Page 65 of Hearts & Embers

"Thank you."

A grin appeared.

"You know, I never thought I'd see the day."

"I've heard that several times today."

"Probably because it's true."

We laughed together before he stepped back.

"I'm happy for you, brother."

The sincerity behind the words required no further explanation.

"I know you are and I’ll be wanting to hear about you and Elyssa when we get back from our honeymoon."

Cody blushed red and hastily exited.

“I told Elyssa the same thing,” Aurora laughed, which explained the whisper that had pinked Elyssa’s cheeks.

Eventually everyone left and for the first time all day, Aurora and I found ourselves completely alone. The silence felt strangely welcome after hours of celebration.

Together we walked toward the waiting car that would take us home.

Home.

The word carried a different meaning now.

Not because the apartment had changed but because we had.

The drive across the city passed quietly. Aurora rested against me while Chicago moved beyond the windows. Streetlights reflected across the glass, traffic flowed through familiar streets, and the city continued its ordinary routines completely unaware that one small corner of it had become the setting for the best day of my life.

When we finally reached the apartment building, exhaustion had begun settling in beneath the excitement and the elevator ride felt almost surreal.

For months we had planned this day. We had imagined it, discussed it, and looked forward to it. Suddenly it was over, and a new chapter had begun.

Aurora kicked off her shoes the moment we entered the apartment and the sight immediately made me laugh.

"That bad?"

She sighed dramatically.

"I've been smiling in those shoes for twelve hours."

"I'll take that as a yes."

The apartment felt wonderfully familiar.

Wedding gifts occupied several surfaces, flowers decorated half the living room, and unopened cards waited neatly on the dining table. Everything looked exactly as I’d left it that morning, yet somehow the space felt different now.

Aurora crossed the room and slipped her arms around my waist. For several moments neither of us spoke. The city lights illuminated the apartment while silence settled comfortably around us. Eventually she rested her head against my chest.

"Hello, husband."

The words made me smile.

"Hello, wife."