Friday evening became our day. For weeks afterwards, we kept our cuddling evening a recurrent meeting. It was a slow burn for both of us; none of us wanted to rush into this. We were wounded, he by his divorce and that witch hunt he'd gone through, and I by Charlie's death nearly six years ago. It suited us just fine, and we kept our relationship silent at work. Given our close proximity beforehand, it didn't change a thing. We still took most of our breaks and lunches together.

Denise was the only one who spotted something; she'd caught our hands lingering against each other in my office. The psychiatrist said nothing more than 'at last!', leaving the rest up to us to figure out. Non-intrusive friends; such a great thing !

Little by little, I was getting used to sleeping beside a man without feeling I was betraying my late husband. The more time we spent together, the more Lucas integrated in my life. Now, some of his clothes remained in my closet, and a spare toothbrush in my en-suite bathroom. One step at a time, he populated, revived, even, this dead place that had become my bedroom.

I became accustomed to finding him in the kitchen on Saturday mornings, but he never stayed when I left to get my children from their grandparents.

Until today.

Today, we were about to make his presence official to Jon and Sophie, who had never met him. Today, we were going to the beach altogether.

Sophie had gone on a baking spree, making those hedgehog cakes she loved so much ... a nice reminder of times past when the future didn't seem so bright. Lucas' presence had brought such hope to my life; I couldn't keep him hidden anymore. I wanted the world to see how happy he made me.

In the backseat, Sophie was bouncing about in childish excitement. She was now eleven, and pretty clueless when it came to the people we were about to meet. She just knew Lucas was a co-worker. Jon, on the other hand, was more fidgety. He played with his smartphone until we reached the beach – fifteen minutes early, of course – and didn't seem too happy to be dragged in the open. Teenagers...

It was a good day, with plenty of sunlight, puffy white clouds lazily trailing about, and just the right breeze to keep us cool. Lucas showed up not long after; thank God, I was getting antsy. Marcus trailed after him, at least two inches taller than the last time I'd seen him. It was, after all, a year and a half ago. Lucas addressed me his thousand-watt smile, the one that bared his sharp canines and I melted all over again. Contrary to the crushing hug Marcus had given me last year, he seemed to consider me differently.

There was a slight wariness in his clear blue eyes, and I respected the distance. After all, water had flown under bridges; I couldn't expect to find the same teenager than last year. Presentations were done smoothly, and Sophie extracted her cute little cakes at once, babbling about school and baking. Lucas listened to her with rapt attention; she was taken with him immediately.

I smiled discreetly, wondering if I would have to warn my own daughter of my new lover. Jon, on the other hand, refused to communicate with either Lucas or Marcus. So I took upon myself to ask Lucas' son about his new high school, and his life in general. Little by little, the teenager relaxed and started recounting stories of teachers and crazy comrades. His lively nature resurfaced, and I found myself laughing more often than not at his antics.

I felt a great wave of anger rise, I lifted my head to identify the source when Jon interrupted our conversation.

- "Are you sleeping with my mother?"

A thunderclap would have been more merciful, especially given our situation.

- "No!", Lucas and I exclaimed at the same time.

Me, with indignation. Lucas, with more poise. Bless my man's nerves.

- "No?" Marcus asked, intrigued.

This was a real question, one that I was absolutely mortified about. Of course, both teenagers would assume we were ... whatever.

- "It is none of your business, Jon!" I ranted.

- "Like hell it is not!" he retorted, his voice raising.

And I saw, in the greenish hues of his irises, the storm that brewed. His sharp features hardened, and it felt like facing Charlies in his most wrathful moments. How could I ever forget my husband's features when they stared me in the face every single day ?

Lucas stood from the blanket we had spread on the sand dune, and addressed my son sternly.

- "Walk with me, Jon."

- "Yes. I think I will."

And there was spite, anger and distress packed in that sentence. My heart clenched as I swallowed a piece of hedgehog cake; the sweet sablé became ashes in my mouth as I watched my eldest son stride away, Lucas on his heels. Sophie lifted her ocean eyes to me, ill at ease after that little display. I tried to smile, and failed miserably, only to hear Marcus' cheery voice call to her.

- "So you're the hedgehog fetishist?"

The distraction worked.

- "What's a fetishist, Ma?" she asked.

This time, both Marcus and I laughed out loud.

Two hours later.

I was tucked against Lucas, taking advantage of his sturdy frame as I watched the kids play a game of skittles. They'd done a huge sandcastle at the edge of the water to see if it could triumph against the tide. Jon had reluctantly agreed to join, but Marcus and Lucas were covered in sand by the end of the game. I had to admit the castle had some class, and it was now half-eaten by the small waves of the Danish shore.

Somewhere at the back of my mind, the song 'Shangri-La' and its quiet tones were playing. It was so peaceful, this moment where our three children had joined as a makeshift family, both 'brothers' looking out for Sophie, the little sister. Ridiculous waves lapped the shore, creating this background sound I was so fond of. It called my mind, quelling the need to think and feel with the repetitive movement of the water. It helped me centre myself, and be, for once, alone in my body without interferences.

- "It is truly that simple?"

Lucas' silky voice caused me to perk up.

- "What is?", I asked, watching his loose strands hair dancing in the breeze.

The sun had kissed his face today, he was even more handsome with reddened cheeks and hair askew.

- "Happiness."

My eyebrows rose; after Jon less than hearty welcome, I was surprised to hear him call this meeting simple.

- "How is it that you always see the good in everything?"

Lucas shrugged, his arm squeezing me by his side.

- "We're good now. Jon and I have an understanding. The kids are playing, I'm by your side, and things feel so simple. I'm happy."

Astonished, I caught his eyes – golden with the sun – and kissed his lips gently.

- "You are incredible, and I am privileged to be by your side."

- "I feel the same. So, what happened with Jon?"

A smirk lifted the corner of his mouth, and I felt like kissing them again.

- "We make a pact."

I didn't think my son was the type to make a pact, so I just blinked my surprise.

- "Uh?"

Lucas bopped my chin with a mischievous smile.

- "Whichever of us makes you unhappy gets his ass kicked by the other"

Speechless, I took a moment to consider the sneakiness of Lucas' proposal. He gave my son leverage and a voice in our couple; in return, he was gaining some authority upon him. Placing himself by my side, by invoking the pact between them. An agreement between MEN, to welcome him into the world of adults. I took a deep breath, wondering if Charlie would ever have tried such an agreement with his own son. I doubted it; my late husband was more forceful. Lucas, on the other hand, tried to be part of our life without imposing; because he wasn't Jon's legitimate father, he didn't try to steal his place.

Clever, sensible, and incredibly selfless.

- "I'm ... thank you. Jon misses someone that can provide manly guidance. A mother is just not the same."

Lucas nudged me with his nose, watching our children splash around in the water. Cries arose in the air as Marcus playfully dumped water on Sophie. She retaliated with a great kick that raised a wave, dousing them both.

- "I can help, if you want to. If he allows it."

I kissed him then, hard, totally in awe of the man that had just attached himself by my side.

- "There's no one I trust more than you."

- "See," he grinned. "Happiness is simple."

I allowed myself to open the gates and feed on his peaceful joy, closing my eyes to relish in his gentle presence. In the background, the cries were getting wilder; I had ten minutes, tops, before Sophie would be totally soaked and shaking from the cold.

Minutes during which the sensation of Lucas' arm around my waist grounded me. I let myself be lulled by the sound of the waves and the soft breeze keeping the sun from burning my face. And this sturdy frame than engulfed me in a sea of softness, this warm hand resting casually upon my hip. Neither owned, nor forgotten. I loved it.

I loved him.

The realisation caused my cheeks to burn, and I resolved myself to tell him before the day was gone. I loved him.

A cry, stronger than the others, called me out of this dream world. As foreseen, Sophie's lips were blue. So I called it quits, and we all set to work to get our stuff together. I washed my little princess with the hot water jerrican I always stored in the car, and dressed her with a new – and dry – dress.

Lucas watched my little routine intently, probably storing information for later. He always observed, learnt me, just like I analysed his mannerism and his life to better blend in.

- "Hey, Elena. Can I grab a ride with you?"

Surprised, I turned to Marcus, only to exchange a look with his father. Lucas opened his hands discreetly, as if to say 'suit yourself'.

- "Sure," I responded, wondering what this was about.

My response caused Sophie to gasp, and I whirled around to find her thoroughly appalled.

- "What is it?", I asked, worried to find such an expression on her face.

- "But ... if Marcus comes in our car, Lucas is going to be left all alone!"

The grin that spread on my face couldn't be contained. This was my Sophie, so gentle and caring. It was little wonder she had taken a liking to Lucas. My companion came to my daughter's side, eyes twinkling in delight, and soothed her fears.

- "Do not worry, I don't feel abandoned."

- "But it is not right!" she said, barely refraining from stomping her foot. "I want to ride back with you then."

Her angst was turning into distress, so I exchanged a quick look with Lucas. His face was guarded, his emotions a turmoil. For a moment, I didn't understand why.

Until it hit me like a freight train.

Sophie, eleven years old, wanted to be alone with a man who had been accused of being a sexual predator. And that accusation still hung upon his shoulders; the result of a whole village shunning him.

So I just shrugged, and reached for his hand.

- "Do you mind? I can drop Marcus at your place, and get Sophie back. But be warned, she's a handful with her questions. Are you quite ready for that?"

And he understood me perfectly; I wasn't asking if he was ready to handle my daughter, but if he was ready to bypass those prejudices that tarnished his life. A second, suspended, passed where our eyes were locked together. Then, a dazzling smile bloomed upon his face and I stood, utterly floored.

- "I'll be glad for the company," he said. "Come, Sophie, you get to choose the music."

My daughter darted over Lucas' car to settle in the passenger seat, and I watched, mesmerised, her blond head bob in pleasure from the privilege. First meeting and we were exchanging children already.

I smiled, then gave her a small wave before Marcus popped by my side. His blue eyes were a little wary, but not unfriendly. Jon, sprawled on the backseat, ignored us altogether. A typical teenager ... which Marcus wasn't. I started the car, and started to follow Lucas until we ended up on the two lanes, and I lost him in the traffic. It didn't matter; we both knew where we were going. As I drove, I could feel Marcus' hesitation to breach the subject he wanted to. So, in the end, I put him out of his misery.

- "Marcus. What did you want to tell me?"

The teenager snorted.

- "Still quite blunt."

- "If you recall, my bluntness got your dad out of trouble last year."

I could feel, more than see how his eyes studied me as I drove.

- "Is that why you helped him in the first place? Because you wanted to go out with him?"

Ouch. Good point. That kid was going to be such a nightmare! Yet, I couldn't fault him for his reasoning, and chose to be honest without divulging too many details; Jon didn't know about Lucas' part in that fateful case.

- "No," I stated firmly. "I helped him because it was my job. He was innocent, and a good man. My admiration only grew when I saw how he handled it, and the relationship he had with you. If you recall, I left him in peace with Nadja."

- "Ugh! I hated that woman."

I chuckled on the wheel and choose not to comment on my former rival. Who cared who Lucas had banged last year, as long as he was mine now? So, eventually, I prodded his son's mind.

- "Does that put your fears to rest?"

- "I don't know... I just see the way he looks at you."

Perceptive, Lucas' little man. Had he caught my earlier epiphany? Probably not.

- "He's very attached already."

Then, Marcus eventually sighed, unveiling his fears.

- "Don't hurt him, all right?"

I reached for his shoulder and squeezed once.

- "I wouldn't dream of it. People like him are precious."

In the backseat, Jon snorted and Marcus gave him a death glare. Judgement about his dad probably called forth difficult memories, and I stepped in at once.

- "I'm not asking you to like him, Jon. But you will show some respect. Do I make myself clear?"

The tone of my voice caused my son to straighten, eyes wide. It had been a long time I had spoken so sternly, and I could tell he was surprised.

- "Ma..."

I glared at him in the back mirror, passing my message along.

- "Don't Ma me. Lucas means a lot to me, and he has been nothing but nice to you. If you want to hide in your room when he's here, you're welcome to do so. But no scoffing, no mocking, and no glaring."

I could feel how Jon debated; to accept, or to fight back? His pact with Lucas seemed to win the struggle, for he relaxed in the backseat like a pasha in his harem.

- "Ok, ok. Chill, Ma."

- "I'm calm. For now."

I swore I saw Marcus give me an admirative look before my attention returned to the road. Good. Two teenagers won over. Great job, Elena!