Page 120 of Cruel Steps

Stepping into the kitchen, my eyes met Holden’s, and I forgot to breathe for a second. He scanned me from head to toe and then checked on his sister.

Wait. He’d looked at me first. Then Hope.

Did it mean anything?

Possibly everything.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-SEVEN

EMERSON

Rose wore a blush dress with simple heels. Her hair was pulled back in a twist, and her makeup was subtle. She looked radiant, and my dad couldn’t take his eyes off her as she walked toward us. He was in a simple gray suit he’d worn before, but he looked dashing all the same.

Shifting my focus to Holden, now I was the one who couldn’t take their eyes off someone. His suit was a dark gray, and it fit him to perfection. My heart tripped over itself as I stared, electricity sizzling to life.

The officiant cleared their throat, and I broke my gaze with Holden to turn to the front. Hope and I wore navy dresses. Hope’s hit mid thigh so it covered part of her cast, and mine was knee-length. The top had a layer of lace, a deep-v, and capped sleeves. They weren’t designer, and I loved that about them.

The four of us stood around the arch Rose had found while Hope was perched in a chair. They’d chosen a winery near the cabin to hold the ceremony. The vineyards were to one side of us and a soft flowing creek on the other. The mums covered the ground and arch, giving the small gathering an ethereal quality. There was nothing outlandish about the ceremony—just two people who loved one another tying their lives together forever.

It was breathtaking.

The officiant talked about love and the joining of two people. Which, ew. Read the room, dude. None of us wanted to picture our parents ‘joining’ together. Once the officiant stopped grossing me out, he motioned for my father to say his vows.

“Rose, my lovely bride, I am so captivated by you. How I got so lucky to meet you, I’ll never know. I thought I wouldn’t get to experience love again. To find it a second time, and in the most unexpected way, is a blessing. The day I bumped into you, I felt I could breathe again. I didn’t realize how lost I’d been since Katie died. But you resuscitated my heart and showed me how to love again. You accept me for who I am, flaws and all. Some people might think we’re making a mistake, that we barely know each other, but my heart knew you the moment we met, and I didn’t want to waste any more time without you in my arms.”

I wiped a tear, my father’s words registering in me. I hadn’t been thrilled about his news of getting married, but I knew it had been the right choice for him. He had come back to life in the few months they’d been together. I hadn’t even realized how much of my father had died with my mom until I got him back. For that alone, I would always be thankful for Rose and my dad falling in love.

As Rose began to share her vows, I could not look away from Holden. He held my gaze and the electrical current I’d felt the first time we’d met roared back to life between us.

“My darling, Milton. I would marry you a million times and still think it wasn’t enough. You came into my life with your kind smile and gentle heart, and I instantly knew you were the man I’d been dreaming of. My love life hasn’t been glamorous or as loving as yours was. I made mistakes and chose the wrong people, but I never quit dreaming or believing the right man was out there for me. Meeting you was a gift to my battered heart. I might have resuscitated yours, but you healed mine. You’ve shown me I can believe in love, and I know our life together will be everything.”

Another tear fell, and I wiped it away, but I held Holden’s aquamarine eyes. It might have been our parents saying the words, but it felt like they were also ours—whispered confessions between two hearts.

It was scary, and there was no guarantee we wouldn’t hurt one another again, but I was ready to try. Staying in this holding pattern was bleeding into other areas of our lives, and I couldn’t keep holding myself back.

I’d let fear consume my life once. Not anymore.

“You may kiss your bride.”

Hope whooped, and I startled, breaking my gaze with Holden’s. I turned to watch our parents seal their marriage with a kiss, wiping the last of my tears. Their love was truly beautiful.

“I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Milton Adams.”

“That’s weird,” Hope said, laughing.

“Yeah, I’m thinking Adler-Adams,” Rose said. “Being an Adler is important because it’s what you both are.”

Holden kissed his mom on the cheek. “You’ll always be my mom. Your last name doesn’t change that. You deserve a new beginning, Mom. Don’t be scared to take it.”

“Besides, I plan to be something else one day,” Hope added. “Maybe a Princeton or King. I was meant to be a royal.”

“You got the spoiled princess thing down,” Holden teased, helping her with her crutches. Hope stuck out her tongue, and we all laughed. I hadn’t thought it possible, but we were becoming a family.

My dad and Rose walked toward the winery, where they’d reserved a room to hold our little reception. The winery had made a simple cake and small platters paired with wines. I wasn’t a huge wine drinker, but I enjoyed the ambiance. There were other patrons inside when we entered, and they applauded the happy couple. Everyone smiled, and I felt it inflating inside me, too.

Taking part in the ceremony today was amazing. I was glad they’d done this and let us be part of their day. I’d been more hurt than I realized about them marrying at the courthouse. I’d thought it was because they’d gotten married in general, but it wasn’t. I wanted to be part of it, and not being there had hurt. This little winery wasn’t what I expected my dad’s wedding to be like, but I couldn’t picture it any other way now. It was perfect, just like they were together.