Hoops & Harmonies

54.

Monica stood at the kitchen window, watching the first light of dawn stretch across the sky, painting it in soft hues of pink and orange. The house was quiet, the kids still asleep, and the familiar sound of Angel's breathing filled the space behind her. She could hear the steady rhythm of her wife moving around in the living room, already preparing for the day ahead. There was a comforting peace in the stillness, and it made Monica smile.

She wasn't always a morning person, but lately, these early hours had become a time of reflection for her—a space to breathe and gather herself before the day fully began. So much had changed in the past few months, but in these quiet moments, Monica could feel how far they had come. The tension that used to hang in the air between her and Angel was gone, replaced by something new: an understanding, a deep sense of trust that had taken root and begun to flourish again.

Monica turned away from the window and reached for the coffee pot, pouring herself a mug before heading into the living room where Angel sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone. Angel looked up as Monica entered, her face breaking into a soft, sleepy smile.

"Good morning," Angel greeted, her voice low and warm.

Monica returned the smile, walking over to the couch and curling up next to Angel. "Good morning. You're up early."

Angel chuckled, slipping an arm around Monica's waist and pulling her close. "Couldn't sleep much. Figured I'd get a head start on the day."

Monica rested her head on Angel's shoulder, taking a slow sip of her coffee. The comfortable silence between them felt like the calm after a storm—a storm they had weathered together, even though there had been moments when Monica wasn't sure if they would make it through.

"I was thinking," Monica began softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "About how far we've come. About... how we've been rebuilding."

Angel's arm tightened around her, and Monica felt her press a kiss against the top of her head. "Yeah. We've come a long way."

Monica let her thoughts drift back to the past few months, how each day had brought them closer, step by step. It hadn't been easy. In fact, some days were harder than others. There were moments when Monica still felt the old wounds surface, the remnants of doubt and fear tugging at her mind. But each time, Angel had been there—patient, understanding, always reassuring her that they were in this together.

"I'm really proud of us," Monica admitted, glancing up at Angel. "We didn't give up."

Angel's gaze softened, and she cupped Monica's face gently, brushing her thumb over her cheek. "I'm proud of us too. But mostly, I'm proud of you, Mo. For choosing to trust me, for choosing to stay and rebuild."

Monica felt a swell of emotion at Angel's words. It was true—she had chosen to stay, to fight for their marriage, and to trust Angel fully. And even though it had been hard at times, it was the best decision she had ever made.

"I love you," Monica whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "So much."

Angel smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her lips. "I love you more."

They stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other, letting the quiet moments stretch between them. Monica felt at peace, truly at peace, for the first time in a long while. It wasn't just the kind of peace that came from the absence of conflict—it was the peace that came from knowing they had worked through the hardest parts together.

As the morning wore on and the kids began to wake up, the house filled with the usual hustle and bustle of breakfast preparations and school runs. Laiyah bounded into the kitchen, her curly hair bouncing as she hugged Monica from behind.

"Good morning, Mama!" Laiyah chirped, her bright smile contagious.

Monica laughed, turning around to give her daughter a proper hug. "Good morning, baby. You're up early."

Laiyah grinned, glancing over at Angel, who was making pancakes at the stove. "I smelled the pancakes."

"Of course you did," Angel teased, flipping one over. "You've got a nose like your mama."

Monica chuckled, pulling Laiyah up onto one of the stools at the kitchen island. The warmth and familiarity of these morning routines felt like home—like everything was finally falling back into place. Rodney and Romelo soon joined them, groggy but smiling, as they greeted their moms before digging into breakfast.

There was a lightness in the air that hadn't been there before—a sense of normalcy, of routine, and of love that filled the space between them. Monica glanced at Angel, who caught her eye and smiled, a silent understanding passing between them. This was what they had fought for. This was what they were rebuilding.

Later that day, after the kids had left for school and the house had quieted down again, Monica and Angel found themselves sitting at the dining table, going over schedules and catching up on things they had missed during the week. It was a simple, everyday task, but it felt significant—like a testament to how far they had come as a couple.

As they worked through their tasks, Angel paused, looking up from her planner. "Hey, I was thinking... maybe we should plan a weekend trip with the kids soon. Just the five of us, somewhere quiet."

Monica raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A trip? That sounds nice."

"Yeah," Angel said, her voice thoughtful. "I was thinking it might be a good way for us to reconnect as a family. You know, just spend some time together without all the distractions of life. What do you think?"

Monica smiled, the idea settling warmly in her chest. A trip sounded perfect—something that would allow them to just be, without the weight of the past hanging over them. "I think it's a great idea. The kids would love that."

Angel grinned, a spark of excitement lighting up her eyes. "Alright, I'll start looking into places. Maybe somewhere by a lake or up in the mountains."

Monica nodded, feeling a surge of affection for Angel. Even in the midst of everything, Angel was always thinking of ways to bring their family closer, to strengthen the bond between them. It was one of the many reasons Monica had fallen in love with her in the first place.

As they continued planning, Monica found herself thinking about how much had changed since she had first returned to Chicago. Back then, she had been filled with uncertainty, unsure if their marriage could survive what they had been through. But now, sitting here with Angel, planning their future together, she knew without a doubt that they were stronger than ever.

That evening, after dinner, Monica and Angel sat together on the back patio again, watching the stars begin to twinkle in the darkening sky. The kids were inside, watching a movie, and the soft murmur of their laughter drifted out through the open windows.

Monica leaned against Angel, resting her head on her shoulder as they sat in peaceful silence. "You know," she began, her voice quiet, "I wasn't sure we'd get here. But I'm so glad we did."

Angel's arm tightened around her, and she pressed a kiss to Monica's temple. "Me too," she whispered. "I never stopped believing we could."

Monica smiled, her heart full. Angel had always been the optimistic one, the one who saw the light even when things felt dark. And now, as they sat together, wrapped in the warmth of their love, Monica realized that Angel had been right all along.

They had made it through the storm, and now, they were standing on the other side—stronger, more connected, and ready to face whatever came next.

Monica turned her head, meeting Angel's gaze, and in that moment, she knew—without a shadow of a doubt—that she had made the right choice. She had chosen to trust, to love, and to rebuild. And now, they were both reaping the rewards of that decision.

"I'm so grateful for you," Monica said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "For us."

Angel's smile was radiant, her eyes filled with love. "Me too, Mo. Me too."

They sat there together, watching the stars, content in the knowledge that no matter what came their way, they would face it together. They had rebuilt their love from the ground up, and now, they were ready for whatever the future held.