Chapter 10 - The Legacy of Love
The wedding was held on a sunlit afternoon in my back garden, surrounded by blooming roses and close friends. There were no hidden corners, no ficus trees shielding me from view, and no arrogant pretense. I was seated right in the front row, wrapped in a beautiful silk shawl, with a place of honor right beside the altar.
Clara walked down the aisle in a simple, elegant lace dress, her eyes locked on Mark, who looked at her with tears of gratitude in his eyes. Walking right beside her as the ring bearer was eight-year-old Leo, looking sharp and handsome in a tailored navy suit, carrying the rings with immense pride.
As Clara reached the altar, she didn't rush past me. She paused, knelt down slightly in her gown, and gave me a soft hug. "Thank you for welcoming me into your family, Rose," she whispered sweetly.
"Welcome home, my dear," I replied, squeezing her hand.
When the minister asked for the rings, Leo stepped forward with a huge grin on his face. He pulled the velvet box from his pocket, handed it to Mark, and then glanced over at me with a mischievous wink.
After the ceremony, as music filled the garden and guests laughed and toasted to the happy couple, Leo ran over to my chair. He sat on the grass beside me, leaning his head against my knees just like he used to when he was smaller.
"Great-Grandma?" he asked softly, looking up at the clear blue sky.
"Yes, my sweet boy?"
"Are we going to keep any glue in the house anymore?"
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I chuckled softly, stroking his dark hair, my heart fuller than it had ever been in my long life.
"No, Leo," I smiled, looking across the lawn at Mark and Clara dancing together under the afternoon sunlight. "We don't need any glue here. Love is the only thing holding this family together now, and it never washes away."
