Chapter 29 - the wedding we never had
A year after Corinne's conviction, Elena and I returned to the idea of marriage.
Not because we needed a ceremony.
We were already a family.
But Sadie wanted one.
She had seen photographs of weddings.
She wanted her parents to have the wedding they had never been able to finish.
So we planned something small.
No ballroom.
No enormous guest list.
No business associates.
Just family.
Daphne helped Sadie choose flowers.
Elena chose a simple dress.
I wore a dark suit.
The ceremony took place in our garden beside the two roses.
When Sadie rolled forward, carrying a small bouquet, Elena began crying.
I smiled.
"You're supposed to be the calm one."
She laughed.
"I've earned the right to cry."
The ceremony was short.
No promises about forgetting.
No promises that life would never hurt again.
Just one promise.
That when fear came, we would tell the truth.
When something was wrong, we would speak.
When one of us needed help, we would ask.
And when our daughter needed us, we would be there.
Afterward, Sadie looked at us.
"Now we're really married?"
Elena laughed.
"Yes."
Sadie smiled.
"Good."
Then she looked at me.
"Can we have cake?"
Everyone laughed.
For once, a wedding ended exactly the way a wedding should.
With cake.
May you like
Not a crime scene.
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