Tessa

The morning light filtered through the giant windows of their apartment — the one on the top floor of the building Graham still owned but now shared completely with her.

Moose snored at the foot of their bed, wrapped in what was once their wedding quilt, a handmade gift from Lucy.

Tessa tucked herself closer into Graham’s side, feeling the comforting weight of his wedding band resting against her skin as he held her.

Saturdays had become sacred.
Slow mornings.
Coffee runs downstairs.
Messy kisses.
Plans for their next adventure.

A framed photo sat on the bedside table — their wedding day, a small garden ceremony just a few months ago.
Tessa in a simple lace dress, barefoot, beaming.
Graham in his rolled-up sleeves, looking at her like she hung the stars.

She smiled sleepily against his chest.

Their life wasn’t perfect.

It was better — it was real.

Messy, beautiful, full.

---

Graham

He stirred when he felt Tessa shift against him, pulling her closer out of instinct more than thought.

Every morning he woke up to her and his chest felt a little fuller.

He’d spent so much of his life thinking he needed solitude, routine, control.

Then Tessa Morgan — no, Tessa Carter now — had torn through all of that like a wildfire.

And he’d never been more grateful for the wreckage she left behind.

Graham tilted his head down, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.

“You awake?” he muttered.

“Dreaming of cinnamon rolls,” she whispered, her wedding ring catching the light as she stretched.

He chuckled lowly.

“You’re lucky you’re my wife,” he said, voice still rough with sleep.

Tessa grinned up at him, radiant even in the early morning haze.

“I know,” she teased.

Moose let out a long, theatrical sigh at the foot of the bed, like even he was exhausted from their love.

Tessa laughed and pulled Graham closer by the front of his shirt.

“You’re happy,” she said, running her fingers gently along the line of his jaw.

He caught her hand and pressed it to his lips.

“I’m home,” he said simply.

And when she kissed him — soft, sure, steady — he knew he’d never stop being grateful for the day she and Moose crashed into his life.

Their mismatched pieces had built something stronger than either of them could have imagined.

Something permanent.
Something theirs.