The Legend of de Marco

After a long moment Rocco pulled back and said throatily, ‘Good, because then we can get to the next bit.’

‘What’s that?’ Gracie’s voice was breathless.

Sounding serious all of a sudden, he said, ‘Living the rest of our lives together and having a family we can love and nurture and give everything to that we were denied.’

Feeling incredibly emotional, because she knew he was waiting to see if she wanted the same thing—which, considering their histories, was not necessarily a given—Gracie touched his cheek and said huskily, ‘I’d like that. A lot.’

Four years later Gracie looked over the downy head of their newborn baby—a brother to their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Tessa. She smiled at her husband and said jokingly, ‘Any regrets, Mr de Marco?’

Tessa shifted sleepily on his shoulder as he leant forward to kiss Gracie tenderly. Love infused the air around them.

He pulled back after a long moment and said softly, ‘Not for a second.’