"You deserved to be loved for yourself. To be encouraged to pursue your art, to make your own choices, to become whoever you wanted to be." His voice roughens. "I'm sorry we failed you so completely."
“There was never room for me while you were grieving Grace,” I whisper. “But I was still here.”
"I know that now." He reaches for my hand, tentative, and I let him take it. "I see you, Charity. Finally. And I'm proud of who you've become, even if I had nothing to do with it."
"You had something to do with it," I admit. "Even the painful parts shaped me. Made me stronger."
"You didn't needusto be strong. You always were."
We sit in silence for a moment, the party noise a comfortable backdrop. Lucky trots over and collapses at my feet with a contented sigh.
"Will you let us try again?" my father asks. "Not to fix what's broken, but to build something new?"
"As long as you understand that Draco is part of it. Not negotiable."
"I understand." He looks toward the fire pit where Draco is demonstrating a coin trick to Thrax's delight. "He's an impressive young man. Unusual, certainly. But impressive. And he loves you fiercely."
"I love him the same way."
"That's all a father can ask for his daughter." He squeezes my hand once, then stands. "We should head back to our hotel. Our flight leaves early tomorrow."
"Thank you for coming," I say, and I mean it.
"Thank you for inviting us. For giving us another chance." He pauses. "We'd like to come to the wedding. If the invitation stands."
"It stands."
After my parents leave, after the party finally winds down and the sanctuary settles into peaceful quiet, Draco and I walk to the edge of the property where fields meet forest. Lucky trails behind us, nose to the ground.
"Your dad apologized," Draco says. It's not a question.
"Yeah. He did."
"You okay?"
"I'm okay." I lean against him, watching the stars scattered across the Missouri sky. "It doesn't fix everything. But it's a start."
"That's all you need. A start."
"What about you? You really want to get married here?"
"I really do." He turns me to face him, hands cupping my face. "This place gave me a second chance at life. I want to start our marriage here, with the people who made it possible. Then we go back to the city and build our life exactly how we want it."
"Underground magic shows and metal sculptures."
"Thrift shop dresses and food truck tacos."
"A tiny apartment and a limping dog."
"Everything we need and nothing we don't." He kisses me softly. "That's freedom,cara. That's the real magic."
I kiss him back, pouring everything I feel into it. Gratitude for his love, joy in our life together, hope for all the years ahead. When we break apart, I'm breathless.
"I can't wait to marry you," I whisper.
"Soon." His smile is wicked. "But tonight, Laura set us up in the guest cottage. Said something about giving us privacy."
We walk back to the cottage hand in hand, Lucky between us. Inside, it's simple but perfect—queen bed, small bathroom, windows that overlook the fields. Our overnight bags are already there, courtesy of Laura's efficiency.
