Page 131 of Love By The Falls
All our friends are here, including Frankie, Billy, Dean, Austin, and the kids. Jason is here, too, surprisingly. He’s not left town yet, which must be a record for him.
My gaze lands on Charlie, standing next to Caleb in his three-piece suit. I was there when Caleb asked him to be his best man. Charlie damn well made us all cry when he threw his arms around his neck. Charlotte had to leave the room to collect herself. Poor Caleb had no idea what he had done to get us all so emotional.
He mended her broken heart. We had all tried to put the pieces back together, but it never stuck.
Sometimes, even when you think life will never be what you imagined, someone shows up and makes it so much better.
I stand opposite Charlie and turn my head toward the house. Charlotte’s parents walk her down the aisle. Her mother wipes a tear from her cheek, but her dad walks stoically beside her.
Charlotte isn’t crying. Her smile is too big when she sees her son and soon-to-be husband waiting for her at the altar.
Kitt gurgles in Austin’s arms in the front row, and I inhale, breathing in all the energy and emotions of the day. There is so much love around us, it fills my chest. The smiles are genuine. We are all happy for Charlotte, who never once complained about her lot in life, to finally have her happily ever after.
It gives me hope that one day, we all will, too.
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