Chapter 241

Queenie’s Pov

The moment Junie ran into my arms, the world felt right again. Her tiny arms wrapped around my neck, her face buried in my shoulder. I held her tightly, tears streaming down my cheeks.

“I missed you, Mommy,” she whispered.

“I missed you too, baby. So, so much.”

Anton stood nearby, watching us with a soft smile. Junie turned to him, her eyes lighting up.

“Hi, Anton!”

He crouched down, opening his arms. “Hey, Junie.”

She hugged him, and he lifted her effortlessly, spinning her around. Her laughter filled the room, a sound I hadn’t realized I missed so deeply.

That evening, we played board games, watched cartoons, and shared stories. Anton was patient and attentive, answering Junie’s endless questions and laughing at her jokes. Watching them together, my heart swelled with gratitude.

Later, as Junie dozed off in my arms, Anton gently took her from me.

“I’ll put her to bed,” he said softly.

I followed him to her room, standing in the doorway as he tucked her in. He adjusted her blanket, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

He looked up at me, a gentle smile on his lips. “Am I doing it right?”

I nodded, tears in my eyes. “You’re doing it just right.”

Back in the living room, I turned to him. “Want to watch a movie?”

He grinned. “Only if we have wine and snacks.”

I laughed, heading to the kitchen. As I poured the wine and arranged the snacks, I paused, reflecting on the moment.

How did I get so lucky? After everything, here we were, a family. Anton, with his unwavering support and love, had become an integral part of our lives. I was proud of him, of us.

Returning to the living room, I handed him a glass of wine and set the snacks on the table. We settled on the couch, his arm around my shoulders, my head resting on his chest.

As the movie played, I felt a profound sense of peace. My eyes slowly closed up and I felt a hand lifted me up.

The morning sun felt so soft and warm, giving way to the morning breeze in the kitchen. I sat at the table, sipping my tea, while Anton flipped pancakes on the stove. The aroma of breakfast filled the air, mingling with the comforting sounds of our home.

I remembered last night, he must have carried me. I smiled like a baby. Who would have thought Anton would be so committed? I was pretty lucky.

Everything seemed alright, but I felt something was missing. I couldn't keep it in and spoke up before I had a problem with my stomach.

"Anton," I began, setting my cup down, "I've been thinking about the clinic."

He turned, a smile playing on his lips. "What about it?"

"I want to make it official. A permanent place where I can help people, especially women who feel like they have nowhere else to turn."

Anton set the spatula down and walked over, taking my hands in his. "Then let's do it. I'll fund everything you need and make arrangements for the clinic's registration."

My heart swelled with gratitude. "Really?"

He nodded. "Absolutely. I've never seen you this happy until the last few days, and I want to keep it that way."

Tears welled up in my eyes. "It's all thanks to you."

Later, I decided to cook lunch, wanting to show my appreciation. As I prepared the meal, Junie walked in, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Mommy, can we eat out today? Please?"

I looked at Anton, who shrugged with a smile. "Whatever she wants."

We ended up at a cozy family restaurant, the three of us enjoying our meal amidst laughter and shared stories. As I checked my phone, I noticed messages and comments pouring in, all expressing support and demanding justice for me. Overwhelmed, I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes.

“Did you see that, Anton? Everyone's on my side now.” I said excitedly.

“Let me see…” he asked. I passed my phone to him and his demeanor changed. “I know right?” I chuckled.

“This is awesome. Guess I won't have to lift a finger anymore.” He laughed. I couldn't help but relieve myself of the tears of joy.

Anton noticed and gently wiped them away. "You're not alone anymore. I'm with you and will always be."

I smiled, squeezing his hand. "Thank you, Anton."

We continued our meal, Junie happily munching on her food, unaware of the emotional moment between us.

Anton’s Pov

The drive home from the restaurant was quiet, the kind of silence that felt full rather than empty. Junie had fallen asleep in the backseat, her head tilted to one side, lips parted slightly.

I glanced at her through the rearview mirror, a soft smile tugging at my lips. She looked so peaceful, so content. It was moments like these that made everything worth it.

Queenie sat beside me, her hand resting gently on my thigh. I could feel the warmth of her touch, grounding me. The city lights blurred past us. I took a deep breath, letting the contentment of the evening wash over me.

But as the road stretched ahead, my thoughts drifted to the conversation I'd had with Damien earlier. His words echoed in my mind: "You need to do something special for her, Anton. Show her how much she means to you."

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, pondering his advice. What could I do that would truly convey the depth of my feelings for Queenie? She deserved the world, and I wanted to give it to her.

"Maybe a surprise getaway," I mused aloud, glancing at Queenie, who was now gazing out the window, lost in thought. "Somewhere quiet, just the two of us."

She turned to me, a curious smile on her lips. "Talking to yourself again?"

I chuckled, slightly embarrassed. "Just thinking out loud."

She leaned her head on my shoulder, and I felt a surge of affection. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be perfect."

As we pulled into the driveway, I parked the car and turned to her. "Stay here. I'll carry Junie inside."

She nodded, and I stepped out, opening the back door to gently lift our sleeping daughter into my arms. She stirred slightly but didn't wake. I carried her inside, laying her down in her bed and tucking her in.

Returning to the car, I found Queenie waiting patiently. I opened her door, offering my hand.

"Come on, let's get you inside."

I respected Queenie’s need for space, but that didn’t diminish my longing for her. I wanted to remind her of the bond we shared, to show her that our love could flourish beyond the shadows of our past. More than anything, I wanted her to feel safe again.

With that in mind, I began planning a surprise, a weekend getaway to a quiet coastal town, just a couple of hours away. I reached out to a trusted travel agent, emphasizing the need for privacy and serenity.

After some deliberation, we settled on a charming beachfront cottage nestled in a secluded area, away from the prying eyes of the world.

I intended to make it secret for her and that was all I wanted. A surprise getaway.

I walked into the room and smiled.

“Pack light,” I said, leaning against the doorframe with a small smirk.

Queenie, standing by the bed, looked up at me with a suspicious smile. “Why?”

“Because I said so,” I replied, walking into the room and gently tugging at her suitcase. “Just trust me, alright?”

She narrowed her eyes playfully. “Is this one of those mysterious, sweep-me-off-my-feet moments?”

I leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Exactly that. Now pack. No questions.”

She laughed and shook her head but started gathering a few clothes. I watched her with a soft grin. I loved seeing her like this, light, free, smiling without fear.

The next morning, we drove for just under two hours. Queenie kept sneaking glances at me, curiosity written all over her face, but I refused to say a word. When we finally pulled into the peaceful seaside villa, she blinked at it in awe.

“You did this… for me?” she asked, stepping out of the car slowly.

I nodded, pocketing the keys. “For us.”

The ocean breeze wrapped around us like a soft whisper, and the villa stood quietly by the water, all calm and inviting. Queenie turned to me, her eyes wide and glassy with joy. She didn’t say anything at first. Just hugged me tightly, her face buried in my chest.

“You’re the best,” she whispered.

I smiled, brushing my lips against her hair. “You make it easy, my sunshine.”

She looked up at me, a deep blush warming her cheeks. “Anton…”

“My woman,” I said, gently cupping her face, “you don’t know how much I love seeing you happy.”

Before she could reply, I scooped her up in both arms, making her squeal. “Anton!”

I laughed, carrying her toward the front porch. “I could carry you like this for the rest of my life.”

She laughed, still blushing, her arms around my neck. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously in love,” I said, and walked us through the door, into the kind of peace we both finally deserved.