Page 24 of Until Beckett

“Beckett helped me realize that you can love again. It doesn’t mean I loved your daughter any less because I’m with someone else—or even a man. She was a huge part of my life. She was my first love, my wife, and the mother of my beautiful princess—that doesn’t just go away,” Corey assured them. “I deserve to live again but also continue to honor her memory. I was lucky that Beckett was already here—love was staring me straight in the face. I have my second chance when so many don’t.”

“You really do love him?” Erica asked, turning to look at me. “You loved my daughter too,” she whispered, as if she was finally getting her head around it. “I just thought—”

“I understand that.” Corey nodded as he stood next to her and placed his hand on her forearm. “I struggled too at first.” He chuckled before looking at me, and I smiled back at him. “I couldn’t understand why or what was happening and even took a break from my life to try and straighten my thoughts out, but it made me come back to the exact same conclusion that my feelings needed to be validated. I just wished I had Isabella’s thoughts on whether she believed in a second love—”

“She’d have hated you to be pining,” Nicky announced firmly. “My daughter was a loving person, Corey. She’d have wanted you to be happy,” he exclaimed before turning to his wife and squeezing her shoulder in support.

“Absolutely. She was a selfless, carefree soul. It was why it hurt so much to lose her,” Erica added. “It was as if she’d known that the only way to protect Mila was to leave this world. That when she stopped moving it was her body telling her to save her. No one expected the additional complications during the surgery. It just happened unfortunately.”

I nodded at that statement, having uttered the same words to Corey about Isabella.

“I’m sorry we burst in here like that,” Erica said softly. “Especially today.”

“I understand,” Corey replied. “It’s not an easy day—”

“It isn’t, but we’re glad you’re happy,” Nicky said. “You and Mila deserve that.”

“Do you want to stay and join in her birthday celebrations with us?” Corey questioned as he looked at the two of them. “Our friends will be here soon, and Mila should start to get to know you both. That is if you want to…”

“Thank you, we’d love to,” Nicky replied as the four of us glanced up at the smiling woman in the picture overlooking a lake without a care in the world. “It would mean the world to us.”

EPILOGUE

COREY

Two years later

I never thought this day would come. That I would ever reach a stage in my life when I could admit in my heart that I was truly happy and free to love again. I could never have imagined someone experiencing the pain and turmoil that I did and coming through the other side but—my best friend, my lover, my soon-to-be-husband Beckett—was there every step of the way with me. He helped me become the strong man, father and proud widower to Isabella I am today.

In just a few hours though, I’ll be making Beckett truly my family forever more—right where he belongs with Mila and I. I just wanted to have this civil partnership in front of all those people who mattered to us and let them see the two of us become one in the eyes of the state.

I glanced around at the luxury suite I’d booked myself into the night before and took ten minutes for myself to contemplate everything that had happened over the last few years. Call me superstitious but I wanted this final night alone from Beckett before the two of us got married and never again spent the night apart.

I’d listened to Beckett and sought out support from a therapist to help me deal with the trauma I’d experienced. I’d joined a group in which other people had experienced loss in many ways but ultimately all of us had ended up widowed, uncertain what our futures looked like going forward. It made me realize that I wanted to change my career goals and train to help others who’d been in a similar situation as well. A chance to give back and start to feel whole again. One of the first steps in doing this was giving Mila the life I always wanted.

I couldn't believe how at ease Beckett was with my idea but the moment I mentioned moving to Murfreesboro, Tennessee to be near the Mayson’s and Asher and November he was all for the idea. He thought the idea of Mila having other children around her and the two of us having lots of support was a fantastic idea. I happened to agree.

Even Erica and Nicky understood our thoughts and agreed that Mila growing up with other children her own age would be in her best interest. It wouldn’t stop them visiting and spending time with her in the slightest. If anything, I wouldn’t be surprised if they found a small place nearby and ended up announcing they were moving to be nearby us.

“Is Mila nearly ready?” I asked Erica as she approached in her lavender dress with a matching hat. “I haven’t seen her yet and—”

“Corey, she’s being fussed over by everyone and eating up every second of attention from anyone who gives her a moment of their time. Let her enjoy it,” she replied back as she took over fixing my tie. “I remember having to come in and fix your tie after the mess you made of it when you married my daughter.” She chuckled. “You’ve still not improved. Do I need to go and check if that man of yours is able to do one too?”

“You probably should, plus you can see if he’s actually nearly ready and not standing me up,” I whispered as she smiled at me. “What if Beckett doesn’t want to marry me today, Erica? Maybe he’s changed his mind or—”

“Do you honestly believe that?” she asked, finishing the knot of my tie before taking in my appearance. “That man loves you so much, he’ll be more worried about you not being there.”

“You think?” I gasped out.

“I know so.” Erica smirked at me. “Isabella would be laughing, watching you right now, you know. She’d also be so proud of how the two of you have worked together to raise such an amazing little girl. Mila is a credit to you both, and Nicky and I are honored that you’ve asked us to be a part of your big day today.”

“Since you came back into our lives, you’ve been a huge help and support. It means so much having your blessing today,” I whispered to her as she kissed me on the cheek.

“You are a good man, Corey Templeton. I’m so lucky that you have allowed us back into your life,” she exclaimed just as a knock alerted me to someone at the door. “I’ll let you go, but I’ll see you downstairs, after I’ve checked on that handsome man of yours.”

“Thank you,” I choked out as she headed toward the door and I saw Asher was waiting for me.

“You look—” Asher began as Erica passed out of the room, making way for him to enter. “I’m so happy for you, man. Are you ready to head down now? The church is starting to fill up. And I just bumped into Hardin and Anthony; they were holding hands.” He gasped out that last bit. “What did I miss?”

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