Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 135300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 541(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 541(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
I stop counting because it doesn’t matter anymore.
I’m not freaked out by all the eyes on me.
I’m not second-guessing.
I’m not afraid.
How could I ever be anything else than ready to jump into tomorrow with his man?
“I love a man who cries at weddings,” I whisper playfully as soon as I’m close enough.
Ethan snickers loudly in the front row. Hattie slaps him.
“I don’t cry at weddings, woman,” Kane murmurs. “Just mine. I thought you were beautiful before, but now…”
He doesn’t finish.
He doesn’t need to.
The awe etched on his face leaves me in shambles.
“Y-you don’t look so bad yourself, Mr. Saint.” I force down the boulder in my throat.
But I do mean it.
There he is, decked out in this magnificent deep-teal suit with a yellow rose pinned on, so vivid it glows—presumably courtesy of my mother.
When he made his color choice, at first I wasn’t sure.
But he’s handsome and suave and he’d look good in anything.
If he was standing here in worn sweatpants and a jersey, I wouldn’t hesitate.
I’d take the hand he offers, just like I do now, locking his fingers around mine until it hurts.
Together, we face the altar, waiting for destiny.
It’s crazy how fast the biggest day of your life vanishes before you can blink.
After the reception, the band—minus Dan—takes over while the guests split up and file in for dinner.
We pose for photos.
Ethan razzes me and Dad tells me how proud he is of his baby girl.
Kane’s mother pinches her son’s cheek until I think she’ll leave a bruise.
Everything goes better than I imagined.
The only missing piece is Gramps, but not really.
There’s an empty seat at one table and a lit candle next to his portrait.
I can almost feel his hawkish eyes following us the whole time, finally at peace.
The same look he’d give me after those extravagant scavenger hunts as kids when I’d come in, show off his gifts, and he’d hold me up in his arms, always whispering, “That’ll do, darling May. That’ll do.”
This was his home once, half a decade ago.
Now, we went and made it ours, and even if he’s not here in person, even if he’s somewhere in the afterlife, his spirit lingers.
He’ll always be as real as the air we breathe.
And I think he’s lighter now, no longer this heavy, sad presence, just waiting for me to stumble over his secrets.
He’s just another soul who’s glad to have his beloved family back in one piece.
“Look.” Kane takes my hand just as I’m about to get out of my own head and thank a few more guests for coming.
He nods.
There, by the shore, beside an old log, I see Mom. She’s just a silhouette in the sunset, but there’s no mistaking the small bouquet of flowers clutched in her hands—or the meaning.
Roses for Gramps.
Her way of saying ‘apology accepted,’ and maybe goodbye.
For a second, I break, shoving my face into Kane’s chest to muffle my sobs.
“You’re okay, wife. We’re all okay now.”
“That’s… that was always his favorite spot,” I strangle out, nodding at the log. “I think maybe he used to sit there a lot with my grandma, too. I’ve seen a couple old photos where they’re there, their backs turned, just admiring the water.”
We watch Mom for a few more seconds, but it’s her moment.
I turn back to the reception area. Two huge gazebos and enormous tables of food. Dan keeps gorging himself on sweets long after dinner, and little Sophie tears up the dance floor, blissfully oblivious to her shuffling steps, all thanks to her beautiful shoes.
“Guess we did all right, huh?” I rest my head on Kane’s shoulder.
“We fucking scored. Best wedding I’ve ever been to.”
“Hey.”
“I never said I was the groom at.” He laughs and bends to kiss me. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
“You always do. But maybe one more time?”
He snorts. “So beautiful I know I’m the luckiest idiot in the universe.”
“You’d better.” I laugh and drag him to where Hattie’s waving us over. “Come on, our people await.”
“No rest for the wicked,” he mutters, but he’s grinning.
“Exhausted yet?” Hattie asks. “I remember when we got married, there were so many people to talk to and so much to do and so much to eat! I looked up and it was almost midnight.”
“It’s going by too fast, but I’m having the best time. The weather and this.” I wave my hand around at the crowd that turned out to celebrate us. “What could be better?”
“I saw your latest article,” Ethan tells Kane. “Left me with a lot to chew on. I have firms beating down our door all the time with some revolutionary AI algorithms for real estate.”
Hattie nudges him. “Seriously? Today of all days you guys have to talk about work?”
But Kane nods, and I roll my eyes at Hattie.
Men, I mouth.
She shrugs, but secretly I think she’s as delighted as I am that Kane and Ethan are getting along.