Chapter 10 - EVER AFTER
The wedding was held on a sun-drenched Saturday in May, in the backyard of their Portland home.
It was not a grand corporate spectacle, but an intimate celebration of family and restoration. White roses lined the aisle, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming jasmine.
Nathan stood at the alter, looking impossibly sharp in a black tuxedo. Beside him stood his mother and close friends.
The music shifted to a soft, melodic acoustic guitar.
First came the flower girls—Sophie, Clara, and Nora—wearing matching ivory dresses with sea-glass silk sashes. Clara carried a basket decorated with her own hand-painted floral designs; Nora held a custom leather-bound book containing the vows her parents were about to speak; and Sophie walked with the grace and poise of a little queen, making sure her sisters kept perfect pace.
Then came Lydia.
She was breathtaking in a simple, elegant lace gown, her dark hair swept back, holding a bouquet of wildflowers. Her smile radiated a deep, enduring happiness that lit up the entire garden.
When she reached Nathan, he took her hands, his eyes shining with unashamed tears.
They spoke their vows—not of young, naive promises, but of tested, proven devotion. They vowed to listen, to forgive, to laugh through the hard days, and to treasure every moment of the life they had fought so hard to rebuild.
As the minister declared them husband and wife, Nathan pulled Lydia close and kissed her to the thunderous applause of their family and friends.
Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the Oregon sky in hues of gold, crimson, and violet, Nathan stepped out onto the patio.
He looked across the lawn. Lydia was laughing with her parents near the dance floor. Nearby, Sophie, Clara, and Nora were sitting together on a wooden swing hanging from an ancient oak tree, their legs swinging in unison, their laughter echoing across the garden.
Nathan walked over to the swing and stood behind them, gently pushing them higher into the warm evening breeze.
"Dad?" Nora called out, looking back over her shoulder.
"Yes, my sweet girl?"
"Is this the ending of the story?"
May you like
Nathan paused, looking at his daughters, then across the lawn to his wife, who was walking toward them with two glasses of champagne and the warmest smile he had ever seen.
"No, Nora," Nathan smiled, reaching out to take Lydia’s hand as she joined them. "This isn't the ending. This is just where the best chapter finally begins."
