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"More than words can say," I reply.
Emily, our five-year-old, looks up from her plate, her eyes filled with youthful curiosity.
"Daddy, why do you always have to go to court?"
I chuckle, glancing at Lauren before answering.
"Well, Em, Daddy goes to court to help people. You know how Mommy teaches kids about history to help them learn? Daddy talks to a judge to help people get fairness."
"Like a superhero?" Daniel, our three-year-old, chimes in with wide eyes.
"In a way, yes," I say, my heart swelling at the thought. I often think about my late sister and how I'm honoring her memory by dedicating myself to justice and even naming my daughter after her, "A superhero without a cape."
Lauren interjects, "Both your daddy and mommy try to make the world a better place, each in our own way."
"Did you make the world better by making Daddy marry you?" Emily asks, causing both Lauren and me to burst into laughter.
Lauren wipes a tear from her eye.
"Oh, your daddy and I decided to get married because we love each other very much and wanted to build a family together—that means having you and Daniel."
"And you make our world much, much better," I add, locking eyes with Lauren for a moment.
The memory of our first meeting and the subsequent whirlwind of love and challenges flits through my mind.
Daniel suddenly drops his fork and declares, "I wanna be a superhero too!"
"And you can be," Lauren says, leaning over to pick up the fallen utensil. "You can be anything you want to be."
"Even an astronaut who fights aliens and has a pet dinosaur?" Emily questions, her imagination running wild.
"Even that," I affirm, amused and inspired by their boundless dreams.
We continue our meal, and the children eventually leave the table, running off to engage in some new adventure within the confines of their playroom. Lauren starts collecting the dishes, and I join her at the sink.
"We've been through a lot, haven't we?" she says, handing me a plate to dry.
"We have," I agree, remembering the difficult times too, like dealing with Lauren's menacing ex, Tom, who has since moved out of state, giving us much-needed peace. "And it's made us who we are. Pillars in our community, life partners, parents to our beautiful kids."
Lauren dries her hands and turns to me, her eyes reflecting the home we've built, both in bricks and love.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Neither would I," I confirm, and it's like the whole world narrows down to this very room, to the woman standing in front of me, to the love that blossomed when I least expected it but most needed it.
"Have you ever thought about how much has changed since we first met?" Lauren asks, her voice tinged with wonder.
"Every day," I reply. "And every day, I'm grateful for it."
She steps closer, her eyes meeting mine.
"We've found our forever home, Dennis. Not just in Willow Creek, but in each other."
I feel a lump in my throat at the emotional gravity of her words.
"That's the best part, isn't it? Finding your forever home in another person."
"Yeah, it is."
