Chapter 10
Our wedding was small, held in the mansion’s back garden, surrounded by the people we loved most.
Maria walked me down the aisle, her eyes wet with happy tears, wearing a bright blue dress she’d had made just for the occasion.
Mr. Hale gave a speech, telling stories about dad, about how proud he’d be of the woman I’d become, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the yard.
Jake cried when he saw me walking toward him, his hand reaching for mine, his thumb brushing the back of my hand like he couldn’t believe I was real.
We said our vows under the big oak tree dad had planted the day I was born, promising to love each other, to stand by each other, to build a life together that was kind and good and full of joy.
That night, after all the guests had left, after the last of the cake had been eaten and the last of the music had faded, Jake and I walked through the quiet house, hand in hand.
We stopped in the study, the soft glow of the desk lamp lighting up the room, the photo of dad and me on my tenth birthday sitting on the desk.
I picked it up, running my finger over his smiling face.
“I wish he could have been here,” I said, my voice quiet.
Jake wrapped his arms around me from behind, his chin resting on the top of my head.
“He is here,” he said. “He’s in every good thing you do. Every kid who gets to go to college because of that scholarship. Every family that gets a home because of the company. He’s here, Lila. And he’s so proud.”
I leaned back against his chest, his arms warm and solid around me, the diamond on my finger catching the light.
He was right.
All the pain, all the fear, all the betrayal—it had led me here. To this house, full of love and laughter. To this man, who loved me for exactly who I was. To this life, better than anything I’d ever dared to dream of.
I was safe.
I was loved.
May you like
I was finally, completely home.
Jake turned me around in his arms, kissing me soft and slow, and outside, the fireflies danced over the pool, the stars bright above the Dallas skyline, the future stretching out before us, bright and beautiful and ours.
