I purse my lips. “I don’t know. I have some ideas.”
“Well, what if you became a divorce attorney?”
I make a face. “Sounds awful.”
“Wait, hear me out. You could specialize in helping underprivileged women. I was thinking, I could bankroll a new firm, set something up that will really help people. I know you mentioned wanting to work with underprivileged moms.”
I frown a little bit. “That’s a good idea.”
“I’m full of them.”
“No, seriously. That’s a really good idea. I mean, how many divorce lawyers specialize in helping underprivileged moms? I could actually do some good.”
“That’s what I was thinking.” He smiles a little bit and takes my hand. “What do you think?”
“I think we should seriously talk about that.”
I kiss him and pull him tight against me.
“I just want you to be happy,” he says softly. “I don’t really care what you do. So long as you’re happy.”
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you too, little Aria.”
I grin and look up at him. “Daddy.”
He laughs and kisses me. We hold that kiss for a little while, the dogs running around and barking, but we just ignore them.
I don’t know how life turned out this way. I already thought I’d be struggling, working hard helping other people, barely getting by on my own. But Brady changed all that. He paid my student loans and now he’s paying for my law degree. One day, I’ll pay him back, but for now…
Well, for now, I just concentrate on making him happy. Because making him happy makes me happy.
He’s my Daddy. He takes care of me. And I take care of him in return. We give to each other freely and often and that’s the right kind of relationship I’ve always dreamed I’d have.
My old clients weren’t happy when I told them that I wouldn’t be working with them anymore, but they got over it. And as for Louis…
Well, he didn’t serve any jail time. But he’s still on probation. And I have a restraining order against him. Chances are, I’ll never see him again.
At least I hope so. I’m finished worrying about anyone else but my own little family.
We walk into the woods together, the dogs running around. I have a smile on my face like I always do. I’m so content, so happy, and in a way that I never really expected. Life always looked like it would be a struggle.
Now, it’s not a struggle. Every day is hard work, but it’s the kind of hard work that I love.
And it’s all because of Brady. He makes me better, stronger. He enriches everything around him.
I couldn’t be more thankful for that.
THE END