I follow her gaze to the two photographs, angled so they’re watching us.
Jenny.
My son.
A pink crystal heart between them that was found and cleaned up after the fire.
Hallie’s eyes fill with tears.
“They’re both here with us,” I say quietly so only she can hear.
“I know.” She looks at the photographs. “I could have sworn I even saw him a moment ago when I was walking over here. He looked like…” Her eyes flit to Sullivan before she blinks and brings them back to mine. “I’m glad we chose here.”
“Me too.” I stroke her hands in mine. “You ready to be my wife now?”
“You ready to be my husband?” she counters.
“Hallie, I’ve been ready a long time.”
She nods, her eyes twinkling. “Me too.”
I lift the champagne flute in my left hand and raise my toast.
“You need to get used to seeing it.” Hallie giggles as my eyes fix onto my wedding band again. I didn’t have one with Elaina, I don’t know why. But I knew I wanted one the second I asked Hallie to marry me. I want the world to know I have a wife who chose me. And one whom I would willingly give up my last breath for.
I wink down at her.
“Family, friends,” I say, drawing our intimate gathering’s attention to the middle of the long table where we’re sitting. “My wife and I?—”
“Whoop!” calls out Jenson, setting everyone laughing.
I smile.
“Mywife, Hallie, and I want to thank you all for being here. And we also want to remember those who couldn’t be here today. But we know they are looking out from wherever they are, feeling the love that is here tonight, surrounding us all. We may not all share blood, but you’re family to us. Each and every one of you.”
I look up and down the table at Sinclair, Sullivan, Molly, Mal and Trudy, my brothers Jagger, and Clay and his family, Hallie’s parents and friends, Sophie and Drew, my friends, Lawson, Roman, even Frankie. And finally Denver, Killian, and Jenson. Everyone who is a part of our lives.
“Thank you all for being here to celebrate with us.” I place my free hand on the top of Hallie’s spine, my thumb tracing circles over the base of her neck. “I’m sure you’re all aware now of how we met. But I promised my daughter, Sinclair…” I chuckle as Sinclair gives a little wave from her seat next to Denver, “… that I would give her credit and tell the story again. So here we are. Please raise a glass while I tell you how one day she changed my life with three words.”
Everyone lifts their glasses, and I smile down at Hallie.
I love you, she mouths.
“Love you too, Baby girl,” I whisper against her lips, bending to kiss her.
Her fingertips trail along my jaw and she kisses me back. A kiss so soft, but full of promise.
A promise to choose each other, always.
I straighten up and lift my glass again.
“Those three words were not ‘it requires work’, as my beautiful wife said about my kissing technique.”
A rumble of laughter passes over the table.
“But they were the words that my daughter said to me the moment I laid eyes on Hallie. And they couldn’t have been truer. And those three words…”
I lift Hallie’s left hand in mine and kiss the back of it, just above her glittering engagement ring, and the new wedding band sitting beneath it.
