Chapter 10 - Dawn on the Lake
Six months later, the spring sun was warm over Lake Michigan.
Lucy walked along the paved path of Belmont Harbor, the stroller rolling smoothly in front of her. Grace was wide awake, her small hands reaching out toward the seagulls drifting on the wind.
A shadow fell over the path, and Lucy looked up to see Mark walking toward them.
He had a coffee in each hand and a bright, genuine smile that reached his eyes. He dropped down to his knees beside the stroller, letting Grace grab his finger with her tiny, chubby fist.
“Hey, beautiful girl,” Mark murmured to the baby, his voice soft and full of an easy, natural warmth.
He stood up and handed Lucy her coffee, his fingers brushing against hers. This time, the contact felt like an anchor.
“How was the shift?” Lucy asked, her lips curving into a smile.
“Quiet,” Mark said, falling into step beside her as they walked along the water. “Just the way I like it. No drama. Just doing the job.”
He looked at Lucy, his eyes shining in the morning light.
There was no rush between them. No grand, dramatic promises made in the heat of a crisis. Just the steady, quiet building of something real. Something that had been tested in the dark and had survived to see the dawn.
May you like
Lucy reached out and took his hand.
The air was fresh, the sky was wide, and for the first time in her life, she knew she was exactly where she belonged.
