Chapter 10 - The Masterpiece of Peace
It was Leo’s second birthday.
I threw a massive party in our backyard. The trees were strung with fairy lights, a bouncy castle occupied the lawn, and the patio was filled with friends, family, and coworkers who loved and supported us.
I stood by the barbecue, wearing a breezy summer dress, laughing as a handsome architect named Julian—a man I had been happily dating for six months—lifted Leo onto his shoulders. Leo giggled uncontrollably, clutching a half-eaten cupcake in his fist.
Julian caught my eye across the yard and smiled, a warm, genuine smile that reached all the way to his eyes. It was a look of pure respect and affection, something I had never truly received in my past marriage.
I took a sip of my sparkling water and looked around at the life I had built.
I thought back to the woman crying on the bathroom floor, clutching a pregnancy test, terrified and heartbroken. If I could go back in time, I would hug her and tell her that the worst day of her life was actually the greatest gift she would ever receive.
David had thought he was destroying me. He thought he was taking out the trash.
But all he did was clear the debris from my life so I could build a mansion of peace, love, and genuine happiness in its place.
"Cake time!" Julian called out, carrying Leo over to the picnic table where a massive dinosaur-shaped cake was waiting.
I walked over, wrapping my arm around Julian's waist, and leaned in close to my beautiful, perfect son.
May you like
"Make a wish, Leo," I whispered, kissing his frosting-covered cheek.
But as I watched him blow out the candles, surrounded by cheers and laughter, I realized I didn't need to make any wishes of my own. Everything I ever wanted was already right in front of me.
