The Perfect Gift

Six months later

Molly

I stood at the trees, waiting for my cue. The lilies were in my hand and I was beyond emotional as I glanced back at Noel. She looked beautiful in her white wedding dress with the sweetheart neckline and long, flowing train.

It was her wedding day and despite the planning nearly killing me, I was happy to see it happening before my eyes. It was a hard time for me but I wasn’t selfish. I told Noel to go ahead with her plans and that I was there for her.

I heard the violin and I blew her a kiss before I walked out, turning left to walk towards Nate as he waited for his bride. It was March in Idaho and gorgeous today. There was a light breeze and I felt the curls blow around my head as I made my way down the aisle.

I saw Marta sitting in the front with my parents, sniffling as she clutched a tissue. She wasn’t the only one and I moved my eyes forward to look at the men standing beside Nate, nervously shifting on their feet.

Robert stared at me, his eyes intent on my face. He looked gorgeous in a black suit with a white shirt, blue tie blowing in the breeze. It matched my dress and I smiled at him, taking my place to the left of the minister as I looked down the aisle.

The last few months had been so intense. I’d gotten the call that Robert was in an accident on a night like any other. He’d been hit by a drunk driver and his entire car was smashed up with his broken body inside of it. Keith and Marta took me to the hospital in the next town over right away and waited for news. Noel came with Nate and Michael even showed up to wait.

Robert was my life but I’d held that inside. He was my everything but I was moving along like we had forever and now life proved to me that we didn’t.

Marta sat down beside me and took my hand as we stared forward. I couldn’t talk with my thoughts jumbled together the way they were. I couldn’t make sense of the regret and the pain that was eating me up inside. I couldn’t stand the fear that held me back from committing myself to him completely.

I thought that I wouldn’t have the chance at all.

“I love him,” I'd told her as she looked at me.

“He knows that,” Marta assured me as I gazed at her.

“I haven’t told him enough, Marta. I’ve held back.” I felt tears slide down my cheeks as I dropped my head forward. I’d dressed up for dinner, planning to tell him how much I cared for him. I’d given my body to him so willingly but held my heart back and tonight, I was done with that.

Life might be done with us.

Robert had some broken bones but I sobbed when I found out that he was going to be fine. His family was flying out and got to see him first after a rushed meeting with me. It wasn’t what I would’ve chosen but I knew that we could make up for it later. When I finally walked into the room, I dropped beside the bed and took his hand gently. “Molly,” Robert gasped as he looked at me with tired eyes.

“I thought that I lost you,” I had told him as I started to cry again.

“I’m here. They told me I’m going to be okay. Don’t cry,” he said as I shook my head.

“No, I want to cry. Damn it, Rob. I love you. I am in love with you and I never told you. That was the plan tonight and…” I closed my eyes. “Is it too late?” All the emotions rushed through me and I squeezed his hand as I looked at him.

Robert chuckled and shook his head before he winced. “No. I have a confession to make as well.” I looked at him. “I asked you to dinner tonight to make things official. I want you to move in with me for now and I had plans for later. I had a key in a box but it’s in the car somewhere.”

“You were going to give me a key?” I asked as he smiled.

“Yeah, I was. I will as soon as I can if you say yes.” He stared into my eyes as I leaned forward to press as kiss to his lips.

“Yes.” His face was bruised and he looked awful, but he was mine, all mine.

I came back to the present as Noel walked down the aisle on Keith’s arm. She looked like an angel and I wiped the tear from my eye, trying to save the professional makeup job I’d sat through earlier. This day was so perfect and I smiled down at the grass as I took a deep breath. Nate took her arm after he shook Keith’s hand, standing before the minister as they said their written vows. It was a short ceremony but sweet and heartfelt and I think every woman was dabbing their eyes at the end.

The minister announced them and Nate held up her arm as he led her down the aisle to the cheers of the crowd. They kept the kiss innocent but I knew that they were around the corner making out like high school students. I was with Noel when she bought the best kiss proof lipstick that money could buy. I smiled as Robert held out his hand, taking it as we walked past the crowd.

Living together was amazing. I loved the idea that I didn’t have to leave apart from working; that we could make dinner every night and mess the sheets up before we fell asleep. We still had dinner with Keith and Marta a lot and even went to Nate and Noel’s as often as we could. I still worked with her but since we were best friends, I couldn’t get enough time with her. I loved her and Nate together now that they’d worked through the harder parts.

Rob got along with everyone and he and Keith were getting to be good friends. They got together for games at the house and even at the corner bar sometimes when Marta and I were doing girl things. Nate joined them when we brought Noel along and it was like an extended family. I loved it. My parents came out more and more and Dad started talking about moving to Mountain Home next year. They might be here by the holidays.

One year later

I came home from the bakery on a Friday with a bag full of muffins for the weekend. Rob still loved them though he liked all the flavors now. I knew that he was planning on cooking something for dinner since it was so beautiful outside and I looked forward to relaxing. I pulled into the garage and parked, shutting off the engine of my car with a smile. It ran great and I loved getting around on my own. I slipped out of the driver’s seat and headed into the house through the breezeway, calling out Rob’s name.

The house was only lit with a few lights and I looked around for him. The patio was even darker, lit with candles placed around the table. “What?” I asked as I se