Blossom’s face is flushed with emotion as she reads her vows to me, her voice trembling with sincerity. I see tears in her eyes. This moment is everything I’ve ever wanted and more.
I glance over at the babies, who are being held by Blossom’s mom and Amy. Jackson, Ruby, and Theo are being fussy, but it doesn’t matter. They’re here, and they’re part of this. Our family is whole.
When I slip the ring onto Blossom’s finger, I can barely hold back my tears. She’s mine. Forever.
I slide her ring on her finger, and as we stand there, looking into each other’s eyes, we both burst into happy tears. I lean down and kiss her, sealing the vows we’ve made to each other.
The applause that erupts around us feels distant, because in this moment, it’s just the two of us, bound together by love.
The reception is a beautiful blur of food, dancing, and laughter. The sun has set, and the rooftop is now illuminated by twinkling string lights, casting a warm, romantic glow over the venue. The air is cool, the perfect temperature for dancing.
Blossom and I hold each other close, lost in the rhythm of the music. She’s so beautiful in her wedding gown, her smile radiant, and I can’t take my eyes off her.
We dance for what feels like hours, swaying to the music, lost in our own world. I’m blissfully happy. This is everything I’ve ever wanted. Our friends and family are all around us, celebrating the love that Blossom and I share. It’s perfect.
Then, out of nowhere, Nicole grabs Amy’s hand and pulls her to the center of the dance floor. The crowd grows quiet, and I can see something’s happening.
Nicole drops to one knee, and Amy gasps, hands covering her mouth in surprise. Nicole holds out a ring, and I can see the emotion in both of their eyes.
Amy says yes, her voice trembling, and they kiss. The crowd erupts in cheers, and I find myself laughing, my heart swelling with happiness for my sister and Amy. They’re going to get married, too.
This is what love looks like—our entire family, connected, bound by love, just like Blossom and me.
The whole rooftop celebrates, and I pull Blossom close again, grateful for this day, for this life we’re building together.
Epilogue
Blossom
Four years have passed, and life feels like it’s finally settled into a rhythm.
The kids are starting kindergarten, and it feels like just yesterday they were babies, struggling through sleepless nights and endless feedings. But now, as they run through the house with backpacks and lunchboxes, I can hardly believe how much time has gone by.
Noah and I have found our groove again: parenthood, marriage, work.
It’s all been a balancing act, but we’re making it work. My photography career has taken off in ways I never expected. I’m booking gigs almost every other week, and sometimes, I have to turn down work because I simply don’t have the time.
It’s a good problem to have, but it also means that I’m not as free as I used to be.
The bar? That’s a distant memory now. I’m not bartending anymore. The hotel, Noah’s support, and my own hard work have allowed me to focus on photography full-time, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
There’s so much about our life that has changed, but in the best possible way. We’ve worked hard to get here, and now, I get to do what I love while raising our family. It feels right. I can finally breathe, knowing that I’ve created a life for myself and my children that I’m proud of.
I herd the kids into the elevator after school, all of them chattering at once about their day. Jackson is talking about how he’s learned the color blue, Ruby is excited because she learned to draw circles, and Theo’s just bouncing around with his backpack still on.
I sit down with them at the kitchen table, asking about their day as they pull out their schoolwork.
Theo shows me a picture of a circle and proudly tells me he knows all the shapes now. Jackson points to the square he drew and insists it’s “the best square ever”. Ruby hands me a drawing of a wobbly-looking heart, her face beaming with pride.
We go over their lessons together: colors, shapes, and everything else they’re learning. It’s simple stuff right now, but it makes me so happy. I love being there for every little milestone, every new word they learn.
I love cooking their dinners, helping with their homework, even if it’s just coloring, kissing their boo-boos when they fall, and scaring the closet monsters away at night.
Parenthood isn’t easy, but it’s everything I ever dreamed of. I never imagined I’d get to be this involved, this present. I’m doing it. We’re doing it. And I couldn’t be more grateful for this life.
Theo runs over to me, his little hands clutching a piece of paper. "Look, Mommy, look!" he says, his eyes wide with excitement.
I smile as I take the paper from him and see that he’s drawn a flower. It’s messy, the petals uneven, but it’s perfect.