Chapter 11 - A Second Chance
We married six months later.
Not in a ballroom.
Not in front of investors.
Not for the press.
In our backyard.
Three little boys walked down the aisle throwing flower petals.
Ethan carried the rings.
I stood beneath an oak tree.
Maren walked toward me.
She wore ivory.
No diamonds.
No designer name.
Just a simple dress.
When she reached me, she smiled.
“Still sure?”
“Yes.”
“You'd better be.”
The minister laughed.
The boys clapped.
I took her hands.
“I once thought losing you was the end of my life.”
She looked at me.
“I was wrong.”
“I was the one who was wrong.”
“I know.”
Everyone laughed.
I continued.
“I don't promise perfection.”
“Good.”
“I promise honesty.”
She nodded.
“I promise that when I'm afraid, I'll tell you.”
Another nod.
“When I'm wrong, I'll admit it.”
She smiled.
“And when life gets hard, I will stay.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“That one I believe.”
We exchanged rings.
Then we kissed.
Our sons cheered.
The applause around us didn't matter.
May you like
For once, our love wasn't a performance.
It was ours.
