by T. K. Leigh
Now I look forward to a future. And no matter what it brings, no matter the obstacles we’ll face, this man will be exactly where he has been since he brought me in out of the rain…
By my side.
Supporting me.
Loving me.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Weston
A heaviness weighs on my chest as Londyn drives my Range Rover along the familiar dirt path leading to Gampy and Meemaw’s property, a solemn air in the car. Even Zeus picks up on it. While he’d normally perk up, tail wagging at the prospect of chasing birds and squirrels all weekend, he sits stoically in the back seat, eyes trained forward.
As we round the bend and the remains of the house come into view, I push down the lump building in my throat. I thought there’d still be something standing. But there isn’t, the frame collapsed from the extensive damage caused by the fire. The only thing still intact is the fireplace in the living room.
My father offered to have everything cleaned up before I was released from the hospital yesterday after a three-week stay. I told him no, insisted I wanted to be part of the process. Wanted to come out here before anything was removed to see it all for myself.
Londyn parks and glances at me. “Are you sure about this?”
I grab her hand, bringing it to my lips. “I am. This is important to me. To us.”
“Okay.” She pulls her hand from mine, then kills the ignition, jumping out of the car and running around to my side to help me.
While I’ve regained most of my strength and motion in my injured leg, it’s still stiff. At least I can finally walk again, albeit with a slight limp. But my physical therapist assured me, with time and exercise, that will disappear.
I link my fingers with Londyn’s as we walk along the property, Zeus following dutifully behind us. I had spent the past few days mentally preparing myself for this, but I don’t think I truly anticipated the myriad of feelings filling me over the destruction.
All I can do is find comfort in the fact that the man responsible is now behind bars and will finally pay for all his crimes. Not just for the arson, but for everything he did to Londyn, Julia, and the dozens of other women who came forward once news of his arrest broke. With all the charges filed against Nick, he’ll spend the rest of his life in prison. Regardless of all the evidence and testimony against him, though, he’s maintained his innocence, claiming he was completely justified in his actions.
I doubt he’ll ever be able to admit he was wrong.
I doubt he’ll ever be able to see he was wrong.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Londyn asks after we’ve finished our brief survey of the charred remains. “It’ll be a lot of work.”
“When has that ever stopped me before?” I counter.
She smiles shyly. “Never.”
“Exactly. So I’m not going to let it stop me now. This is important to me. Thanks to you…” I playfully nudge her.
“Me?”
I fully face her, taking her hands in mine. “Yes, you. You taught me the importance of rebuilding after tragedy. That’s what you did all those years ago. It would have been so easy for you to give up, crawl under the rubble, let the world forget about you. But you didn’t. You rebuilt who you were brick by brick. It wasn’t easy. And I’m sure there were more than a few days you wanted to give up.”
She laughs under her breath. “You’ve got that right.”
“But through it all, you persevered.” I hook my arm around her waist, drawing her body into mine. “So that’s what we’re going to do here. We’re going to rebuild. Together.” I press my lips to hers, sealing my vow with a kiss.
There was a time I worried each kiss might be our last. But now I can relish in the fact that we’ll have a lifetime of kisses. No more Nick looming in the shadows. No more threat of going to prison for a crime she was justified in committing. Just years and years of loving each other.
When our kiss comes to an end, I drop my hold on her, placing my hand on the small of her back as I lead her toward the remains of the master bedroom. The only reason I can tell is because of the iron bed frame, the mattress barely anything more than a tattered shell. I try not to consider that, had Zeus not alerted Londyn, my ashes could have been in that pile, too.
I look down, Zeus staring back at me, as if thinking the same thing. I scratch his head between his ears, his tail wagging. “Good boy. I promise to make you a steak to reward you.”
“Already done,” Londyn remarks.
I shift my eyes toward hers, a single brow arched in question.
“What?” She shrugs. “I’ve fed him steak at least twice since you were in the hospital. Figured he deserved it.”
“He certainly does.”
I look over the debris, grateful to have survived this with minimal damage to my body. When something underneath the charred frame of the mattress catches my attention, I squint.
Cautiously stepping on a few of the blackened wood planks, I limp toward it.
“What are you doing?” Londyn asks worriedly, following me.
“I’m fine.”
“Just be careful. Don’t want you ripping something and needing to go back to the hospital. I’ve had my fair share of hospitals lately.”
“You and me both.” I roll my eyes before bending down, wincing slightly.
“What is it?” Londyn presses, noticing my attention drawn to something.
I stare, almost in disbelief. Once I regained consciousness and learned about the fire, I didn’t care about what was lost, only that Londyn was safe and I was alive. But there was one thing I wished I hadn’t lost. I didn’t think it would turn up. Assumed it would simply become a casualty of the fire.
I should have known otherwise. After all, there’s a reason diamonds have become the symbol of love. They’re impenetrable. Nearly indestructible. And when I flip open the black box that’s covered with ash and soot, I confirm that to be true. The rest of the house may have perished. But this ring survived.
Our love survived.
Twisting toward her, I place my injured foot on the rubble, putting my weight on my opposite knee.
“Wes, what are—”
I reach for Londyn’s hand, tugging her toward me.
“I promised when this was all over, the first thing I would do is propose.”
“I know, but—”
“And it’s over. The DA dropped all charges against you over a week ago.”
“True, but I don’t see how it’s really over.” She glances around. “Not with all of this.”
“But if it’s not this, it will be something else. That’s how it seems to go with us.”
“I can’t argue with that,” she retorts with a laugh.
“Exactly. And if the last few months have taught me anything, it’s that there may never be a perfect time for us. There may always be some obstacle we’ll have to overcome. But we will overcome them. Together.”
She swallows hard, a lone tear trickling down her cheek as she subtly nods, giving me permission to continue.
I briefly look into the distance, collecting my thoughts before returning my gaze to her.
“A few months ago, I had this whole speech prepared. Planned to bring you to the intersection where we first met, get down on one knee, and ask you to spend the rest of your life with me. At the time, I didn’t think there was a more appropriate place to propose.” I glance around me. “I was wrong. To most people, this may not be the ideal location. But we’re not most people. Never have been.”
She swipes at her tears, shaking her head. “You’re right about that.”
“So, in the rubble of our former lives, I want to make you a promise, Londyn Jade Bennett. I promise to love you so fiercely that you’ll have no choice but to be consumed by it every second of every day. I promise to listen whenever you need to talk. I promise to support every single one of your dreams, no matter how big or small.”
I bring my free hand to her stomach, marveling
at the idea of a life we created growing within. “And I promise to love this child, and any other children we’re blessed enough to have. To raise him or her to be the best person. To teach him or her about respect, acceptance…love. And that’s the truth about us, Londyn. We are a love story. At least you’re mine. You’re my beginning. My ending. My everything in between. And the only woman I want by my side.
“I thought I knew what love was. Thought I’d already experienced it, so I didn’t think I’d ever find it again. But I was wrong. What I thought was love…” I shake my head. “It didn’t even come close. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is love.” I gesture between our two bodies. “We are love. And I want nothing more than to surround you with this love for the rest of our lives. And even after.”
Carefully removing the ring from the box, I bring it up to her finger. “So please, Londyn Jade Bennett, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
“How could I even think to say no to that?” she chokes out as she clutches my face in her hands.
Tears falling steadily down her cheeks, she pulls my lips toward hers, forcing me to my feet. I slide the ring onto her finger, then succumb to her kiss, blocking out everything. Nothing else matters right now. Not our past. Not our trials. Not our struggles. All that matters is this moment. It didn’t come easy. But like Gampy said… “Sometimes the right path isn’t always the easiest.” But when you’re on that right path, it’s pure magic. And Londyn is magic.
When the sound of tires crunching against dirt cuts through, I pull out of the kiss, looking toward the driveway as a car parks behind mine, Imogene jumping out.
I shoot Londyn a confused look as we carefully walk toward her.
“Uncle Wes!” she exclaims, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug.
“Hiya, peanut. What are you doing here?”
“Mama and Pappy said we’re here to help you.”
“Help me?” I snap my head up as Julia and my father walk up behind Imogene.
Despite everything that’s happened, Imogene’s bounced back better than any of us thought she would. After years of keeping Nick’s true personality from everyone, Julia insisted on being honest with her daughter. About everything. Even the things no six-year-old girl should have to learn about her father. While Imogene was upset at first, she’s starting to understand why she can no longer see her daddy. The therapist our father recommended has helped immeasurably in that regard, as well.
It’s also helped that Julia has agreed they’d stay in Atlanta, taking up residence in my house. I don’t mind. I’ve been in the hospital anyway. Even if I hadn’t been, I’m thrilled to have them back in my home.
“Can’t let you do all this on your own.” Dad pulls me in for a brief hug. “Truthfully, I’m looking forward to getting my hands dirty. I think it’ll be good for my soul. Help me remember where I come from.”
I nod, giving him a smile. “Thanks, Dad.”
“You bet, son.” There’s a twinkle in his eye I haven’t seen in years.
While my mother certainly made a stink once the attorneys officially served her with divorce papers, my dad took it all in stride, letting it all roll off him. As he said repeatedly over the past few weeks, he’s too old to care what people think or say about him. I’m glad he finally realized this.
After news of Nick’s arrest made headlines, my mother tried to save face for taking his side. But as my father told me back in January, her Danish Gambit would either end in a quick victory or utter failure. And this certainly ended in utter failure. While the police never found any wrongdoing on her part, she may as well be sitting in prison for all she’s concerned, all her society friends effectively cutting ties with her.
Now she’s just a lonely, pathetic woman with nothing but her hate to keep her company.
At the sound of more tires on dirt, I look away to see several more cars making their way along the drive, more and more people stepping out. Londyn’s dad. Miss Clara. Hazel and Diego. Even a few volunteers from the charity house-building program I founded a few years back. All of them here to help us pick up the pieces of our life.
As I stand back with an arm around Londyn, watching the several dozen people who volunteered their time to lend a hand, I feel like things have finally clicked into place.
Sure, our future may not always be sunshine and rainbows. We may face many more obstacles, especially as parents. But there’s one certainty in my life.
No matter what the world tries to throw at us, Londyn and I will get through it. Together.
Me for her.
Her for me.
For the rest of our lives.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Londyn
“Nervous?” Hazel asks as she makes a few final adjustments to the back of my gown.
I look at my reflection in the mirror, smoothing a hand down my torso.
My body has a few more curves since the last time I wore a wedding dress. Then again, I’d be hard-pressed to call that simple white dress I found at a thrift store a wedding dress.
For that reason, I decided this time around, I’d finally have the dress of my dreams. An off-the-shoulder, form-fitting, sheath bridal gown with a lace appliqué overlay that accentuates all my curves, especially the new ones I’ve grown over the past year-and-a-half from not only my pregnancy, but also nursing little Elijah James. Who, at nine months old, isn’t all that little anymore.
“Not a bit.” I turn around, meeting her eyes. “Should I be?”
She runs her hands down my arms. “If it’s right, you won’t be.”
“And this is right. Without a doubt.”
She pulls me in for a hug. “I’m happy for you. You deserve this.”
“Thanks, Haze.”
“Oh, Auntie Londyn!” a small voice squeals. “You look so pretty.”
I pull away from Hazel as Imogene walks into the master bedroom of Gampy and Meemaw’s old house, Julia behind her carrying Elijah.
It doesn’t matter that we spent the past eighteen months rebuilding this house from the foundation, only able to salvage a few original pieces. This will always be Gampy and Meemaw’s house.
“You look beautiful, too, sweetie,” I say, taking in her simple ivory lace dress with a silk belt that matches the violet hue of both Hazel’s and Julia’s tea-length dresses. “Have you been taking good care of Elijah?”
“Of course!” She scrunches up her nose. “But I think he went poo.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course he did.” I reach to take him from Julia, but she waves me off.
“I’ll take care of it. I just wanted to come and see if you need anything before I head out there. Best person duties, and all that.” She winks.
“We’re ready,” I tell her with a confident smile.
A gentle knocking on the open door interrupts, followed by my father peeking his head inside. “How are we doing in here?”
Julia steps back, allowing him to enter. The instant Elijah sees him, he reaches for him.
“There’s my adorable grandson.” With a gleam in his eyes, he takes him from Julia and bounces him in his arms, showering him with kisses. “Are you ready to be the cutest ring bearer we’ve ever seen this side of the Mason-Dixon?”
Elijah coos, his tiny hands reaching for my dad’s face, squeezing his nose.
“We just need to keep him from putting them into his mouth,” I laugh, only half-joking.
“That’s my job,” Imogene says proudly.
“Yes, it is.” My dad smiles at Imogene, then clears his throat. “If y’all are ready, I’d like a minute alone with my daughter.” He glances at Hazel, then Julia.
“Of course,” Hazel says. “We’ll head downstairs.”
“Thank you.” He kisses her cheek before handing Elijah to her.
Once we’re alone, he turns toward me, unshed tears glistening in his eyes. It’s a different look than the one he gave me when he came to talk to me before my sham of a wedding to Sawyer. But I no longer hold
any grudges against my father for the role he played in that. After all, everything that’s happened in my life has led me to this moment.
And it doesn’t hurt that Sawyer was finally exposed for the fraud he truly is.
After Nick’s arrest, things took a turn for Sawyer. The board of his church voted to remove him for not being transparent with them regarding the true nature of our relationship, as well as the lies he spewed on national TV, a fact they corroborated when the contents of Nick’s journals were made public. From there, things only got worse, especially once the church board did some digging into their finances and learned that Sawyer had been embezzling donations. And not just small amounts. When all was said and done, they discovered he’d stolen over eight figures from the church’s coffers.
Despite his threats that I’d be spending the next few decades of my life behind bars if I didn’t accept his offer, he’s now the one behind bars, serving a fifteen-year sentence.
“You look just like your mama did on our wedding day,” Dad says, his voice wavering.
I smile, reaching for his hand and squeezing. “I wish she could be here.”
“She is, baby girl.” He looks up at the ceiling. “She’s always been here, looking out for you. Even when I didn’t.” He meets my gaze for a moment, then steps back, clearing his throat. “I got you a little something.” He reaches into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and hands me a small, velvet box.
“What is it?” I ask as I pop open the lid, my gaze settling on a small opal ring.
“It was your mother’s. We never had a lot of money, and I couldn’t afford a diamond when I proposed. But she deserved something, so I got her this ring. And even when I had the money for a proper diamond ring, she refused, said this held more meaning.” He looks down at the simple piece of jewelry, nostalgia flickering in his eyes as he removes it from the box. “She’d be happy to know you wore it on your own wedding day.”