Chapter 9 - Promises Kept
A year after the day James had walked into the kitchen ready to fire his maid, the Carter estate hosted a very different kind of gathering.
It was a beautiful, sun-drenched afternoon in the backyard. The gardens were in full bloom, dominated by the massive, bright yellow sunflowers that Ethan had planted. A long wooden table was set up on the grass, covered in rustic linen and simple bouquets of wildflowers.
There were no paparazzi, no corporate partners, and no strict protocols. There were only close friends, the children’s doctors who had become allies, and the estate staff who had become like family.
James stood at the head of the altar that had been constructed under a massive oak tree. He looked incredibly handsome in a classic navy suit, but his eyes were fixed entirely on the pathway leading from the house.
The music shifted to a soft, acoustic melody played on a guitar.
First came Ethan, looking sharp in a miniature suit, proudly carrying a velvet ring pillow. Next came Emily, wearing a white lace flower-girl dress, tossing yellow rose petals onto the grass with a huge, radiant smile on her face.
And then came Sophia.
She wore a simple, breathtaking ivory gown that flowed around her like a breeze. She carried a bouquet of white roses mixed with sprigs of lavender and cinnamon sticks—a subtle, beautiful nod to the memory that had brought them all together.
As she reached the altar, James took her hands in his. They were trembling slightly, not from fear, but from absolute joy.
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The vows were short, deeply personal, and filled with promises to always protect the laughter in their home, to never let a mess get in the way of a memory, and to love each other through every season of life.
When the priest finally pronounced them husband and wife, the loudest cheers came from the front row, where two ecstatic six-year-olds were jumping up and down, throwing handfuls of flower petals into the air.
