Twenty-Nine
Forgiveness
Melanie
Nothing changed.
Marriage didn’t change our lives whatsoever. Our honeymoon didn’t feel like a honeymoon. We didn’t feel like newlyweds.
Because every day was our honeymoon. Every day felt like we were newlyweds. Every day was experienced with the same commitment we’d always shared. My last name was different, and I was a countess, but I’d felt like royalty the moment he’d laid eyes on me.
Raven stood across from me at the kitchen island, where we used to eat together when we both lived in this apartment. We drank our coffee and picked at the muffins she’d bought at the bakery that morning.
It was strange to be there, because I was a different person than when I had first arrived.
Now I didn’t even know that woman anymore.
“How was your honeymoon?” Raven’s voice brought me back to reality.
I held the mug between my fingers, feeling the warmth against my skin. “It was amazing. Greece is…indescribable.”
“What did you guys do?”
“Well…other than the obvious, we went shopping, had lots of lunches and dinners, lay by the pool. We stayed on the island of Santorini, in Opa, and it’s this little village where you can walk everywhere. I thought Paris was beautiful…”
“I’m glad you had a good time.” Raven had dropped her hostility toward Fender, but she wasn’t warm toward him either. There was just calm acceptance, and that was all I wanted.
“How are things with you?”
“Magnus is liking his job at the stables. He trains horses, grooms them, takes care of them. He keeps Rose there.”
“That’s nice.” When Raven told me she’d made Magnus give away his money, I’d thought it was harsh, but I accepted it without question or judgment. We were different people. She saw the world in black-and-white. I saw it in all the colors of the rainbow. “What about you?”
“It’s nice to be back in school. I’m also working at the bar I used to go to.”
“Is it weird…to be living a normal life?”
She looked down into her coffee for a long time as she considered the question, probably reflecting on her life in the camp, everything that had transpired. “It’s weird that it happened so quickly. It feels like…it’s always been this way. I feel like Magnus has always been a part of my life, when I’ve only known him for months. I guess our shared journey changes the measurement of time.”
I understood exactly what she meant. “When do you think he’ll ask you to marry him?” I brought the mug to my lips and took a drink.
A smile moved on to her lips. “He already has.”
“What? Why are you asking me about my honeymoon, then?”
She laughed and held up her left hand, a simple band there.
I’d noticed it earlier, but since it didn’t have diamonds, I’d just assumed it was a ring she’d decided to wear on that finger. It wasn’t anything like mine, but it was perfect for her, perfect for them. “Aww, I’m so happy for you. How did he ask?”
We talked about it for a while, and it was a proposal that was ideal for her. Our coffees were depleted, and we picked at the muffins until nothing was left.
“Where do you want to get married?”
She looked out the window for a long time before she ripped off another piece of muffin and placed it in her mouth. “The chateau.”
We had been deep in the snow, a blizzard blowing around us, and she’d claimed to hear that bell. I couldn’t hear it—but maybe I wasn’t meant to. I gave her a smile. “It’s perfect.”
She nodded, emotion moving into her eyes. “I think so too.”
We sat together in silence for a long time, each of us reflecting on the events that led us here. I came to Paris looking for a trip over Christmas break, but in the end, I would never return to America.
Because it wasn’t my home anymore.
Fender was my home.
Magnus was hers.
All we’d had was each other—but now our family had grown.
“Melanie.” Her voice changed abruptly, dropping a few decibels, turning serious the way it did before she reprimanded me.
I’d thought her dislike of Fender was resolved, but perhaps it wasn’t. Perhaps she wanted to request that he not be at her wedding. I braced for the impact.
“I’m sorry…for the way I’ve treated you.”
My eyes didn’t blink. My body was still. I stared at her because I had no idea what she meant by that.
“You didn’t ask for Mom to die. You didn’t ask me to take care of you. I’ve resented you for the burden, but it was never your fault…and I’m sorry for that.” She dropped her gaze to her coffee, like she couldn’t look at me as she said all this. “I moved to Paris because I was tired of being responsible for you. I was tired of cleaning up your messes. I’m ashamed of that now, because if I’d just taken the time to help you grow into your potential, I would have seen what Fender sees. I would have seen your kindness, your compassion, and your bravery. But I was too busy resenting you to do that.” She lifted her gaze and looked at me, her eyes a bit watery. “I didn’t realize how deeply my resentment affected you…until Fender told me.”