Fortitude

Chapter 2: Guardian Angel

Song that inspired me to write this chapter:

Light A Fire - Rachel Taylor

Valerie's POV:

"Angela! Come downstairs, honey! Breakfast's ready!" I call out to my daughter while placing her plate on the kitchen table before putting the cake in the oven.

Strong arms wrap around my middle from behind, arms I've gotten used to, arms I love.

"Morning, babe" Ty whispers into my hair, instantly making me smile. I can't remember smiling like this before him. I can't remember ever feeling so good in anyone's arms. So safe. I can't remember ever being so happy.

Angela runs downstairs in a pretty pink dress covered in small yellow flowers, clutching Fortitude in her small hands. Of course she doesn't understand the name of the teddy bear, the name I gave him five years ago. And a day will come, where I will tell her the origin of its name. My story. Her story. When she's old enough to understand it. Right now, she calls him Forty.

Her hair is tied up in a small ponytail, and I smile when I think of Ty brushing it and tying it up before coming downstairs to see me.

"Morning, Daddy! Morning, Mommy!"
Hearing her call Ty 'Daddy' will never stop making my eyes water, my heart flutter.

Even though we haven't finalized the adoption papers for Ty yet, Angie already considers him her real dad, not that she would know the difference between a biological and adoptive father at her age.

She rushes to me and gives me my daily morning kiss on the cheek, my cure to everything. She hugs Ty and sits down in her chair, grabbing the peanut butter toast that she loves so much and delving into it.

I hand Ty his black coffee and sit down at the table with my little family. The family I've always dreamed of having. The family I never even thought I'd ever have.

Angie starts telling us a story about the cartoon show she watched yesterday, avoiding the mention of her bad dream, as usual.

I glance at Ty, and can't help the smile on my face when I see how interested he is in what Angie's telling us. The look on his face when she laughs is one of the greatest thing I've ever seen.

He still makes my heart flutter, five years later. He still loves me as much as I love him, and loves Angie as much as I love her.

How lucky am I for having found such an incredible man to fall in love with?

I still remember the night I met him...

Five years ago...

I finally gathered what was left of my self-confidence and got out of my motel room.

I needed to go somewhere. Anywhere. To take my mind off things.

I couldn't keep staring at the wall of my room forever.

I walked by the motel's little restaurant and I suddenly realize I hadn't eaten anything yet.

I sat at a table for two, since it wad the only empty table in the restaurant. The waiter came and handed me the menu, looking at me with pity. Pity?