Page 110 of The Best I Never Had

I’m so in love with this woman—this beautiful, kind, forgiving woman—and I can’t wait for the day when I get to tell her.

Chapter 34

THEA

“Is this real life?” Addy asks, staring at her reflection.

She’s outfitted in that perfect gown, her hair and makeup beautifully done. I’m in my crystal-green bridesmaid’s dress, the same color as the rings around Harrison’s and Owen’s pupils.

“It is, and your life is going to be as stunning as you look right now.”

Addy meets my gaze in the mirror. “Can you grab the jewelry box from the desk?”

My body tenses—I don’t want to think about the necklace she refuses to wear when we just got back to a good place—but I do as she asks.

Addy takes the box from my hand, popping it open and pulling a necklace out by the long chain. “I didn’t handle the situation with our birth mother’s necklace well, but when I said I already had jewelry planned, I meant it.”

She holds up the gem so I can see the forget-me-not blossom that’s been preserved in resin next to a little blue bead, the type children use to make jewelry.

“What’s this?”

“Do you remember the bracelet you made me the first day you went to school after we went into the system?”

I do. Our mom died in late May, which meant we had almost three months in the system where I was with Addy constantly. It was considerate of Mom to die then, if you think about it. We had just moved to our second home when it was time for me to start up school again, and four-year-old Addy had begged me not to leave her alone. During crafting time in art class, I made her a little bracelet with all the colors of the rainbow.

“You kept it?” I ask, looking up at her.

She nods, rolling her painted lips together. “Took it with me to every home. Away to school. Everywhere. I had to cut it up to get one of the blue beads off for the necklace, and I sobbed, even though it hasn’t fit me in over a decade.”

The tears that flood my eyes take me by surprise, flowing down my face before I even realize they’re happening. “Shit, Adelaide, I’m going to have to redo my makeup.”

She sniffs, struggling with her words. “You wanted our mom to go down the aisle with me, but when I think of who raised me, who gave me the love and support to become who I am, you’re it. I’m sorry I made you doubt your importance in my life.”

I wrap her in my arms, both of us crying until we’re interrupted by a knock on the door. Maria and Gary Fischer come in, both immediately tearing up when they see Addy.

“You look gorgeous, darling,” Maria says, clutching Addy’s hand.

“Thank you, Mom.”

There’s a bit of hesitation before the word, and from the little sob Maria hiccups out, I know it’s the first time she’s ever used it. When Addy smiles at her, it’s my smile, genuine and joyful, with a touch of mischief. Her real smile. And instead of the feeling of fear I always expected to feel, I’m at peace. Because I want that for her. Real, open relationships that aren’t contingent on her behaving perfectly. I feel confident in my place in her life. A truth that solidifies when Addy breathes deeply through her nose and steels her shoulders.

“Mom. Dad. I hope that this doesn’t make you upset because you—you’ve been so, so good to me.” She stumbles over the words a bit, because even though she’s working on being open, she’s still herself. “But Thea’s going to walk me down the aisle.”

I don’t hear Maria or Gary’s response. All I can focus on is the love shining from my sister’s eyes, and the realization that maybe I’m the foundation of the family I’ve always been determined to find for her.

The wedding is as beautiful as expected, the mountains stretching out as far as the eye can see behind the bride and groom, but I spend most of the ceremony lost in the eyes of the best man. There’s intention in that gaze, a promise that we’ll be back here one day with our roles flipped. When Harrison says “I do,” Owen’s lips quirk, like he wants to say the words, too, and a reckless part of me wants to say them right along with him.

As we walk back down the aisle after the ceremony ends, I whisper, “What do you think about elopement?”

He chuckles. “Not against it, but Camila would kill us if she wasn’t invited, and if we tell her, she’ll tell everyone, and then the family will show up. Doesn’t it seem easier to do it here than to manage Gabriel in Vegas?”

I laugh, feeling light enough to let the sound boom out of me and fill the wide-open space around us. Our relationship—everything related to Owen—feels so safe. It’s something I’ve never experienced before, and I’m more grateful than ever for this man beside me. The one who saw behind the anger and hurt and fought for the right to be my person.

The night flies by in a blur. Camila pulls me and Owen in for a round of pictures at the photobooth, including one where she writes “I knew all along” on a small blackboard. Gabriel makes me sing a dozen songs before he releases me to Owen on the dance floor. Cece corners me and Owen at the bar to pepper us with questions about our move. We tell her I’m moving up immediately, and Owen’s going to follow me after he finishes training Harrison. Six months of long distance is a small price to pay so that Owen can start his new life free of any guilt over leaving Hayes.

I find Addy at the edge of the dance floor by herself, watching everyone with a longing look on her face. She takes the water I offer her, chugging it down in a few gulps. I drain mine, too, taking both our glasses and setting them on the closest table.

“Thanks, Tia. I don’t know if I’ve ever danced this much.”