Chapter 56
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Gage
I’ve been waiting for this day for five years.
I hold tightly to Kristin’s hand as we round the corner. The wind is whipping her hair around her face.
She took time choosing an outfit to wear.
She must have tried on everything in her suitcase twice before she settled on a pair of jeans and a red sweatshirt.
The sneakers on her feet are hot pink.
She looks like the beautiful nine-year-old child that she is. New York City agrees with her. It’s only her fourth day here and she’s already calling it home.
I slow my pace as we near Katie Rose Bridal.
It was Kristin’s idea to come here. I told her that we’d be having dinner with Katie, but she wanted to see the store.
I called Katie an hour ago to ask if we could stop by.
She didn’t hesitate for a second. She wants us here.
“Is this it?” Kristin looks up at the white awning that bears the name of the store.
“Katie Rose Bridal,” she says quietly. “It’s the prettiest name for a store.”
I swing open the heavy glass door. “After you, my little lady.”
“I’m not your little lady anymore.” She giggles. “I’m taller than when you used to call me that.”
“You’ll always be my little lady.”
“Is that her?” Kristin tugs on my arm. “That lady with the blonde hair over there. Is that her, Daddy?”
I look over to where Katie is standing. She’s wearing a simple black sheath dress. Her long hair is cascading down her back in waves.
“That’s Katie,” I say with a sigh. “Let’s go say hello.”
“If I ever get married, I’m coming here.” Kristin touches the lace of the train of a cream colored gown. “There are a million dresses in your store, Katie.”
Katie looks to me. I know she’s on the verge of crying.
It started an hour ago when I introduced my daughter to her. Katie held out her hand, but Kristin ignored it and went in for a hug.
Katie clung to her as her eyes met mine.
It was one of the defining moments of my life and I lost it.
I had to turn around to shield my daughter from the rush of emotions I felt.
We’ve spent our time since on a tour of the store, drinking soda, and talking about the subjects that Kristin most loves in school.
English and Math.
I need to brush up on both if I’m going to help her with her homework.
“My mom got a job here.” Kristin smiles. “Do you know what that means?”
Katie taps her index finger to her chin. “It means we can drink soda again?”
Kristin lets out a belly laugh. “No. It means I get to live with my Daddy again.”
“Your dad is very lucky.” Katie takes a seat on the bench next to Kristin.
We’re at the back of the showroom, away from a large bridal party that is swooning over a rack of gowns that Natalie rolled out of the stockroom.
“Can I tell you something?” Kristin rests her hand on Katie’s knee.
“Anything.”
“My Daddy used to tell me stories about Katie. He loved her with his whole heart.” She leans closer to Katie, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I think he was talking about you.”
I lean closer to my daughter. “I was.”
“Do you want to marry her, Daddy?”
“Very much.”
Kristin scratches her cheek. “So ask her.”
“I will one day,” I tell her. “When the time is right.”
Katie smiles at me.
Kristin’s gaze volleys from my face to Katie’s. “I think she’ll say yes if you ask now. I saw you put the ring in your pocket this morning.”
I did put it there so when the moment felt right, I could drop to my knee and ask the question to the love of my life again.
“Daddy Perry asked me if he could have Mommy’s hand and my hand in marriage, and I said yes.” She reaches for my hand. “I say yes that Katie can have our hand in marriage too.”
The question has been waiting to be asked since I walked into this store weeks ago and saw my beautiful Katie again after years of being apart.
I look at Katie for guidance, but I see my love reflected in her eyes.
I slide to the floor on bended knee.
Kristin is on her feet and next to me, before I have a chance to tug the silver band with the blue topaz stone out of my pocket.
Once the ring is in my palm, I look at the love of my life.
“Katie,” I say her name quietly. “From the first moment I saw you eight years ago, my heart belonged to you. You are my true north. You are my beacon in the darkness. You are the light that will forever guide me home. You are my everything.”
Kristin pats me on the shoulder. “Ask her. Say it.”
“Katie Wesley, will you be my wife?”
“Yes,” she says in a voice that speaks of the love and compassion that has always lived in her.
She’s accepted me with all my flaws, through every fuck up and each fall I’ve taken.
She carried our baby, suffered through the loss alone, and still has a heart that accepts without question.
I can see the love she already has for my daughter in her eyes.
It will only multiply when we have our own children.
Kristin cups her hands around her mouth and screams. “We are getting married.”
We are. As soon as my daughter is settled into her life in New York and Katie is ready, we’ll say our vows to each other.
Vows that will last for eternity and will never be broken.