Prologue #2
Anna watched them from the porch, her father and Uncle Henry, two men who had seen so much life and still managed to find joy in a backyard war of water guns. For both being in their early sixties, they were still in amazing shape. She turned to Lily and her aunt Claudia, her heart full.
“They’re like little kids,” she said softly, with awe in her voice.
Lily leaned her head against Claudia’s shoulder. “That’s the best part of all this, isn’t it?”
David finally joined her at the long table they’d set up beneath the string lights. Henry and Claudia joined them. He slid into the seat next to her, his arm instinctively resting along the back of her chair.
“You okay?”
She nodded, leaning into him. “This is perfect.”
He smiled, kissing the top of her head. “You’re perfect.”
Luke raised his beer. “To family. And new beginnings.”
Everyone echoed him, and Lily took a long sip of her iced tea, her heart too full for words.
Across from her, Anna was laughing at something Margot said, her hand resting over Luke’s.
They looked like they belonged in a painting, her in a summer dress, barefoot, her face glowing with pride and joy.
Luke watched her like there was no one else in the world.
The way he smiled at Anna made Lily’s throat tighten.
She reached under the table and linked her fingers with David’s. Luke and Anna reminded her a lot of her and David when they were younger and raising Anna and Cody. They were just as in love then as they were now.
Cody and Nessa sat off to the side on a picnic blanket, the twins curled up next to them. Jess was braiding Nora’s hair while Blaze held a flashlight under his chin, telling ghost stories that made Nessa laugh so hard she wiped tears from her cheeks.
“You know,” David said quietly, “I remember when Henry and I used to do this exact thing. Scare our cousins half to death with stories about swamp monsters and ghost pilots.”
“Your mom used to tell me about how you and your brother would terrorize everyone with those stories,” Lily said softly. “Natural born storyteller.”
David turned to her. “Those stories were my favorite.”
“You’re my favorite,” she said.
She kissed him, slow and sweet, as the lanterns above them swayed in the breeze.
Later, after dinner, they lit a fire in the small pit near the trees. The kids roasted marshmallows, sticky-faced and barefoot. Music played softly from the speaker David set up, old Fleetwood Mac and James Taylor. Anna swayed with Luke, her head on his chest, while David pulled Lily into his arms.
“One dance?” he murmured.
“Always.”
They moved slowly, not caring about rhythm or anyone watching. They danced like the night would never end, like no one would ever be gone.
Margot sat by the fire, smiling at them all.
Lily caught her eye and saw it. Margot knew how rare and precious this was.
She also saw a hint of sadness there. It had only been six months ago that Margot had laid her husband of thirty years to rest. Lily knew that the months hadn’t been easy for Margot, but Lily had done her best to keep her friend’s head above water.
Henry and Claudia gave everyone a hug as they headed out for the evening. “Thank you for another wonderful evening.”
“Anytime, you two.” Lily blew them a kiss as she watched them walk away.
Cody came over with Nessa, who held a half-finished s’more.
“I’ve got to head back to Camp Lejeune next week,” Cody said. “But we’re thinking about taking leave around Christmas. Maybe swing back this way?”
“We’d love that,” Lily said, hugging him. “We always have room.”
Nessa rested her head on his shoulder. “This place is magic.”
Lily smiled. “That’s David. He makes anything feel like home.”
Cody looked at his father. “Mom and Dad have always made it feel like something out of a storybook.”
“We’ve always been so lucky to have the best parents,” Anna added. “It’s why Cody and I have already found our perfect matches, don’t ya know?”
“Lead by example, or something like that,” Cody replied with a laugh.
As the fire crackled and the stars came out, Lily leaned her head on David’s shoulder. She could hear the kids giggling, Margot softly singing along to the music, and Anna’s whisper against Luke’s ear. Love lived here, in the clatter of forks and firelight, in the smell of wood smoke and pie.
“I don’t know that there’s anyone who lives better than us,” David murmured against her hair.
“What do you mean?” Lily asked as she pulled away and looked up at him.
“I mean, that we’re both living our dreams and doing work in things that we love.
Me with woodworking, you with your pottery.
Then you add in that we have two great kids who’ve met their soulmates and are both out here living their best lives.
Two amazing grandkids. It’ll be sad to see Anna and Luke leave the island again after the weekend, though.
But, then there’s me—I’m here with the best wife known to man. Who lives better than we do?”
“I guess I suppose a king or queen might argue with you,” Lily replied with a breathy giggle. “But you’re right, no one lives better than we do. I never imagined our life could be so simple, so beautiful, David. Thank you for always making certain that it was.”
“I’d steal the moon for you, Lily Bell,” he teased as he kissed her forehead.
She couldn’t remember why or when he started calling her Lily Bell. It wasn’t her name, but it was a pet name that only he was allowed to call her.
Lily rolled her eyes at him before she leaned in closer.
“It’s still perfect, even when you call me that ridiculous name.”
“Someday you’ll miss it.”
“Not for another twenty years. You’re not leaving me anytime soon, Mister. I won’t allow it.”
“I don’t plan on it,” he said as he pulled her in a little tighter. “What a beautiful life we have.”
Lily nodded, smiling up at her handsome husband. His eyes were roaming over the family they created, looking at them all with pride and love.
David was right; they had such a beautiful life.