A quiet moment passed, filled only with the warmth of her hug. Then, the persistent ache in my heart surfaced. “Mom,” I whispered, pulling back slightly, “have you heard anything about Cade? I was so hoping he’d magically show up today. I hate that he’s missing my wedding. Colton really wanted him to be thebest man.”
Her smile faltered, replaced by a deep sigh. She shook her head, her gaze drifting towards the window, a familiar sadness clouding her features. “No, honey. Nothing. Not a word. We’re still trying, still hoping. But… no.”
A knock at the door had us turning our attention to it. “Ember? You ready, sweetie?” Dad’s voice, a little shaky with emotion, drifted through the wood.
Mom and I exchanged a look, the worry for Cade still lingering, but pushed aside for this moment. She stood, pulling me up with her. Dad pushed the door open, stepping inside, his eyes immediately finding me. His own eyes welled up, and he swallowed hard, a lump forming in my throat just seeing him.
“Oh, my beautiful girl,” he murmured, his voice rough. He reached out, taking my hands, then pulled me into a gentle hug, Mom joining us, sandwiching me between them. “You look absolutely breathtaking, Ember. Are you ready?”
Taking a deep breath, I nodded, trying to steady my nerves. “I’m ready.”
The late afternoon Fall sun was warm and the air was crisp, perfectly aligning with our chosen fall-themed wedding. The entire setting was breathtaking, a mix of colors from champagne, burnt orange, peach, navy, ivory, and pops of rich eggplant were decorated in every detail, from the table fabrics to the groomsmen’s ties. The aisle was lined with arrangements bursting with sunflowers, deep red dahlias, and soft sunset roses, accented with trailing eucalyptus, delicate ivy, and vibrant fall leaves.
The walk down the aisle was a beautiful blur. My arm was linked through Dad’s, and I could feel his hand trembling slightly. Whenhis eyes met mine, they were brimming with tears, but his smile was wide, full of love and pride.
Then, I saw him. Colton. Standing at the altar, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. He was dressed in a dark suit, his hair slightly longer, catching the light. His eyes, those intense brown eyes, were fixed on me, filled with a raw, overwhelming emotion that mirrored my own. Seeing how sexy he looked standing there, waiting for me with so much emotion written all over his face, made my heart swell.
Dad squeezed my hand one last time, then gently placed it in Colton’s. Colton’s fingers wrapped around mine, warm and strong, and he brought my hand to his lips, pressing a soft, tender kiss to my knuckles. His gaze never leaving mine.
The officiant began the ceremony, and when we exchanged vows, I looked into Colton’s eyes, seeing not just the man I loved, but the boy I grew up with and shared so much of my life with. I saw the boy who left to become a soldier, I saw the troubled man who returned to me and I saw the resilient and brave man who fought his way back to me.
“By the power vested in me,” the officiant concluded, his voice ringing out, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Before the words had even fully left his lips, Colton grabbed me, pulling me against him. He dipped me back, a wide, joyful grin on his face, and kissed me. It wasn’t a gentle kiss, it was passionate, full of all the pent-up love and longing that had brought us to this moment. Our lips clashed, our bodies pressed together, and the cheers of our family and friends erupted around us.
When he finally stood us back up, breathless and laughing, I leaned in, my mouth close to his ear. The words tumbled out, a secret just forhim, a gift I couldn’t wait another second to give.
“I was going to wait,” I whispered, my voice thick with happy tears, “but I can’t. Happy wedding day, Soldier. I’m pregnant.”
His eyes, already shining, widened impossibly. He stared at me for a long moment, the news sinking in, before a slow, incredulous smile spread across his face. “Pregnant?” he whispered back, his voice hoarse with disbelief and overwhelming joy. He pulled me into a fierce, tender hug, lifting me off my feet and spinning me once. “Firefly,” he murmured against my hair, “you truly are my everything.”
As the sun disappeared below the horizon, we gathered our guests to do one final thing before me and Colton skipped out for a while.
Instead of bags of rice, or bubbles, or whatever else people threw, Colton wanted to do something special. When he told me his idea there was no way we weren’t doing it.
On cue, as the last sliver of sun disappeared, everyone opened their palms, releasing fireflies into the night sky. Hundreds of tiny, blinking lights ascended, dancing around us, celebrating our union. It was beautiful, and magical to watch them.
Looking at Colton, my husband, I couldn’t have been happier. After years of hurt and thinking we’d never get here, we did. Every dream, every wish I ever made, has been achieved, thanks to Colton.
“Love you, Soldier,” I said, looking into my husband’s eyes.
“Love you more, Firefly,” he whispered back and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead.
Epilogue 2
Cade
The late afternoon sun that filtered down on my family’s farm did little to warm the chill that settled deep in my bones. I stood far enough away on the property line, tucked behind the treeline, making sure to stay hidden from the crowd. I watched. Ember, my baby sister, looked absolutely radiant in her dress, as she walked towards Colton. My best friend.
Looking through the binoculars, I could see the tears in Dad’s eyes as he gave her away. I saw the raw emotion on Colton’s face as he took Ember’s hand. I saw the vows, saw the kiss, and heard the shouts of excitement.
Husband and wife.
The words echoed in my head, cold and sharp. As the cheers erupted, I saw enough as I turned away. I didn’t linger, didn’t glance back once. I moved silently back to my truck, parked well offthe main road. The engine roared to life, and I pulled out, leaving the celebration behind.
I just drove, not towards the main highway, but through the back roads, eventually cutting through the heart of Rose Valley. Main Street was quiet, as the majority of town was at my sister’s wedding. I passed the antique store, the diner, the library. Every landmark was a painful reminder of a life I’d once been a part of, a life that I no longer wanted, but here I was.
Back.I was back. Not by choice, not really. There’s so much my family doesn’t know about me. About what I’ve been up to.
