Beautifully Destroyed (Beautifully Broken)

My heart stutters in my chest, and I hear Dad letting out a soft groan as Mom starts to walk down the aisle. She looks so beautiful in a white silk dress, her feet bare and wildflowers weaved in her hair.

“Christ,” Dad whispers, then he wipes a tear off his cheek.

Oh fuck.

Breathe.

“That’s it,” Eli mutters. “I give up.”

“Fucker,” I hiss as the damn tears start to fall.

Knowing what our parents went through and how hard they had to fight for the life they’ve given us, I’m past the point of caring what people will think about me crying.

Mom stops in front of Dad, and the way she looks up at him, makes me breathe faster, or I’ll fucking sob like a baby.

“Sam,” she whispers, so none of the guests can hear, the love she feels for Dad on every inch of her face.

Dad sucks in a deep breath. “Cara.”

Fuck that. There’s no stopping the flood of tears, hearing them whisper their real names to each other. They had to get new identities before settling in Southport to keep Mom safe.

As they turn to face us, Eli’s doing his best to control his emotions.

“Thank you for sharing this amazing day with us,” he opens. “We’re here to celebrate a love that’s stood the test of time. It was forged during dark times, and it blossomed during the good.”

I clear my throat. “We’ve had the perfect example of what it means to love, but above all, what it means to live.” My eyes lock with Dad’s, then Mom’s. “Can you face each other?”

Dad turns to look at Mom.

Eli takes a deep breath, then says, “Dad, do you take Mom, to live the rest of your life for her, the way you’ve lived for her the past thirty years?”

“Hell yes,” Dad says, a smile spreading over his face.

“Mom,” I say, grinning at her, “do you take Dad, to live the rest of your life for him, the way you’ve lived for him the past thirty years?”

“Yes.” She throws her arms around Dad’s neck. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”

A wave of applause breaks out, the guests cheering as Dad kisses the living hell out of Mom.

My eyes find Finlay’s where she’s sitting next to David, and figuring my job is done, I make a beeline straight for her.

She climbs to her feet just in time for me to pull her against my chest. With my eyes on my parents, I pray to all that’s holy, Finlay and I will be just as happy.

Epilogue 2

FINLAY

Another two years later…

Having returned from our honeymoon four days ago, Ethan and I lie on the bed, drained from all the vomiting.

“How did we get food poisoning,” he groans, his hand rubbing circles on my upset stomach like he’s been doing for the past two months. I’m loving it today because it feels like my stomach’s settling.

“I have no idea.”

We spent our honeymoon sailing along the coast to Miami and back. Everything we ate was fresh.

“Oh God,” he groans, darting up and running for the bathroom.

“Crap!” I’m up and darting down the hallway. Every time Ethan vomits, I follow.

We’re almost dead by the time it stops, and we’re able to eat some of the soup Dad, Ethan’s, not mine, just brought us.

Dad’s watching us with a wide grin.

“Why do you look so happy?” I ask.

He sets a box down on the table. I didn’t even notice it in his hand. My eyebrows dart up. “Who’s pregnant?”

Dad grins at me. “You.”

“Huh?”

“I think you both have morning sickness.”

Ethan grabs the test, and pulling me out of the chair, he tugs me toward the toilet. “Pee on the stick. Quick.” The excitement on his face has my heartbeat speeding up.

I’m pushed inside, the box shoved in my hands, then the door’s pulled shut.

Shrugging, I figure peeing on a stick can’t do any harm. I follow the steps, and when I open the door, it’s to Ethan’s grinning face. “And?”

I hold the stick out to him, suddenly too nervous to look. It’s not like we’ve been trying, but now that the seed’s been planted, I want it to be positive.

Ethan stares at the stick. He blinks. His mouth opens, then closes.

I can’t stand it any longer and look at the little window. “Pregnant,” I breathe, tears shooting to my eyes. “Oh my God, we’re having a baby!”

Ethan sweeps me up in his arms, spinning us in a circle, his arms so tight around me, he’s squeezing the air from my lungs.

“Congratulations,” Dad says, reminding us he’s here.

“How did you know?” I ask as Ethan sets me down on my feet.

“Eli also had morning sickness with Quinn.”

I start to laugh then point a finger at Ethan. “You’re suffering with me.”

He doesn’t look upset as he pulls me to his side. “Baby, I’d happily suffer with you.”

“We have to tell my dad,” I say, excited to share the good news with him. We all pile out of the house, and not able to wait for a second longer, I jog to Dad’s place. “Daddy,” I call out as I dart up the stairs.