Page 26 of Jaxon

Six Months Later

Harper stood in the kitchen, the morning sun warm on her face.It had been six months since the attack that had nearly shattered their lives, six months of rebuilding, not just their home, but their sense of security, their trust, and their future.

Mia’s laughter floated from the backyard, a sound that was a balm and a reminder of how far they had come.

Harper glanced out the window, watching her daughter play with a few of the neighborhood kids, her little face lit up with pure joy.It was a sight Harper had once feared she’d never see again.

Jaxon’s arms wrapped around her from behind, his presence grounding her in the moment.His hands were calloused from weeks of work—rebuilding the store, fixing up the house, and ensuring their lives returned to a semblance of normalcy.He pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, his breath warm against her skin.

“Morning,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down her spine.

“Morning,” she replied, leaning into him.

The simple intimacy of the moment filled her with a profound sense of gratitude.After everything they had faced, the quiet moments felt all the more precious.

Jaxon turned her in his arms, his blue eyes searching hers.“You okay?”he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

Harper nodded, a small smile playing at her lips.“I’m okay.Just thinking.”

“About?”

“About how far we’ve come,” she admitted, her voice soft.“It still feels surreal sometimes.Like, one day I’ll wake up and realize it was all a dream.”

Jaxon tightened his grip slightly.“It wasn’t a dream, Harper.We went through hell, but we made it out.And we’re stronger for it.”

Her eyes welled up, but she blinked back the tears.“I know.It’s just ...there are days when the fear creeps back in.What if something else happens?What if we have to face something like that again?”Harper asked.

Jaxon cupped her face in his hands, using his thumbs to brush away the single tear that escaped.“Then we’ll face it together.You, me, and Mia.We’re a family now, Harper.And nothing’s going to tear us apart.”

His words settled in her chest, a soothing anchor to her swirling thoughts.Harper believed him, because she loved this man with everything she was.

****

They spent the afternoonin the backyard, a barbecue sizzling on the grill, the air filled with the scent of grilled vegetables and seasoned meat.Jaxon flipped the burgers with ease, his laughter mixing with Mia’s as she ran around, a soccer ball at her feet.

Harper watched them from the porch, her heart swelling with love.This was their new beginning, the life they had fought so hard to protect.

She joined them, taking a seat next to Jaxon and resting her head on his shoulder as they watched Mia score a goal against one of the other kids.

“You’ve got a future soccer star on your hands,” Jaxon teased, his arm draped around her shoulders.

Harper chuckled, the sound light and free.“She’s got your determination,” she said, tilting her head to look at him.“And maybe a bit of your stubbornness too.”

“Comes in handy,” Jaxon replied with a wink.“She’ll be unstoppable.”

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden hue over the yard, Harper found herself savoring every moment.The laughter, the warmth, the sense of belonging—it was all she had ever wanted, and now it was hers.

Later that evening, after Mia had been tucked into bed, her eyelids drooping as she hugged her stuffed toy close, Harper and Jaxon sat on the porch swing, the cool night air wrapping around them.The stars are all out tonight, she thought, smiling to herself.

Jaxon reached for her hand, threading his fingers through hers.“I’ve been thinking,” he said, his tone thoughtful.

“About what?”Harper asked, curious.

“About the future.About us.”He turned to face her.“I want us to build something together.Something lasting.I want to marry you, Harper.”

Her breath caught, her heart skipping a beat at the earnestness in his voice.“Jaxon, I—”

“You don’t have to say yes right away,” he added quickly, squeezing her hand.“I just want you to know I’m all in.For you, for Mia, for us.I’m not going anywhere.”

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