Chapter 40: Chapter 40

WREN

In the weeks following Logan’s death, my anxiety and depression took a physical toll on me.

Luckily, immediately after it happened, Lance contacted a therapist and started driving me to weekly appointments.

Through the worst of it, I was so thankful to have professional help in addition to Lance’s support.

Emma was questioned by police at some point, but as McReedy predicted, she was not charged.

My thoughts are frequently consumed by questions of whether she will pursue her campaign to force me out of the picture or accept our relationship and move on. My gut tells me it’ll be the former.

A few weeks later, we board a plane and fly back east to visit my family.

My mom is so thrilled to see me that she literally cries in my arms. I didn’t realize how much my absence was affecting her. I make a promise to visit her more regularly.

She adores Lance. Similar to the other men in our lives—my dad, Max, my brother-in-law—she mentions how kind Lance is, how much he pays attention to the feelings of others.

I find this amusing considering how abrasive our relationship was in the beginning. Of course, I know now what was hiding behind his hard exterior.

One afternoon before we head back to Montana, I decide to go visit Max’s grave. Lance asks if I want him to come, but I suggest he wait in the car.

I sit cross-legged, facing the black marble headstone that marks Max’s grave. I’ve only been here once since he passed. I always assumed it would be too painful, but it’s actually quite peaceful.

“Hi, Max, it’s, uh…it’s me,” I say quietly. “I’m sorry I haven’t visited. I’ve been trying to keep busy. I thought that would distract me. That was stupid.”

I take a shaky breath. “I think about you all the time,” I say as my voice cracks. “The last several months have been so much harder than I thought they would be. But I’m finally starting to feel better.

“The funny thing is, when I start to feel better, I feel guilty. Then I remind myself that you would scold me for that. You told me many times to find my new normal, my new happy.”

I chew my lip as I look over at the car we rented, sitting in the parking lot with Lance behind the wheel.

“I think I finally found my new happy,” I say as tears stream down my cheeks. “And I think you’d approve of him. But I wanted to come tell you myself. I wanted you to hear it from me.”

I reach into my pocket and pull our rings out. Two simple silver wedding bands. I haven’t worn them since the night Tad broke the necklace in the bar.

“I love you so much, Max. You will always be my first love.”

I sink my nails into the earth and scoop up a chunk of wet, green grass. I place the rings in the wet dirt and replace the patch of grass.

Then I kiss my other hand and touch the words “beloved husband” on the gravestone. Finally, I get up and slowly walk back toward the car.

Back in the car, Lance doesn’t say anything to me. He just squeezes my thigh before starting the car and driving back to my mom’s house.

After my mom goes to bed, Lance and I are sitting side by side on her patio, watching the fireflies float over the field while a chorus of frogs serenades us from a nearby pond.

My hand rests in Lance’s, his thumb gently stroking my skin. For the first time in weeks, maybe months, I feel content. I feel at peace.

I get up and straddle Lance, cupping his face with my hands. He slides his hands around my back. I kiss him deeply, and he parts my lips with his tongue. He tastes like bourbon and honey.

I pull back.

“I love you,” I say. “And thank you.”

Lance tilts his head as his eyes roam my face.

“For what?”

“Saving me,” I say.

“You saved me too, remember?”

“I don’t mean on that day. I mean in life. I was drowning, I was barely existing. You woke me up. You showed me I could love again. I’ll be forever grateful.”

Lance smiles that gorgeous smile.

“I didn’t mean that day either, Wren. A few days after we met, I knew you were there for a reason.”

I lean against Lance’s chest. He puts his chin on my head and wraps his arms around me.

“I’m looking forward to going home,” I say.

“Me too, love. Me too.”

***

Four months later, things have calmed down significantly. For the first time in our relationship, Lance and I are actually able to focus on being together instead of what’s going on around us.

I thought it would be hard to be in such a new relationship while living and working together, but it comes so easy to us.

Of course, we have our rough moments, but we find it easy to talk things through with one another.

On New Year’s Eve, Lance and I get ready to attend his parents’ New Year’s celebration in the main house.

“What should I wear? Like, is this a fancy event?”

Lance comes out of his closet in a simple suit: gray slacks, a white button-up shirt, and a matching coat.

“This is what I’m wearing. Does that help?”

“Ha, so yes, it is a fancy event. Got it,” I say.

I pull out a silver, sparkly dress with long sleeves and a low-cut back that my sister sent me a few months ago with a few others that she was getting rid of.

It’s simple yet pretty, and it fits me surprisingly well.

I twist my wavy hair up into a French twist and add some light makeup.

I come out and do a twirl.

“Will this do?” I laugh.

Lance turns around, and his mouth falls open. “You look amazing—exactly like I pictured you would.”

I raise my eyebrow at him.

“Er, okay, you ready?”

He looks me up and down again.

“Yes, definitely.”

I scratch Puck’s head. “Why don’t you stay here tonight, pal. We’ll bring you some leftovers.”

As we walk into the house, I hear several voices in the great room toward the back of the house. As we round the corner, I’m completely floored by what I see.

The furniture has been removed and replaced by about twenty white chairs pointed at the large stone fireplace with a fire glowing inside it.

Candles and white flowers fill every nook and crevice in the room, including the chandeliers hanging from the wooden, vaulted ceiling. A long farm table on the far side is set and ready for a feast of sorts.

White rose petals highlight a path between the chairs up to the fireplace.

Suddenly, I see my mom, sister, brother-in-law, and nephews alongside Lance’s entire family. They’re all beaming in our direction.

I turn to Lance. “You did this?”

Lance turns to me and takes my hands. He has a big smile on his face, and he suddenly looks very nervous.

“I knew you’d want them to see you get married.”

At this, Lance pulls out a small box. Inside is an antique silver wedding band with beautiful filigree detail. It’s absolutely perfect.

“Lance, I—I don’t know what to say!” I’m overcome with emotion as I look around at the happy faces of our families.

“Is that a yes?”

I nod vigorously, too emotional to say the words.

Within minutes, people are bustling around the room and getting things ready for our intimate, surprise wedding. My sister hands me a bouquet of baby’s breath and straightens my dress.

“I guess I am lucky you sent me this dress, huh?” I say.

Penelope smiles mischievously.

I gasp. “You picked this for the wedding, didn’t you?!”

She shakes her head. “Nope, Lance did.”

My insides overflow with affection for that man.

Greg, one of the Teller’s employees, is sitting on a stool in the corner and starts plucking his guitar. Everyone sits as Lance and Grant take their place in front of the fireplace.

Jeremy comes running in with Puck, and they sit near the front by Meredith. I laugh at seeing how happy Puck is to be here.

Suddenly, Leonard, Lance’s dad, approaches me.

“May I stand in for your dad, Wren?” he asks, offering his arm.

I nod, trying to blink the tears away.

Penelope gives me a hug. “See you up there,” she says.

As Leonard walks me down the aisle, my heart soars at the sight. Everyone is beaming as they watch me, and all I can do is stare at Lance, who is grinning from ear to ear.

Grant is our officiant, and our ceremony is short and sweet.

Lance makes everyone laugh and cheer with his vows, while mine are a little more random since I didn’t get to prepare—but I speak from the heart. By the end, there isn’t a dry eye in the room.

We spend the rest of the night dining, dancing, and having a wonderful time with our families. It’s the best day I’ve had in a long time, maybe ever.

As the evening winds down and we get ready for the countdown to midnight, I look at Lance.

“I can’t believe you planned all of this,” I say.

“Well, I was going to propose tonight, but then I realized I didn’t want to wait any longer to be married to you. I want to build a home and a life with you, and I am ready to start now,” Lance says.

“Wow, you don’t waste any time,” I say.

Lance looks at me intently. “I used to, I used to wait and weigh all the options. I would constantly analyze whether I was making the right decision,” he says.

“Then I met you and knew you were the one I was waiting for.”

I smile and blush as everyone counts down to midnight.

“6...5…4…”

“Happy new year, sir,” I say with a wink.

“3...2...1!”

“Happy new year, wife.”

Lance dips me, and we kiss while everyone cheers.

~The End~