Everlasting (Unrestrained 6)

The hours passed quickly, and Sophie was a good traveler for the most part, falling asleep soon after we took off at her usual nap time. I moved her seat and sat beside Kate while Sophie slept, our hands clasped as we watched the clouds outside and talked about our plans for getting settled into our apartment once we were back.

"You'll be able to take up with Mersey again," Kate said and leaned her head back, watching me intently. "You should keep playing with them. Once everything is cleared up with the trial, you could go back and finish your fellowship if you wanted."

I kissed her knuckles. "I do want. I was thinking maybe in the new year."

She smiled. "Whenever you feel ready. We should take the next few months off from any stresses and just focus on enjoying our time back in Manhattan. Liam will be starting school and I'll find a studio and finish my new series."

"Sounds perfect."

Our layover in Denver was very short and we had little time except to find our way to our other gate and board our plane. Then, after a meal and time holding Sophie on our laps, we landed in New York, the bright lights of the city at night sparkling like a million diamonds.

As our plane touched down, I held Kate's hand across the aisle. She always closed her eyes until the sound of the reversed engines softened and she knew we had landed safely.

I smiled when she finally opened her eyes and looked at me.

"Well, Mrs. Morgan, we're finally home."

"We are," she said and met my gaze.

As we taxied to the terminal, I pulled her hand up to my lips and kissed her knuckles.

We were home and I looked forward to the coming year – a year of change but a year that I knew would be filled with family, friends and most of all, with love.

THE END