“You make me feel invincible.”
Charlotte squeezed Jeff’s hand. “I hope Erik is fine babysitting today.”
“Your dad and grandfather are there, it’ll be fine. Astra might stop by too.” He gave her a smile.
“I know, I just feel bad. Watching six kids is a lot, on top of watching his pregnant wife, you know?”
“He’s done it before without the others there, that’s not what’s bothering you, is it?” He stopped walking, willing her to look at him. “What’s wrong?”
“I…” She bit her lip. “We’re getting married. And I’m ecstatic, but…I’m also scared. Really scared. Like, a lot.” She combed her hair back nervously. “Declan is back, and those things he said to us…what Ade said…What if we get married and you leave? Or, I leave? What if something happens that’s too big for us to stop on our own?”
“Hey, I know things are tough now, but things will never go wrong.”
“How can you say that so confidently?” She asked. “Look around us.”
“Because, Charlotte, you make me feel invincible. I know that no matter what happens, I will have you. I will have our family. No one can take that away from me. From us. Not Declan. Not Altiere. Not Audric. No one.”
She leaned into her fiance. No words were needed. She placed a kiss on his lips, and he responded with just as much passion.
A Graying World 