Chapter 36 #2
Mrs. Patel presents us with a photo album she's been secretly compiling. Pictures of us around town over the past months. The coffee shop. The lake. The general store.
"You two were always meant to be," she says. "This is proof."
Kate hugs her, crying again. "Thank you. This is perfect."
We find Kate's mother and Emma by the lake, watching the sunset.
Sarah turns when we approach, eyes still red from crying through the entire ceremony.
"That was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," she says, pulling Kate into a hug.
"I'm so glad you were here," Kate says.
"Thank you for including us." Sarah looks at me. "And thank you, Grayson, for loving my daughter the way she deserves."
"It's the easiest thing I've ever done."
Emma grins. "This wedding is legendary. People will talk about it for decades."
"That was the goal," I admit.
Maxwell appears with Victoria, both carrying champagne. "A toast," he announces. "To the couple who proved that sometimes the best things come from the biggest disasters."
"To espresso machines everywhere," Victoria adds.
Everyone laughs and drinks.
Then, it's time for the first dance.
Kate and I step onto the wooden platform overlooking the lake. The crowd clears a space. Something slow and romantic begins.
I pull her close—one hand on her waist, the other holding hers.
"Having fun?" I ask.
"Best day of my life." She rests her head on my shoulder. "Thank you for making it magical."
"You make everything magical."
We sway together, three hundred people watching, and I don't care.
All I see is Kate.
"What are you thinking about?" she asks.
"How lucky I am." I pull back to look at her. "A year ago, I was alone in that cabin, convinced I'd stay that way forever. And now I'm dancing with my wife, surrounded by family, with a future I never thought possible."
"We're both lucky."
"No. I'm the lucky one." I spin her gently. "You could have given up on me a hundred times. When I was impossible and pushing you away. You didn't. You stayed."
"Because I knew what we could be." She smiles up at me. "And I was right."
"You were so right."
The song ends. The dance floor fills. Mrs. Everly with Doc Martinez. Maxwell with one of Kate's coworkers. Emma with a guy from the band who's been making eyes at her all night.
Kate's mother approaches, hesitant. "May I dance with my daughter?"
Kate's face lights up. "I'd love that."
I step back and watch them together. Making up for lost time. Building something new.
Maxwell appears at my elbow. "You look happy."
"I am."
"Good. You deserve it." He pauses. "You know Kate is going to reorganize the entire company now, right? Color-coded labels everywhere."
"I'm counting on it."
He laughs. "You really are a changed man."
"Definitely for the better."
—
As midnight approaches, everyone gathers by the lake for the final surprise.
Kate doesn't know about this part. I kept it secret.
The band stops. The crowd goes quiet.
Kate looks at me, confused. "What's happening?"
"Just wait."
The first firework explodes over the lake.
Gold and silver cascading across the sky, reflecting in the water, lighting up Kate's face with wonder.
"Grayson," she breathes.
More fireworks follow. Brilliant colors choreographed to soft music from the speakers. Reds and blues and greens painting the night. Then the grand finale—a cascade of gold that spells out K + G in the sky before dissolving into stars.
Everyone cheers.
Kate turns to me, tears streaming. "That was perfect."
"You're perfect."
She kisses me, and the crowd cheers louder.
Father Murphy calls for attention as the applause fades.
"Before we close this beautiful evening," he says, "I'd like to say a few words."
Everyone quiets.
"This wedding has been a celebration of love.
But also of community. Of family—both born and chosen.
Of second chances and new beginnings. These two people found each other when they weren't looking.
Found home in the most unexpected place.
And in doing so, they reminded all of us what matters most."
He raises his glass.
"To Kate and Grayson. May your marriage be as beautiful as this day. May your love grow stronger with each year. And may you always remember—home is wherever you are, as long as you are together."
"To Kate and Grayson!" everyone echoes.
—
The guests begin to leave. Hugs. Promises to visit. Mrs. Everly cries through her entire goodbye. Doc Martinez gruffly tells us to "be happy, or else." Mrs. Patel slips us a bag of snacks for the road.
Kate's mother and Emma are the last to go.
"Thank you for including us," Sarah says, holding both of Kate's hands. "For giving us a place in your new life."
"You're my family," Kate says simply. "You'll always have a place."
One more hug. And then they're gone.
Finally, it's just us.
The event staff is cleaning up. The lights are coming down. But for this moment, we're alone by the lake. The water calm and peaceful under the stars.
Kate kicks off her heels and sits on the dock, letting her feet dangle above the water. I sit beside her, loosening my bow tie.
"Best day ever?" I ask.
"Best day ever," she confirms. "Though I have a feeling there are a lot more best days coming."
"Definitely."
We sit in comfortable silence, watching the stars reflect in the water.
"I can't believe we're married," Kate says softly.
"I can. I've been waiting for this since the moment you reorganized my bathroom."
She laughs. "That early?"
"Maybe earlier. Maybe the moment you walked in with that ridiculous pink suitcase."
"Hey, that suitcase is a classic."
"It's chaos in luggage form."
"So am I. And you married me anyway."
I pull her close, kissing her temple. "Best decision I ever made."
Kate shivers slightly. I stand and offer my hand.
"Ready to go home?"
She takes it, letting me pull her to her feet. "Which home? The penthouse or the cabin?"
"Both. All of them. Wherever we are together."
She laces her fingers through mine. "Then yes. Let's go home."
We walk back to the cabin, hand in hand, Mr. and Mrs. Hart, beginning our forever.
I think about how far we've come. From strangers who could barely tolerate each other to husband and wife. From running away to running toward. From loneliness to love.
The cabin comes into view, lit by moonlight. Waiting for us.
Our home.
Our beginning.
Our happily ever after.
And as Kate pulls me inside, already talking about honeymoon plans and the future we're going to build together, I can't help but smile.
This is everything.
This is forever.
And I can't wait for every moment of it.