Page 92 of Strength

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Emmett

Olivia and I may have decided to keep our wedding lowkey, but that didn’t mean Mom didn’t go all out for our small party. I suppose I shouldn’t have expected any less. She was one of the main charity party organisers in the Wayborough region, and she had decked out the formal garden at the back of the house with organza and pink and white variegated roses, which were Olivia’s favourite flower.

The officiant was a local judge who had granted us our confidential license after hearing about Olivia’s ex-husband. We had decided that as of today, we would all change our surnames to my grandmother’s maiden name of Young and it would all be off the record.

Leaving her L.A. life behind wasn’t overly difficult for Olivia. Rea was a casualty of us having to cut ties with L.A., through no fault of her own.

Latisha left her husband when she heard about him spying for Miguel, and she ended up here with us. Whilst we were initially cautious of the connections she could possibly bring with her, we needn’t have worried. Latisha won the court battle for her kids’ custody, and her husband was locked away for his involvement with Miguel. At only three months long, it was a short and tough battle. With the help of the law and following Olivia’s example, she was smart enough to flee Los Angeles and change her surname so it would be difficult for certain people to find her. And we were more than willing to help her. She was the emotional support Olivia needed, and I believe Latisha needed Olivia just as much. It was a sacrifice we were willing to make to help a friend in need.

Given their similar life changes, she and Olivia were better friends than ever. They had one another to lean on.

Olivia also had me, but Latisha wasn’t able to trust having a new guy in her life yet. I hoped that one day she would find the happiness Olivia and I shared.

We were blessed to have her here to witness our union. She and her children were the only friends we had invited.

I watched the way Duke bounced around in his seat. My insides were bouncing right along with him.

Dad came over to me and offered me a sip from his wine glass. “To calm the nerves.”

“What nerves? I can’t wait to call Olivia my wife.”

“You’re going to be a husband now, son, and a father. Two big responsibilities at once. If you’re not nervous, then you’ve bigger balls than mine.”

I took a sip of the wine. “Thanks, Dad. I don’t want to screw this up. Olivia and Charlie have both been through enough. I want their lives to be happy and peaceful from here on out.”

“Marriages are hard work. You won’t always get along, but if you act selflessly, you can guarantee you’ll have a great life together.” Dad huffed out a laugh. “Who am I kidding? You’re my son. We raised you well and look at what you’ve become—a man who cares for other people for a living. You don’t need my life lessons, Emmett. I’m proud of you.” Dad patted my arms.

“Thanks, Dad.”

Samantha joined us, dressed in a strapless black dress. “Bride’s on her way,” she said with a huge grin.

My heart began to pound and my breath came in short bursts. Okay, maybe Iwasnervous.

Charlie raced out of the house in his little tuxedo and Olivia followed him. She was like an angel from Heaven as she glided toward me in a simple wedding dress and her hair pinned back away from her face. She didn’t walk down any aisle, and she didn’t want any music. My girl didn’t go in for any kind of pomp and circumstance, but she did carry a bouquet of roses that matched the ones Mom had decorated with.

I lost my breath as she reached me. “Hi, baby. You look so beautiful.”

Olivia ran her hand over my chest. “You look hot enough to . . . y’know.”

“You can have me later,” I whispered in her ear.

She slipped her hand into mine and with Charlie and Sammy in front of us, we approached the officiant together.

“Hello to both of you, and congratulations on your special day. Are you ready to be married?” I thought the officiant's smile was as big as ours were.

“Yes,” Olivia and I said in unison.

“Do we have the witnesses present?”

My parents and my sister all raised their hands. “Yes.”

“Excellent. Let’s get you married.”

“Yes, I can’t wait!” Charlie fist-pumped the air.

Everyone laughed at him.

I couldn’t wait, either. Our new life was about to begin.

The End.