Chapter 9 - The Wedding Rose Almost Missed
Our wedding was scheduled for June.
Rose insisted on planning half of it.
She wanted wildflowers.
Adrian wanted a formal event.
Rose won.
She always did.
The wedding took place in a small garden outside the city.
There were no celebrities.
No politicians.
No giant security perimeter.
Just family.
Friends.
People who had stayed.
My mother walked me down the aisle.
Claire stood beside Rose.
Adrian waited beneath the arch.
When he saw me, his eyes filled.
I smiled.
He whispered:
“You're beautiful.”
I whispered back:
“So are you.”
He laughed.
Rose cried.
The ceremony was perfect.
Until an hour before the vows.
Rose collapsed.
Everything stopped.
We called an ambulance.
Adrian refused to leave her.
The doctor said her heart was weak.
She needed immediate treatment.
The wedding could wait.
So it did.
Adrian sat beside his mother in the hospital.
I sat on the other side.
Rose woke hours later.
“Did you get married?”
Adrian laughed.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“We're waiting for you.”
She shook her head.
“Don't you dare.”
I laughed through tears.
“You just scared everyone.”
“Good.”
Her eyes softened.
“Emma.”
“Yes?”
“Go marry my son.”
I smiled.
“Only if you're there.”
Rose looked at Adrian.
“You hear that?”
“Yes.”
“Make it happen.”
The wedding took place the next month.
Rose walked.
Slowly.
With a cane.
But she walked.
Halfway down the aisle, she stopped.
Everyone panicked.
Then she smiled.
“I just wanted to see if the room was paying attention.”
The entire garden laughed.
Adrian shook his head.
“That's my mother.”
She reached us.
“You took good care of my son.”
I smiled.
“He took good care of me.”
Rose looked at Adrian.
“You finally chose wisely.”
He laughed.
“I've been trying.”
The ceremony began.
When it ended, Rose hugged me.
“You're my daughter now.”
I cried.
“You already treated me like one.”
She kissed my cheek.
“Then stop arguing.”
At the reception, Adrian gave a toast.
“To my mother.”
Everyone raised their glasses.
“To Claire.”
Applause.
“To Emma.”
I looked at him.
Then he said:
“And to everyone who taught us that kindness doesn't care what table you're sitting at.”
I cried.
The music began.
Rose danced with Adrian.
Claire danced with my mother.
And I watched the people I loved celebrate.
There was no humiliation.
No fear.
No hidden agenda.
Only joy.
For a little while, everything was perfect.
May you like
Until Adrian received a message.
Thomas had escaped custody.
