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I thought about my luck on the way to the small cathedral in downtown Boston. I had made a good catch. I was the rare, lucky girl who had gotten everything she’d ever wanted and found out that she’d been right to want it. We’d only been together for two years now, but it felt like we’d always been together.
Seeing him become a father had only made me love him more. He was enchanted by Abigail. His single-minded focus on building his business had broadened the moment she was born. Maureen was now co-CEO, and Aiden could be found on the playground almost as often as he could be found in his office. I was there more than him, still pursuing my own dreams.
The town car carried us into the heart of downtown Boston, letting us off at on the curb in front of the small, nondenominational cathedral we’d chosen. Neither of us were particularly religious, but we both believed that something had designed this universe with benevolence and intention. There was no other way to explain how we’d found our way to each other despite all the odds.
One of the odds was standing out front, his hands buried deep in the pockets of his winter coat, a tweed cap pulled low over his face. He lit up when the town car docked itself on the curb. He helped Bran out, then Liv and Cecilia. Then he tilted sideways to look in at me, a rueful grin on his face.
“It’s not too late to ditch the senior citizen,” my dad said, but I knew he was joking. He had transitioned from grudging to wholehearted acceptance of mine and Aiden’s relationship the day he met Abigail. He reached a hand in for me, and I took it, letting him help me out of the car.
It was barely twenty degrees, and I hadn’t bothered to put a coat on over my dress, but I wasn’t cold. I turned to look at my dad, my heart beginning to beat faster now that we were here. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful.” He kissed my cheek with his cold lips and then hustled us all into the antechamber of the cathedral. I took a few minutes to cuddle my daughter in her little white gown and coo over the bow my mom had affixed to her sparse red hair.
“Okay, I’ve got to take her.” My dad held out his arms, and Abigail went into them happily. Just like Bran, Liv, and Cecilia were my bridal party, my dad, Abigail, and Carl were his.
He was gone only a few moments before I heard the music start up. It was Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” that signaled we needed to get ready. We slipped out of the small room in order–Cecilia, Liv, Bran, and then me. My mother and Aiden’s mother were already seated with the handful of guests we’d invited. Through the louvered windows that separated the hallway from the cathedral, I saw that the Brand Development team was in the second row. Joe and Gloria were holding hands.
When the music changed to Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata No. 14,” Cecilia fluffed one of the flowers on her bouquet and stepped out.
“Are you ready for this?” Bran asked in the last few moments before he followed Liv out.
“More than ready,” I whispered back, and then he was gone.
I took a deep breath as they finished their walk up the aisle. I couldn’t see Aiden yet because I was standing just out of sight, but my heart beat faster, thinking about him. And then the distinct notes of the wedding march started up, and it was time.
I stepped into the entrance and everyone rose as one, turning to look back at me. Two dozen pairs of eyes, two dozen wide smiles. Some cheeks were already damp with tears. I looked through all of them and found Aiden’s gaze locked on mine.
He wasn’t crying, but his eyes were shining with love.
I love you, I love you, I love you, I thought as I walked toward him. Then I was right in front of him. He was reaching for my hand.
I remembered being fourteen and realizing for the first time he wasn’t just my dad’s younger, sort of cool-looking, best friend.
I remembered being sixteen and realizing I was in love with him.
Eighteen and thinking I’d lost him to Shara forever.
Twenty-five and knowing that I still loved him but thinking that it was impossible. It could never work.
Now, as his fingers entwined with mine, I gave a silent prayer of gratitude for everything we had been through. The hardest part was behind us.
And forever was in front of us.
