long ago that you stood there, waiting for me,” he says. “You risked a lot for that.”

“I didn’t see it that way.”

“Maybe,” he says.

“I just wanted to be happy. And I am now.”

“Well, there’s one thing I’m happy about. And it’s that your father wants you to change your name.”

I sigh and shake my head. “It’s so petty. But I guess I get to make up my own surname, which is kind of cool, right?”

He nods. “If that’s what you want. But I have a better idea.”

My heart starts hammering in my chest and I feel dizzy as Gavin drops to one knee in front of me.

“Sadie, I told you I want to start a family with you. And I want to do it the right way. I want this to be real.”

“Gavin,” I say, but can’t find any other words.

“I’m glad you have to change your last name, because I want you to take mine.” He reaches into his jacket pocket and takes out a small black box. He flips it open, revealing a gorgeous diamond ring. “Sadie, will you marry me?”

I stare at him in total shock. I didn’t know he wanted to get married. I always assumed he thought marriage was impossible, or that he just didn’t want to do it. But as he kneels down in front of me, holding out that beautiful ring, I know this is what I’ve been waiting for all my life.

“Yes,” I whisper.

He takes my hand and slides on the ring. It fits perfectly, which shouldn’t surprise me. Gavin doesn’t do anything halfway.

He stands and wraps his arms around me, pulling me close. “I love you, Sadie girl,” he says.

“I love you too,” I answer, then I get up on my tiptoes so that I can whisper in his ear. “Daddy.”

He crushes my mouth with a kiss and joy spreads through my whole body.

In one day, I lost one family, but I gained another. I’m going to be Sadie Waller, forever and ever. We’ll raise our child together, and I’ll be happy and free. Finally, I’ll be happy and free.

I lose myself in the kiss and I find myself with the man that I love.