Page 76 of Scars of Silk

Smiling I type back a quick response.

I’m here. With Adam. Freezing my tits off.

I put my phone back into my pocket, brushing my hand across Sienna’s back. It’s hard to keep my hands off her, and part of me desperately wants everyone to know she’s mine, but part of me also wants to keep this good thing we’ve got just for ourselves.

“She’s coming.” Adam all but breaks my ribs as he elbows me. I follow his gaze and catch a sight I never thought I’d see. Faith in white walking along the pebbles of the beach. Even from this distance I can see the tears on her face, but unlike months ago, years ago, when I would have fought anyone to wipe them off, I know that’s a job for another man.

Instead, I turn to the woman I love by my side and I wipe the tears off her skin. “Isn’t it just wonderful?” she says.

“It is.” I kiss her, firm and hard, unable to stop myself, uncaring who sees. “You go, I’m going to hang back.”

“Are you okay?” A flicker of panic flashes across her face.

“Darling, I am more than fine.”

She walks up with Adam, following the wedding party and I step back as Elijah, His Lordship, the man I can only admire, kneels down and asks Faith to marry him.

Bit fucking late if you ask me.

Then they all walk past and I can see Faith is searching the crowd, her head twisting this way and that as she clutches Elijah’s hand.

I peel myself from the lamppost I’m leaning against and wait for her glance to land my way. Her expression when it does says it all. I nod and smile and go to walk away, but Abi who is as wily as a fox grabs my elbow.

“Not a chance. I don’t know where you’ve been, Dan Smith, but this is where you belong.”

Sienna is grinning, the wind whipping her hair across her face and I offer her a broad wink.

“It is.” Somewhere up above I know my dad is looking down, and he’s watching the kids he helped bring up grow and learn, and I know in my heart he’d be damn happy with how it all finally turned out.

I mutter my words so low no one else can hear, “She’s where I belong,” and as we follow the bride and groom down towards the Registry Office, I know the scars of the past have finally healed once and for all.

The End.