Then, for the first time, I embraced him not as the man who had financially rescued us, but as the father figure I had spent most of my life missing.
Reid Never Rushed Me
Our divorce was peaceful.
Everett had carefully arranged everything.
Reid didn’t immediately show up with flowers or use the circumstances to pressure me.
He waited.
That mattered.
Months later, after lunch, we walked through a botanical garden in Raleigh.
Near a quiet fountain, Reid stopped.
“There’s something I’ve been trying not to say too soon.”
He reached inside his coat.
When I saw the small box, my hands started shaking.
“Laurel, I can’t promise that life with me will always be easy. We’ll disagree. I’ll probably work too much sometimes. You’ll probably assume the worst sometimes.”
I laughed nervously.
Then his expression turned serious.
“But when things get difficult, I won’t disappear.”
Those words touched the oldest wound inside me.
“I want to build a life with you and Brielle. Not rescue you. Not own your future. Build it with you.”
He opened the box.
“Will you marry me?”
I said yes.
The Wedding That Finally Felt Like Home
Several months later, we married in Everett’s backyard.
He insisted on hosting the ceremony.
“This is where the first ridiculous marriage started,” he said. “Seems appropriate that the sensible one starts here too.”
Brielle walked in front of me carrying flowers.
Everett escorted me along the garden path.
When we reached Reid, Everett took my hand and placed it in his nephew’s.
“Take care of her.”
Reid nodded.
“I will.”
Everett narrowed his eyes.
“That wasn’t a suggestion.”
Everyone laughed.
After the ceremony, Brielle threw her arms around Reid.
“So does this mean I finally get to call you Dad?”
Reid knelt beside her.
