Eve placed her hand on the chair beside her that was empty in memory of Thea. Everyone in attendance tonight knew my story through my thesis on sex trafficking, which had been published in early June by a leading social policy journal.
Looking at the empty chair, I silently delivered a message to her.I wish you were here, Thea. I am so very sorry that it took me a decade to find your parents. They love you. And know I will keep fighting for victims of sex trafficking.
Three months ago, with Brian and Fran’s help, we’d finally located Thea Garrison’s parents after tracing their moves across five states. When I’d sat in Margaret and Tom Garrison’s living room and poured out my heart to them about their amazing daughter and her bravery and kindness in our darkest moments, they’d thanked me for keeping her memory alive.
“Now, I’m nervous,” Duke whispered.
I giggled as a sea of people, too many to name, watched me, some smiling and some crying. Then when Duke and I reached the last table, we both acknowledged our brother Denim, the only one in the family who’d been absent during the Josh ordeal.He felt bad that he hadn’t been there for me. As a bodyguard for the Guardian, he’d been on assignment.
After Duke and I reached the altar, Brian took my hand. “Stunning,” he said in his raspy voice.
Butterflies were going wild inside me as his sandalwood cologne hugged me like a protective blanket. “Thank you, handsome.”
Dillon was officiating, and he nodded at Brian and me. “Ready? I can’t wait any longer. I’m dying to see you two married.”
Brian and I laughed as we held hands.
Dillon cleared his throat, adjusting his blue bow tie. “We gather here not just to celebrate love but to witness the triumph of hope over darkness, of future over past. Our family has been through a lot, and it’s my honor to be standing here today to marry my baby sister and a guy who’s been part of our lives since I can remember. Grace, on behalf of Duke and Denim, we want to say that we are so proud of you. We are the luckiest brothers in the world that we have a sister who is also a fighter, a friend, and a survivor. We love you dearly, and we couldn’t be happier that you’re marrying Brian. You couldn’t have picked a better man.”
I couldn’t stop my tears if I had to. Dillon was so right. Brian was the perfect better half for me. Like me, he’d been through hell in the past but had a bright future. I’d never been more ecstatic than when the police recovered Brian’s folder that contained the photo of his sister, Sarah. Brian had lit up like a kid at Christmas. Sarah’s picture now sat proudly on the fireplace mantel in our condo.
Dillon addressed the crowd. “We are here to witness and celebrate a new chapter for Brian and Grace. And now, it’s time for the bride and groom to exchange their vows.”
Brian brought my hands up to his mouth and kissed them. “Grace, baby girl, I’ve known you since you were twelve. The first time I saw you with vanilla ice cream dribbling down your chin, with those big brown eyes, I knew one day you would stop hearts, as you did mine. And as the years went on, I watched you blossom into a beautiful woman.” His voice was steady as he grinned, his gaze soft and full of love. “Then one day, you captured my heart, held it tightly, and didn’t let go. Of course you didn’t know that right away. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met. You didn’t just survive—you transformed your pain into purpose. You make me a better man. I promise to stand beside you during all your battles, to support your dreams, and to remind you every day how much I love you.”
I couldn’t see through the tears as I sniffled. “I don’t know if I can follow that.” I giggled, staring up at him. “Brian, I never thought I could be with anyone, but you showed me how a man should treat a woman, with gentleness and kindness, as a partner and an equal, with love and devotion. Love isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being perfectly matched. I promise to be your partner in everything, to love you without reservation, and to build a future and family with you. You are the other half of my soul, and I can’t wait to make memories and build the family we both want.”
Brian was blinking rapidly to keep his emotions at bay as love tethered us together.
“By the powers vested in me, it’s official,” Dillon said. “You are now husband and wife.”
Brian didn’t wait for Dillon to say another word. My husband kissed me like a man possessed.
I could barely hear the applause as I got lost in Brian, in us.
I was now Mrs. Grace Hart McCauley, and I couldn’t be happier.
Dillon nudged us. “Save it for your honeymoon.”
Brian and I laughed.
As we turned to face our guests, Ryan Montgomery, Fran’s boyfriend, ran up and handed Brian an envelope.
Perplexed, I watched Brian open the letter.
“Before we kick off the party,” Brian said, “I want to thank my boss Janet Welby at Marsh Technologies for offering up her yacht tonight but to also thank her for what I’m about to do.”
I held my breath. Was Janet giving us the yacht? We weren’t broke. In fact, we’d thought Josh drained Brian’s domestic bank accounts, but he’d never gotten the chance.
Brian blew out a breath. “Grace, you’ve been dreaming of a way to help survivors of trafficking. The Marsh Technologies board has agreed to be the founding donor of the nonprofit corporation for Grace’s Light. This letter serves as the official letter of a fully funded organization that’s ready to start helping people as soon as we return from our honeymoon in Europe.”
My jaw felt like it hit the floor. “What!” I quickly searched for Janet in the crowd.
She rose in her blue-and-black dress. “We’re honored to be part of your dream.”
I couldn’t stop the tears if I tried. I’d dreamed of helping victims of sex trafficking through all those dark nights when hope seemed impossible, when I thought I would die, when I’d wanted to end my own life.
“Thank you,” I said to Janet.
