Page 63 of Salvation

He nods along, bringing our hands up to place a tender kiss on top of mine. His lips are hot against our cold hands. “It’s crazy how much a place like this can do forus.” A little smile graces my lips at that comment, and his grin mirrors my own as he turns fully to face me, dropping our hands and wrapping his arms around my middle to pull me in.

“What now, Miss. Warner?”

“What now?” I repeat, leaning my head against his chest. “Now, I’ll share my story.”

And I will. Now, I will write that book that Whitney reminded me of when I first quit my job in the city. I’ll write for me. For Elain. For the next little girl who feels like the bruises were her fault. For the woman she’ll become, the trauma that will shape her for the rest of her life. For the daughter she’ll have that will only ever know love and gentle hands. Because there will be someone else, in a world like this, there always is. But I’ll do my best to help heal even one.

Epilogue

Blake

“Now, remember, Hun.” Ana takes my face in her hands. “It’s my son, but I’ll still kick his ass if you ask me to. And I’m afraid there’s no return policy on this one.”

I tip my head back and laugh at my soon-to-be mother-in-law. “Thanks, Ana.”

I turn back toward the large oval mirror before me and finally take in my appearance. My blonde hair is pinned up in a beautiful bun, a few curls falling to frame my face, with a veil flowing over my back. My stark white wedding dress starts with a sweetheart neckline, where it falls into a classic ball gown that allows me to live out my Cinderella-esque dreams. Lace, pearls, and diamonds are scattered all over the material in a beautiful pattern, and it’s so breathtakingly gorgeous that I can’t help the tears that spring to my eyes at the sight.

I’m marrying Wesley.Today.

This is it.

“You look beautiful.” Ana whispers from my side, taking in my look from the mirror as well.

“That, she does.” My mom’s voice flutters to us as she walks into the bridal suite, her smile wide as she meets my watery gaze in the mirror. “Our girl is all grown up.” She adds as she approaches, reaching out to take Ana’s hand. My heart squeezes at the sight.

The two have been blubbering messes since they found out about the proposal, and were more than happy to help plan the wedding. I wanted something small, but unsurprisingly, it ended up being the biggest event this town has ever seen.

It doesn’t matter if Wesley and I got married in a courthouse or in the prettiest view this town has to offer. What matters is that I get to marryhim.

Soon, Vivienne, Harper, Whitney, and Elain are all piling into the room to get a look at me in my dress. Whitney and Vivienne almost look like twins in the similar green bridesmaid gowns we picked out. Elain’s wearing a darker shade of green, with a matching crown of flowers adoring her dark locks. She’s my flower girl. I was more than shocked that she had agreed to it so easily, but I think Wesley may have bribed her with cash to even make that one possible.

“Are you ready?” Vivienne asks.

I smile. “Almost. I just need to do this one last thing.”

***

The one last thing required the girls to fetch Wesley for me and to find us a spot where I could give him his wedding gift without him seeing me.

We both stand back-to-back in a room with no one else around. I wanted privacy for this moment, but I don’t want usto see each other just yet. The minute the door clicks, signaling we’re alone, he doesn’t wait to tease me about requesting a last-minute audience before our wedding.

“Miss me so much that you couldn’t wait until the altar, Mrs. Conway?”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not a Conway just yet.”

He just lets out a breathy laugh in return, one that sounds like it’s full of pure excitement and nerves. I can’t imagine I sound much different. We fall into a comfortable silence, so I use that as a moment to crane my arm around and hand him the small book I’ve been hiding the past few weeks. This is something I’ve been dying to show him since I first sent it off to the editor.

My very first completed book.

“What is this?”

“My story.Ourstory.”

The idea of being a published author…it’s unfathomable. A dream. One I’ve been so excited to share with Wesley. It releases the day after we get back from our honeymoon. He doesn’t say anything for a few moments, but a small sniffle echo’s in the silence around us.

“Are you crying?” I blurt out in question. He only scoffs.

“No.” Another sniffle. “I think someone’s cutting onions.”

I reach back and grab the hand that’s dangling at his side. He squeezes it immediately and sighs in frustration. “I want to kiss you so bad right now.”

I laugh. “Catch me at the altar then, Conway.”