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“I miss them too,” I explained and looked at my niece.“I’m sorry, Bella.”
Bella looked at Juliette before sitting back down on the ground in front of my sister’s headstone.
“Let’s stay for a bit longer.”
I nodded and leaned into her.Juliette joined us shortly, her arm wrapping around both of us.
“Thank you,” I whispered.“For giving me a family.For changing my life in ways I could never have imagined.I promised to take care of Bella so you could rest.I intend to keep that promise for as long as I live.”
Bella’s hand found mine, and she squeezed.
“I still don’t think I’ve done enough good in this life to deserve this,” I continued.“But I won’t ever let you down.I’ll protect this gift and make sure your daughter grows up happy and healthy.Trust me, just this last time.Please.”
My throat clogged.Juliette’s hand rubbed my back.
“You’re doing great, Lux.”
“Yeah, Auntie Lux, you sucked at first, but you’re better now.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at Bella’s bluntness.
“Thank you both.Just a few more minutes and we can go.”
“Just a few,” Bella mumbled and buried her head into my side, where she stayed for far longer than a few minutes.
Thank you.My sister.My other half.The only person in this world who saw me.
I turned to catch Juliette’s tearful gaze.Until her.
I think we will be just fine.
Chapter34
Lux
One Year Later
“Remember what we talked about, okay?”I whispered as Bella gripped the tray with two hands.
“I'm not stupid, Auntie Lux,” she whispered back.
“I know, I know,” I said, and patted her back.“I have to get in place, but remember you go after the bridesmaids?—”
“I know,” she hissed like I was exhausting her.Her hair was done in a half-up, half-down style with two pigtails in the back.She had picked out two small white braids that matched her white and light pink dress.In her hand, she had a bucket of pink and red flower petals.“Now get in place before Juliette thinks better of it and decides not to marry you after all.”
“Right,” I said and quickly fixed my hair and suit.I took a deep breath, giving Bella one last look before I went to the sliding glass door.
“Auntie Lux,” Bella called, stopping me.
I turned back to look at my niece.She looked so much like my sister it hurt.But it was a good kind of hurt, unlike almost two years ago.It warmed my soul to see a piece of my sister still alive on this planet.
Bella might not be my daughter, but she was the best gift I could've ever been given.She stood straight and confident, all the anxiety and fear that had once filled her gone.She was slowly blossoming into a woman I knew my sister would be proud of.
“You got this,” she assured me, giving me a smile.“I love you.And thank you for bringing Juliette into my life.Ourlife.”
Tears welled in my eyes.Fuck.“I love you too, sweetheart.”
Then she motioned for me to get out of there with a scowl, the sweet moment over just as quickly as it began.