Page 103 of Heart Breaker

He glances at Wes again, allowing the words to settle.

“You’ve always had the biggest heart in the room. Ever since you were little, you’ve been the first person to notice when someone is hurting. The first one to give away your last cookie, your favorite sweater, whatever you had if it meant making someone else’s day a little easier.”

A watery laugh escapes me.

“That part of you…” He points toward my chest. “I’ve always loved it.” His smile fades just enough for my own heart to crack. “I just hate that you felt that sacrificing your own happiness was the only way to help me.”

I wipe at another tear.

“But,” my mom says, clasping her hands together. “Somewhere in the middle of all that, you found your person.”

Wes reaches over and squeezes my hand.

Dad leans back in his chair and lets out a long breath, as if months of unanswered questions have finally settled into place. “If I’m being honest,” he chuckles. “I don’t really care how your marriage started. I care how it turns out. And from where I’m sitting, I’ve never seen my daughter this happy.”

He glances at Wes and smiles. “As a dad, I don’t think I could ask for anything more.”

I look at my dad and without saying a word, he opens his arms to me. I don’t make it two steps before I’m crying again. I practically fall into him as he wraps me in a hug. He kisses the top of my head.

“You don’t ever have to carry the world by yourself again,” he murmurs. “You have your mom. You have me. And now you have Wes. Do you hear me?”

I nod against his shoulder. “I hear you.”

He holds me for another moment before gently pulling back. His hand cups my cheek. “I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you too.”

Wes clears his throat softly, then shifts to the edge of the couch. He looks more nervous than I’ve ever seen him.

“James, Claire…”

Mom and Dad both look up at him. Dad gives a small nod. “Go ahead, son.”

Wes draws a slow breath. “I know I don’t deserve how gracious you’ve been tonight. The way this marriage began,” Wes shakes his head. “It wasn’t fair to Lottie. I never should have asked her to go along with the lie.”

Wes reaches for my hand, intertwining our fingers. “But somewhere along the way,” he adds, smiling at me in a way that makes my knees weak. “She became the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

I look up at him. His eyes never leave mine.

“I love your daughter with everything I have.” His voice catches. “She deserves so much more than the way this started. I can’t change the beginning of our story. All I can do is spend the rest of my life making sure she never doubts how deeply she’s loved.”

The room goes quiet.

“I promise you both,” he pauses. “I’ll take care of her. I’ll stand beside her when life is easy and I’ll stand even closer when it isn’t.”

A tear slips down my cheek.

“I’ll make her laugh when she forgets how.” He smiles at me. “I’ll remind her how beautiful she is when she can’t see it herself, and I’ll love her with everything I have for as long as I’m lucky enough to call her my wife.”

Dad slowly rises from his recliner and takes a step toward Wes. My husband stands, rubbing his hands nervously down his pants. Dad doesn’t offer a handshake; instead, he pulls him into a hug.

“That’s all we’ve ever wanted for her,” Dad says quietly. “I’m proud of you. I couldn’t ask for a better man to take care of my daughter.”

Wes slips his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his side.

This man is mine, I think. He’s all mine forever.

And for the first time since we stood in front of a justice of the peace and exchanged vows we didn’t yet understand, it feels like our marriage has truly begun.