Chapter Thirty-One
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Lanie
T he buzz of conversation and the clink of glasses filled the elegant wine bar, the golden glow of the chandeliers casting everything in warmth. The air smelled of oak barrels and wine, and for the first time in a long time, I felt settled. Happy.
Mark sat beside me, his hand resting on my thigh, his touch grounding. Across the table, Eliza and Julian were engaged in a lively debate about the importance of choosing the right wedding wine.
“Whatever you want, Eliza—that’s what we’ll serve, and everyone will love it,” Julian said, swirling the glass Eliza had just handed him. “We could serve boxed wine, and no one would care... at least, I wouldn’t.”
“Oh, you did not say that.” Eliza shot him a look, then turned to me. “Back me up here, Lanie. The details matter.”
I smirked, lifting my own glass. “Well, I’m not saying Julian’s wrong, but... if you serve boxed wine at your castle wedding, I might pretend I don’t know you.”
Mark chuckled beside me, his fingers tracing slow, lazy circles on my leg. “The shame would weigh heavily on all of us, but we’d muddle through somehow.”
Julian sighed, defeated. “Fine. I’ll keep tasting these wines, but can I have a beer at the end?”
Eliza beamed, lifting her glass. “Of course you can. Now drink.”
As the laughter settled, Eliza turned to me, her expression softening. “By the way, how’s your mom doing? Is she going to retire with the money from your grandfather?”
“No.” I hesitated, caught off guard by the shift in conversation, then smiled. “She took a part-time piano gig at an upscale club in Portsmouth. She’ll be playing there a few nights a week.”
Julian raised an eyebrow. “Wait. Your mom? The one who once said you learning to play the piano was ‘an unnecessary distraction’?”
I laughed, nodding. “The very same. And get this—she’s never sounded happier.”
Mark squeezed my hand, grinning. “I like this version of your mom.”
“Me too,” I said huskily.
Eliza’s face lit up with an idea. “Lanie. Oh my God. Do you think she’d play at our wedding?”
I blinked, momentarily stunned. “Wait. Are you serious?”
Eliza nodded, eyes already shining. “My parents said she was an incredible pianist. And it would mean so much—to both of us. To all of us.”
I swallowed hard, emotions crashing over me. My mother had said she was ready to come back to Maplebridge for a visit. Would she do this? Could she?
It wasn’t only about the wedding. It was about her stepping into a space filled with painful memories... and replacing them with joy.
I nodded, my voice thick. “I’ll ask her.”
Eliza reached over and grabbed my hand. “No matter what she says, knowing she’s happy... That’s enough.”
I exhaled, squeezing her hand back. “Yeah. It really is.”
Mark watched me, his eyes warm, filled with something deeper than affection. “Your mother has a lot to be proud of. She carried a heavy weight after your father died and it didn’t stop her from making an incredible life for you.”
He was right. We might not have agreed on how she did it, but she kept going even when there must have been times it would have been easier to give up—my mother was stronger than I gave her credit for. And maybe, just maybe, not only was I more like her than I ever wanted to be—but maybe that wasn’t a bad thing.
I blinked away tears and cleared my throat. “Okay, someone change the subject before I start ugly-crying into this very expensive wine.”
Eliza laughed, but then she exchanged a quick glance with Julian. Something was happening. She placed her glass down, taking a steady breath. “Before anything else happens tonight, we want you to know in no way does this take away from what we’re doing. In fact, it adds another layer of joy.”
I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Mark cleared his throat beside me, shifting slightly in his seat. When I turned to him, he was already reaching into his pocket.
The world slowed.
I sucked in a breath, my pulse hammering as he pulled out a small velvet box and opened it, revealing a ring that caught the light and reflected every bit of warmth I felt in my chest.
“I know we just found our way back to each other, but I also know I don’t want to waste another second. Lanie, I’ve loved you my whole life. I’ll love you for the rest of it as well. Marry me.”
I covered my mouth, a choked laugh bubbling up. “Are you serious? Here? Now?”
Mark smirked. “I was going to wait, but then I realized—I don’t want to wait for anything when it comes to you. Not anymore.”
Tears blurred my vision as I nodded, laughing as I threw my arms around his neck. For years, I thought I’d lost this. Thought I’d lost him. But here he was, asking me to be his forever. No doubts. No hesitation.
“Yes,” I whispered, voice thick with emotion. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”
Julian clapped, Eliza squealed, and the entire bar burst into applause. I barely noticed. All I could see, all I could feel, was Mark.
He was home. We were home.
Eliza wiped at her eyes, shaking her head. “Now when we go dress shopping, we need a wedding plan. We really are two brides.”
I laughed, giddy and overwhelmed. “Oh God, does this mean Julian and Mark will be bonding over their shared wedding suffering?”
Mark groaned. “Julian, if we have to start debating centerpiece colors, we run.”
Julian raised his glass. “Agreed.”
Mark turned back to me, pressing a lingering kiss to my lips before whispering, “Forever, Lanie.”
I smiled against his mouth. “Forever.”