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That it kept him mostly on the right side of the law was a bonus, in Anne’s eyes.
After the wedding, they’d all taken off to Nice, France to enjoy the beach and the sun. Michelle didn’t even mind that she was a de facto babysitter on this trip, as it was an excuse to get away from her senioritis and flirt with cute French people on the beach when she didn’t have Evie.
“I am unworthy of this vision of loveliness before me,” Will declared, gesturing to Anne in her bikini, as well as Michelle and Evie, who were both wearing sundresses. Evie’s was fluffy and rainbow colored, and William had picked it out himself.
“You definitely are.” Anne raised onto her toes to give him a kiss. “But this trip might tip things in your favor.”
“I’m glad you lot like it.” William picked up Evie.
“Bonjour!” she chimed. She’d memorized their entire phrasebook and was saying each phrase seemingly at random.
William shook her little hand, and said, “Bonjour, mademoiselle!”
“Let’s go.” Anne fought a smile.
But it wasn’t a fight she could win. The last two years, well, they had started with a bit of a struggle, with William recovering from his wounds, and then gradually bringing him into Evie’s life more and more. It was harder on Anne and William than Evie, to be fair. The two of them had so much that they had to work out. In the end, though, when they’d committed to being a real couple, it had been easy. They knew practically everything about one another anyway, so the momentum of the events surrounding the arrest of William’s sister and father had given them a good shove in the right direction.
Anne couldn’t pretend she really understood why William wrote to his sister in prison. He’d explained that with parents as awful as theirs, he could only blame her so much for trying to kill him, especially when the first attempt had been at Anthony’s request. In a way, Anne had to see the effort as a positive step. Anything Anne and William could do to resolve the pain of the past would make it easier for them to handle their lives in the here and now. And at least he talked to her about his family now, when he’d once been so closed off about his past.
William, holding Evie on his hip, took Anne’s hand, and together, with Michelle trailing, they walked out onto the beach. Whatever choice they made from this point forward, they made them together. Not only that, Anne thought as she looked up at her willful, impetuous, crafty, and handsome husband, but she hadn’t been forced to choose between her great love, her happiness, and her family at all. They were all one and the same, and she would step forward into her future with confidence, security, and whatever her heart chose.
THE END
