Sterling
STERLING
Sullivan’s eyes are narrowed and focused on the start of the white carpeted aisle that’s been laid out over boards on the sand.
“I’m turning around, Son.”
“As best man, it’s my duty to look out for the bride, so you turn at the correct time.”
I chuckle, and he grunts his disapproval.
“And as your father who hasn’t seen his bride since after we all had dinner together last night, I can tell you that’s not happening. I want to see her the second she steps into view.”
“Age has made you stubborn,” he clips.
“Age has given me everything I ever dreamed of. You, Sinclair, Molly, my family… and now Hallie and the baby.”
My son’s usual straight mouth curls into a proud smile as his eyes track to where Molly is waiting with Sinclair near the start of the aisle.
“It’ll be nice to have another little one for Molly to play with.”
“You’re a great father to her,” I say, clasping him on the shoulder.
“Thanks, Dad. I learned from the best.”
I press my lips together, scrubbing my other hand around my jaw, unable to form words. But all I need to say is reflected back at me in his eyes as he nods and lays his hand over mine.
A sparkle of silver catches the light amongst the line of palm trees and the breath is snatched from my body by her standing there, glowing in the sun, her arm linked through her father’s.
Hallie.
Perfect.
Mine.
“Take a breath, Dad,” Sullivan instructs in a low whisper.
I do as he says, my chest expanding as her smile grows in response to something her father says to her. Her attention is caught briefly by something hidden within the trees and she stops walking, inclining her body toward whatever it is. She stands there for a moment, just looking.
Then she turns.
Our eyes lock and my heart dances its way up into my throat. Her face is glowing like a diamond, polished until its beauty is blinding. Her delicate bouquet is made of crystals—not flowers—each glimmering brightly. But nothing can shine brighter than the smile that takes over her face as she parts her lips and breathes one word to herself.
My name.
It doesn’t matter that she’s still far away. I know that’s what just left her lips because I’ve committed every time she says it to my memory. Stored them away to keep them safe. To treasure them for eternity.
She chose me.
I am the only choice she ever wanted to make.
Gentle notes of music fill the air as Seasons’ pianist, Vincent, plays to one side of the flower-arch serving as an altar. He insisted on flying his own piano over here to play. This one is white, not like the new black Grand we now have in Seasons. The replacement Vincent chose after the fire.
The fire.
My throat tightens as Hallie and her father walk closer. That day I found her unresponsive on my desk I thought… I thought it was over. That this day would never come.
I thought I’d lost her.
Hallie’s eyes hold mine. She looks like an angel.
“I’m so damn blessed,” I murmur, causing Sullivan to clap me gently between my shoulder blades.
“We want you to be happy, Dad.”
“I know, and I love you even more for it, Son.”
My family mean everything to me. And that means Hallie too. I can’t ever risk losing any of them.
Lavinia is still overseas working on her missions. And Rory was handed a five-year sentence after being convicted of third-degree arson. It could have been longer if he’d known Hallie was inside. As much as I despise him and wish he’d be locked away forever, I believe he was telling the truth when he broke down in court and said he’d never meant any harm to come to her.
It doesn’t change the fact that he’s been mentally and emotionally hurting her for years, though.
I push the memories away before they can spark into life and singe the edges of our perfect day. But even if I were to let them linger, nothing can ruin this for us. Because where I carry the scars of my pain on my body, visible to those I let see, Hallie doesn’t. She conveys the same loving, trusting soul that shone from her in her photograph with Jenny.
The photograph that’s sitting on the small table to my left, waiting for us to sign our marriage certificate on.
She breaks my gaze momentarily to watch Molly walk up the aisle ahead of her, scattering petals from a small basket with a tiny, purple-stained hand as Sophie walks with her.
“She found the candy before I stopped her,” Sinclair whispers, sliding into the row of seats behind us and standing beside Mal and Trudy.
My chest vibrates with a small chuckle as Molly flings the petals up in the air above her head in delight, nailing her role. She stops momentarily beside Sophie’s husband, Drew, who is balancing a baby in each arm, and presents the basket to him. Both babies put their chubby hands in and grab a fistful of petals. There’s a collective murmur of awws and laughs as the babies immediately try to eat them and my friend, Lawson, steps forward to help Drew extract them from their mouths.
Sophie smiles at me as her and Molly reach the top of the aisle. Molly walks straight to Sullivan, holding her arms up in the air. “Daddy.”
“Good job,” he whispers, scooping her up and holding her into his side.
Everyone’s eyes return to Hallie and Garth moving up the aisle.
Her eyes are glittering, and she keeps breaking into a wide smile and then pulling it back in to bite her lip and take a breath before it explodes back across her face again.
“So damn perfect,” I whisper when she reaches me.
“,” she breathes back, her eyes locked on mine.
For a moment no one else exists except us as we gaze at one another. We’ve told each other a billion times how we feel about one another. So for this moment, no words are needed.
I see everything I need to in her eyes.
I shake her father’s hand before she kisses him on the cheek. Then I hold out both of my hands and she slides hers into them.
“When you’re in love, you see the world in her eyes,” she whispers.
“And you see her eyes everywhere in the world,” I finish, giving her a questioning look as she recites the poetry I read to her so many nights ago now. The night she showed me that I’m not broken. I was just waiting for the right person to ignite me.
Her.
“You’re not the only one who remembers things.” She bites her lower lip with a cute smile as her eyes dart to one side, landing on Molly in Sullivan’s arms, her purple palm resting over his shirt.
“You weren’t meant to see those until after the ceremony.”
“I’m glad I did, though, they’re perfect. Thank you.” Her lips part with a quick intake of breath when she notices the table behind me. “.”
I follow her gaze to the two photographs, angled so they’re watching us.
Jenny.
My son.
A pink crystal heart between them that was found and cleaned up after the fire.
Hallie’s eyes fill with tears.
“They’re both here with us,” I say quietly so only she can hear.
“I know.” She looks at the photographs. “I could have sworn I even saw him a moment ago when I was walking over here. He looked like…” Her eyes flit to Sullivan before she blinks and brings them back to mine. “I’m glad we chose here.”
“Me too.” I stroke her hands in mine. “You ready to be my wife now?”
“You ready to be my husband?” she counters.
“Hallie, I’ve been ready a long time.”
She nods, her eyes twinkling. “Me too.”
I lift the champagne flute in my left hand and raise my toast.
“You need to get used to seeing it.” Hallie giggles as my eyes fix onto my wedding band again. I didn’t have one with Elaina, I don’t know why. But I knew I wanted one the second I asked Hallie to marry me. I want the world to know I have a wife who chose me. And one whom I would willingly give up my last breath for.
I wink down at her.
“Family, friends,” I say, drawing our intimate gathering’s attention to the middle of the long table where we’re sitting. “My wife and I?—”
“Whoop!” calls out Jenson, setting everyone laughing.
I smile.
“My wife , Hallie, and I want to thank you all for being here. And we also want to remember those who couldn’t be here today. But we know they are looking out from wherever they are, feeling the love that is here tonight, surrounding us all. We may not all share blood, but you’re family to us. Each and every one of you.”
I look up and down the table at Sinclair, Sullivan, Molly, Mal and Trudy, my brothers Jagger, and Clay and his family, Hallie’s parents and friends, Sophie and Drew, my friends, Lawson, Roman, even Frankie. And finally Denver, Killian, and Jenson. Everyone who is a part of our lives.
“Thank you all for being here to celebrate with us.” I place my free hand on the top of Hallie’s spine, my thumb tracing circles over the base of her neck. “I’m sure you’re all aware now of how we met. But I promised my daughter, Sinclair…” I chuckle as Sinclair gives a little wave from her seat next to Denver, “… that I would give her credit and tell the story again. So here we are. Please raise a glass while I tell you how one day she changed my life with three words.”
Everyone lifts their glasses, and I smile down at Hallie.
I love you , she mouths.
“Love you too, Baby girl ,” I whisper against her lips, bending to kiss her.
Her fingertips trail along my jaw and she kisses me back. A kiss so soft, but full of promise.
A promise to choose each other, always.
I straighten up and lift my glass again.
“Those three words were not ‘it requires work’, as my beautiful wife said about my kissing technique.”
A rumble of laughter passes over the table.
“But they were the words that my daughter said to me the moment I laid eyes on Hallie. And they couldn’t have been truer. And those three words…”
I lift Hallie’s left hand in mine and kiss the back of it, just above her glittering engagement ring, and the new wedding band sitting beneath it.
“Those three words were…”
My voice grows hoarse, and I look into her eyes. Reflected back is a promise of a lifetime of happiness. A lifetime of love.
A lifetime of being her one and only choice.
“Those three words were…”
I take a deep breath as Hallie beams at me, taking my heart in her hands and treasuring it, like no one ever has before.
“‘ She’s your gift .’”
The End.