Page 124 of Finding Home

“It’s always meant to be us,” she said, their eyes tethering as the voices in the room faded away leaving just them in their bubble. The twists and turns of her life leading her here to this moment with this man and these people.

"I always knew we’d end up here,” Noah said, sauntering up with a gold rim teacup in hand.

Elle pressed a thankful peck to Noah’s cheek. “Thank you.” Long before they’d known there was the possibility of an “Elle and Clayton,” Noah had championed them.

Clayton hugged Noah in that trademark masculine back slapping hug. “You know this means your mom is going to harass you more about finding someone,” Clayton chuckled.

Noah winced.

Elle and Clayton laughed.

“I am so happy.” Janet barreled into Elle like a tiny bullet train, her vise-like arms pulling Elle in.

“Me too.” Elle sighed, hugging her aunt back.

“Mom, let her go. It’s our turn. Go hug Clayton,” Tobey prodded. After one last squeeze, Janet let go and Tobey and Jerome swooped in to hug Elle.

“You know they’re going to do a choreographed dance at your wedding, right?” Tobey rolled his eyes before kissing Elle’s damp cheek.

Her laugh was watery. “I’m glad I’ll have you to help me wrangle them.” She ruffled his hair.

“Group hug!” Jerome boomed wrapping his arms around his husband and Elle.

“Bear, you’re smothering us,” Tobey grumbled, half-annoyed but a hundred percent enamored with his husband.

Escaping Jerome’s embrace, she ran over to Viet and Willa nearly knocking them down to hug them giddily. Despite moving back home, Elle hadn’t lost her closeness with them. The one week each month she was in town she’d stay with Viet and, sometimes, with Willa. They’d have happy hour, Thai Tuesday dinners, and brunch on the weekend.

Elle walked through the room of happy people toward Uncle Pete.

“Hey kiddo.” His voice cracked.

“Hey.” She stood in front of him. “So, I’m getting married.”

“That you are.” He nodded at her and then looked across the room where Clayton with a bemused look on his face stood talking to Noah, Willa, and Janet.

“Will you walk me down the aisle when I do?” Elle gazed hopefully at her uncle.

The tears in his glossy eyes overflowed as he looked at her. “Of course.” He held her tight, and she held him back even tighter. “If I have to be replaced as the number one man in your life, I can’t imagine a better man to be replaced by.”

“There’s no replacing you, you’re my favorite uncle.”

“I’m your only uncle.” he said, his voice hoarse with emotion.

“My one and only.” she inhaled him, taking in the love at this moment. “I love you, Pete.”

“I love you, kiddo.”

From the first day she was in this world, he had been there. In all the big and little moments of her life, he was there in some shape or form. He was hers and she was his. That’s how it had always been and would always be. He wouldn’t be Uncle Pete without Elle, and she wouldn’t be Elle without her Uncle Pete.

“Ok, enough of this mushy stuff. I’m going to eat a scone.” He cleared his throat and kissed her temple. “You got our girl.”

Elle turned, following the flick of Pete’s eyes toward an approaching Clayton.

“Always.” Clayton assured as he reached her side.

“I know you do.” Pete placed a hand on Clayton and then yanked him close for a tight hug. “You’ve been family, but now it’s official. Although, if you break her heart, I will get Lt. Scout to help me bury you in the backyard.”

“Noted.” Clayton chuckled under his breath.

---