Page 281 of Fame & Chaos

Because of the Banns of Marriage in England, and because Indi was determined to become my wife now, Scotland was our only real option. Otherwise, we’d have been waiting at least three weeks before we could marry.

Neither of us wanted to wait.

So I made a few phone calls, spent a small fortune getting us here, and booked out the castle for the day. Thankfully, it was a weekday, and the venue was available. Indi had fallen in love with it the moment she saw the pictures online, and seeing it in person…

It’s even more beautiful than she imagined.

“Are you nervous?” Dad asks.

I smile and shake my head. “Not even a little. I’ve waited years to marry her. This…” I glance around the room before laughing softly. “This feels like a dream. I can’t wait until we get home and I can finally tell everyone.”

He smiles. “I’m so proud of you, son.” His eyes shine with emotion. “I wasn’t sure I’d ever see this day. You and Indi always seemed to find a way to complicate things.” He chuckles. “I’ll admit, finding out you’d been together for almost two years and managed to keep it from me stung a little.” He shrugs. “But I understood why.”

His expression softens. “Indi needed that time. Soon enough, the spotlight’s going to find her whether she wants it to or not, and knowing you’ll be beside her through all of it… that means everything.”

I swallow the lump forming in my throat. “She was always my missing piece, Dad.” I smile. “And now my puzzle’s finally complete.”

He doesn’t say anything straight away.

Instead, he wraps me in a hug.

“I love you, son.” His voice is thick with emotion. “And I couldn’t be prouder.”

“I love you, too, Dad.” I squeeze him back. “And… thank you.” I pull away enough to meet his eyes. “You’ve been an incredible father. Especially after everything when I was younger.” I shake my head. “I spent so much time pushing you away because I wanted someone else to fill that role.” A guilty smile tugs at my lips. “I was an arsehole.”

He laughs quietly. “You were a confused kid.” He pats my shoulder. “I knew I wasn’t Colt. I also knew I hadn’t been there the way he had…” He pauses. “I never really knew how to be a father.” His smile turns self-conscious. “It didn’t come naturally.” He looks at me. “I just hope I got there in the end.”

Emotion tightens my chest. “You did, Dad.” My smile touches my eyes, and they turn glassy. “You really did.”

The door creaks open, and Mum pokes her head inside. “She looks beautiful, Caleb.”

A grin immediately spreads across my face. “I don’t doubt that for a second.”

Mum exchanges a knowing smile with Dad before he claps me on the shoulder. “It’s time, son.” He grins. “Ready to become a husband?”

“With all my heart.”

He nods and slips out of the room.

Mum walks over, gently fussing with my tie even though Dad has already made sure it’s perfectly straight. “You look very handsome.”

“Thanks, Mum.” She slips her arm through mine. “Come on.” Her smile widens. “Let’s go get you married.”

Together we leave the castle and make our way down to the lake as the sun begins to set.

The walk is peaceful.

Beautifully quiet.

As we stroll through the gardens, my mind drifts over everything Indi and I have survived to get here.

There were plenty of lows.

Some of them even broke us.

But every high…

Every laugh…