Chapter 10
Three months later, we renewed our vows.
It was small, just our family, in our backyard.
Richard walked me down the aisle, our lawn lined with white roses, Liam in Mark’s arms, fast asleep, wearing a tiny white suit.
Jake flew home from Portland for it.
He stood next to Mark as his best man, smiling, his arm around Mark’s shoulder.
Eleanor stood next to me, wearing a soft blue dress, her face glowing, no more secrets, no more shame, just pure happiness.
Our vows were short, simple, honest.
Mark went first.
He looked at me, his eyes wet, and held Liam tighter.
“Lila,” he said, his voice steady, sure. “Once, I let fear and lies make me forget what matters most. I doubted you. I doubted us. I almost lost the best thing that ever happened to me. Today, in front of our family, I promise you this: I will never doubt you again. I will choose you, every single day. I will trust you, with my heart, with our son, with everything I am. I will spend the rest of my life making up for the hurt I caused you. I love you. More than words can say.”
Then it was my turn.
I looked at him, at our son, at our family standing around us, all of us broken once, all of us mended, stronger than before.
“Mark,” I said, my voice soft but sure. “Once, I thought our marriage was over. I thought I’d never be able to trust you again. But love isn’t about never being hurt. It’s about choosing to heal, together. You have spent every day since that hospital room proving to me that you are the man I fell in love with. You are a good husband. You are the best father Liam could ever ask for. Today, I promise to let the past stay in the past. I promise to build our future with you, no secrets, no fear, just love. I choose you. Today, and every day after. I love you.”
We kissed, and our family cheered, Liam waking up just in time to babble loud, like he was cheering too.
That night, after everyone left, after the dishes were done, after Liam was asleep in his crib, Mark and I went out to the backyard.
The sun was setting, painting the sky pink and orange and purple.
Mark wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder, his hands resting on my stomach, where our second baby would one day grow.
We stood there, quiet, watching the sun go down.
Inside, I could hear Richard and Eleanor laughing in the kitchen, finishing the last of the cake.
Jake was on the phone with his new boss in Portland, talking excitedly about his first week on the job.
Everything was perfect.
Not perfect like it had never been broken.
Perfect because it had been broken, and we’d fixed it, together.
We’d faced lies, secrets, anger, hurt.
We’d almost lost everything.
But we’d fought for each other.
We’d fought for our family.
And now, here we were.
Safe.
Loved.
Whole.
I leaned back into Mark’s arms, closing my eyes, feeling the warm sun on my face, the steady beat of his heart against my back.
For the first time in my life, I knew, without a single doubt, that everything was going to be okay.
May you like
We were going to be okay.
And that was more than enough.
