Chapter 49 Nova
nova
Three Months Later
“Look at how pretty Mum looks, Dad,” Scarlette said, holding my phone out so Austin and Charlie could see on the other end of the line.
“Let me see,” Charlie squealed.
I laughed, giving Scarlette a playful nudge, and then did a little twirl so they could see the whole outfit.
I had chosen a long, white, lace dress paired with my Doc Martens. It had been rainy lately, and we were getting married in the yard, so I didn’t want to muck up my fancy shoes. Luna had outdone herself, braiding my hair into a thick Dutch braid that felt effortlessly elegant.
“I’m dying,” Charlie gushed. “We cannot wait to hear all about it. Also, I’ve never been to England, so I’m trying to convince Austin that next time you go, we’d love for you to be our tour guide.”
“I’d love that.” I giggled.
“Okay, you go be the best bride ever,” Charlie said with a laugh before Austin’s voice chimed in.
“Hey—think you can take me off speaker for a second?”
I glanced at Scarlette, who was already bouncing toward the mirror, distracted by her flower girl dress.
I nodded and clicked off the video, walking to the corner of the room. “What’s up?”
“I, uh, I wanted to tell you congratulations.”
“Thanks?”
I couldn’t understand why this needed to be a private conversation if it was a simple congratulations.
He hesitated and exhaled faintly. “I know your mom’s not there with you. I, uh, I know this is sensitive, and we never really talked about it, but I woke up this morning, and the TV was randomly on Jeopardy.”
I frowned, my heart tightening as I clutched the phone closer.
“Neither Charlie nor I watch it,” he added, his voice softer now, almost uncertain. “And I don’t know—it felt like a sign. Maybe it was from your mom. Forgiveness, maybe? Or . . . something to pass along to you on this day.”
Tears stung my eyes before I could stop them, and I blinked rapidly, trying to compose myself. “Thank you,” I whispered shakily. “Thank you for sharing that.”
“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he said quickly.
I waved a hand in the air, even though he couldn’t see it. “It’s okay. That was something I needed to hear today.”
There was a pause, a silence filled with emotions neither of us seemed to know how to put into words.
“She would have loved Ollie.”
The tears I’d been holding spilled over, but this time, they weren’t sad. “Yeah,” I whispered. “She would have.”
“Anyway, I wanted to say congrats. You deserve this.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, holding back the lump in my throat.
I hung up, wiping at my eyes quickly before turning back toward the room. Luna was in the corner with Aunt Mae, the two of them laughing. Both of them had flown here to be with me, leaving their boyfriends at home to make it a true girls’ trip.
Luna caught my gaze, her smile fading slightly as she walked over, a tissue already in her hand. She dabbed gently at my eyes, careful not to smudge anything.
“Are you sure you’re okay with Will being here?” I asked as she continued to powder my face.
She nodded, though the smile she gave me was forced. “It’s fine. Today isn’t about that.”
“Okay,” I murmured, my brow furrowing. I wasn’t convinced, but I let it slide for now. “Is Dirks okay with you being here?”
She let out a small laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. “He’s fine with whatever I do. Honestly, he might be more of a sap than Ollie is, but the jury’s still out.”
I laughed and gave her a tight squeeze. “I-I don’t have words for you today, Lune. I am forever and endlessly grateful for you.”
“I’m not going far,” she said with a shaky laugh, though her voice wavered slightly. “I still live in your yard.”
“I’ll never let you go,” I whispered, hugging her even tighter.
Aunt Mae came up next to us, and I pulled away from Luna to look at her, my eyes widening as she held something in her hand.
“Cecilia wore a necklace every day. I’ve been selfish about keeping it because it reminds me of her, but I figured today was a good day to share it with you.”
My gaze dropped to the delicate gold chain resting in her palm. It wasn’t flashy or ornate, but it was everything. My breath caught as I swallowed hard. I turned slowly, my hands trembling slightly, and Aunt Mae clasped the necklace around my neck.
Tears pricked at my eyes as I turned back to them, both of them watching me with gentle smiles. “Thank you,” I whispered.
Aunt Mae brushed her fingers over my cheek. “She’s here with you, always.”
I felt it. She was. The presence of my people surrounded me.
“Oll is going to get nervous if we stay here any longer. Scarlette’s already gone out.” Luna pointed, and I nodded, knowing it was time.
I grabbed the bouquet of flowers that Mrs. Stone had made for me, and my lips curled into a smile.
There was a time when the thought of this moment would have terrified me—a time when I believed that letting people in, letting them see me fully, meant giving them the power to leave.
I had feared that even Ollie, my anchor, might walk away.
Standing here surrounded by the people who mattered most, that fear felt distant, almost laughable in hindsight.
This moment wasn’t terrifying. It was overwhelming in the best way. I wasn’t bracing for loss—I was standing in the middle of love. This was my family, and I loved them with everything I had, endlessly and without hesitation.
I pushed open the door to the guesthouse and was greeted by the gloomy British day. I looked up, and the heavy, swollen clouds threatened to ruin this with rain at any moment. I laughed, because it was a perfect way to start our marriage.
Out in the garden, Mrs. Stone, Mr. Stone, Will, Luna, and Aunt Mae were gathered.
Ollie’s Mum and Luna had spent the morning weaving flowers through the grass, creating a beautiful little walkway, while Aunt Mae had added her touch, painting intricate designs onto the garden arch where Ollie and I would stand.
We could’ve had a big wedding, but this was everything I wanted. It was simple, personal, and perfect in every way.
I swallowed and walked to where the flowers started.
“Whenever you’re ready, love,” Ollie called from the front of the aisle.
I looked up and met his gaze, and there he was, waiting for me with that quiet smile that held the warmth he always exuded.
He was the kind of man who radiated steadiness.
The kind of man who would hold my hair when I was throwing up, who’d call off work without hesitation because Scarlette was sick and I couldn’t stay home.
He wasn’t just my partner—he was the one who made dinner after my long days because he knew I hated cooking, the one who put our relationship and Scarlette above everything else. Not because he had to, but because that’s the person he was.
He wasn’t just my Ollie—he was the proof that love could be safe, steady, and so deeply beautiful. This wasn’t a simple moment. It was our moment, the start of the rest of our lives, and every part of me ached with love for him.
I slowly walked toward Ollie. Will stood at the front, holding a small book—probably more for show than anything else.
“Alright, folks,” Will began. “We’re gathered here today to witness something truly miraculous—Ollie finally convincing Nova to marry him. It only took, what? Five years, a visa, and a whole lot of charm?”
The small crowd laughed, and I caught Ollie’s smirk.
Will cleared his throat, his grin fading into something more sincere.
“But seriously, you two are the kind of couple that makes people believe in love.” He coughed and looked down at what he was reading.
“Watching you two has been a reminder to all of us that love isn’t about perfection.
It’s about choosing each other, every day, no matter what.
Now, before the British weather decides to play its part, let’s get to the good stuff.
” Will turned to Ollie with a nod. “I believe you have something prepared?”
Ollie took my hands as my gaze locked onto his.
“Nova, before I met you, I didn’t believe in dating.
I thought it was messy, complicated, and not worth the effort.
The moment I laid eyes on you, all bets were off.
You were so different—so determined, so beautiful.
You walked into my life and turned everything I thought I knew upside down.
“You didn’t just give me love—you gave me purpose. You showed me what it means to care for someone with my whole heart, to build a life together that’s more beautiful than I ever imagined.
“I promise to always stand by your side, to love you fiercely and endlessly. You and Scarlette are my world, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make you both happy. Today, I vow to choose you—every moment, every day, forever.”
My tears fell freely, and he squeezed my hands gently, giving me a smile that melted my heart.
Before I could speak, Ollie let go of one of my hands and turned slightly, gesturing toward Scarlette. “Come here.”
Once she reached us, Ollie dropped to one knee in front of her.
He rested his hands on hers as he looked up at her with the same adoration he always showed me.
“Scarlette, from the moment I met you, you became my little girl. I promise to always protect you, to always support you, and to always love you. No matter what, I will be here for you, cheering you on, helping you grow, and making sure you know how special you are. I’ll always be your Ollie, and I’ll love you forever. ”
Scarlette’s eyes glistened as she threw her arms around his neck, pressing a small kiss to his cheek. “I love you,” she whispered.
Ollie wrapped his arms around her tightly, and my heart swelled to a size I didn’t know was possible. He kissed the top of her head before standing, lifting her briefly as she giggled before setting her down beside me.
He took my hand again, his eyes shining with love, and I knew without a doubt that this moment—this man—was everything I’d ever dreamed of and more.