He meets my eyes—steady, sure.
“She’ll see the best and worst in you, Alex. She’ll love you anyway. So give her a man she can be proud of. Not perfect. Not always right. But honest. And when you can’t fix what’s wrong, simply listen.”
I clear my throat. “Is that what you did with Tina?”
His eyes soften, a rare crack in the armor. “Every damn day.”
He offers me his hand, and I take it. We’re not men who say much about how we feel, so he pulls me in and hugs me tight. And I don’t fight it.
This is a moment worth remembering, and I’ll never forget it.
A knock, louder this time.
“Yeah?”
The door creaks open and Jack Henry steps in first, already smirking. “You decent in here?”
“Barely,” I say.
Elias, Kye, and Nate follow close behind, tuxes crisp, swagger on full display.
“Special delivery for the groom from his bride,” Jack says.
Elias grins, holding up a white box with a black satin ribbon. “This has your name on it.”
I take the gift from him and loosen the ribbon, lifting the lid. Inside, is a velvet slipcase. Sleek.
I open it and pull out a slim black flashlight. My thumb traces the faint engraving along the side.
LO’U ALOFA
Samoan for my love.
A note rests beneath it—folded, deliberate. Magnolia’s handwriting.
You’ve always been the one to see me clearly. Now you’ll always know where to look. Use the light. Find the truth in white ink on my body.
–Your wife.
Silence follows.
Kye whistles, low. “Damn.”
“She tattooed herself for you?” Nate asks, eyes wide. “That’s next-level.”
“Does this mean she inked a treasure hunt on her body?” Jack asks. “This woman is elite.”
I think she did.
But I say nothing, simply hold the flashlight as if it’s the most precious thing I’ve ever been given.
Because it is.
She could’ve given me something traditional––a monogrammed tie clip. Custom cuff links. A bottle of cologne with a love note tucked beneath the lid. A framed quote about forever. A watch engraved with “Always.”
But no, she gives me this––a flashlight and a secret message written on her body only visible to me.
Magnolia has never done ordinary.
