Page 56 of Medical Malpractice
“But?”
“But,” I said, skirting my fingertips against her hairline, “I want to be your safe place again, Ella. I want you to trust me again. I want you to surrender your fears to me so I can protect you against them. Give me everything, and I’ll give you everything in return.”
Gabriella returned my locked gaze, freely permitting me access to her underlying emotions. “You nearly died for us, Leo. I already know you would sacrifice everything.”
“For us, for you,” I said, pressing forward to bring her lips to mine. Each word rang with truth as I meant it with the entirety of my soul. In the past, I’d recklessly hurt my wife. I vowed that it would never happen again.
The air shifted around me, pulling me back to the present.
I turned to catch Curtis, Stella’s husband, approaching with a piñata hanging from one hand. My eyes widened on his mouse costume—the same as mine, just a different shade of grey.
“Nice choice,” I said.
“Stella’s idea. Fucking uncomfortable though,” he said, scratching the inside of his collar.
A wolf whistle cut through the air as we were soon joined by Dylan, Daisy’s partner, and Curtis’ father-in-law—yeah, it’s complicated.
“Looking good, boys,” he said, broad smile popping beneath the furry incisors poking out of his black mouse onesie. “Dais messaged me to hurry up with the speaker. Ready?”
Curtis and I grumbled, following Dylan, who swaggered into the hall carting a big boombox behind him.
As soon as we entered the common room, realisation struck hard. Of course we were the only ones conned into dressing up.
A memory resurfaced of the moment Gabriella had requested I wear the outfit. “For the kids,” she’d said. Though I swear I saw a flicker of guile in her eyes—her two besties were obviously rubbing off on her.
Oh, and look at that, there they are now. Gabriella, Daisy and Stella were front and centre, heads bowed together, probably in the throes of planning world domination. My theory was soon proven correct as the three witches shifted their gazes towards us, the rest of the party following suit, all staring at the idiot men imitating the three blind mice.
The place fell silent as everyone paused with initial shock, then amusement.
Truly, we should have known better.
Curtis chuckled underneath his breath, Dylan released a raucous laugh and I merely raised a brow at my wife.
Right on cue, our women fell over themselves in laughter, cackling in amusement at our ridiculous show. We were soon rushed by the kids climbing and pulling on our furry tails and ears.
I jumped into character and decided to play the part, squeals and giggles permeating the space with contagious excitement.
It was in that moment that my stare locked with emerald-green, utter joy reflecting brightly in those two pure gems.
A conspiratory smile pulled up the side of my mouth as I held my wife’s attention across the room. We were enveloped in the presence of those who loved us, providing an undeniable warmth and calm peace we never thought possible.
Unable to deny her touch any longer, I took chase and soon caught Gabriella between my oversized paws, pulling her flush against my chest. I proceeded to sway, ignoring our surroundings in favour of keeping my wife close, which she didn’t seem to mind.
I bowed my head until my lips met the shell of her ear and whispered, “Everything’s going to be okay, my darling.”
My birthday girl sighed and laid a cheek on my shoulder. “Yes, I think it is, husband.”
Gabriella had been through so much. She deserved a future full of laughter, joy and love. And that’s exactly what I would strive to give her every single day for the rest of my life.
Epilogue 2
GABRIELLA
Three years later…
The audience was engaged, actively listening to my lecture on paediatric medicine. I had transitioned back into the workforce two years before, when Celeste turned four, more than ready to return to the specialty I loved.
However, my interests had waned somewhat, altering the trajectory of my career. My life experiences had ignited a new passion, leaving me wanting to explore the area of psychiatry and mental health, especially in the context of children.
