Chapter 10 - Happily Ever After
Six months later, Vanessa’s wedding came and went—or rather, didn't go, at least not the way she wanted. Having been blacklisted by two major local venues and facing financial strain from the city fines, she ended up having a rushed, tense courthouse ceremony with only a handful of guests. Mom tried to invite me through a mutual acquaintance, but I politely declined. I had a prior commitment: taking Emma to an amusement park just the two of us.
On a warm Saturday afternoon, Emma and I stood in front of a giant fairy-tale castle at the theme park, eating cotton candy that matched her pink jacket.
She looked up at me, her eyes shining with absolute joy, wearing a shiny new tiara I had bought her just because it was Tuesday.
"Mommy, can we live in a castle forever?" she asked.
May you like
I laughed, wrapping my arm around her small shoulders and pulling her close against my side.
"We don't need a castle, sweetie," I said, looking out at the bright, open horizon ahead of us. "As long as we have each other, we've got our own happily ever after."
