Page 112 of Darling

“God, I fucking love this for us, Am.”

“Me too, baby, me too. ‘We deserve a soft fucking epilogue, my love…’” she quotes.

Later, with twilight rising over Loch Earn, the Scottish sky a riot of pinks and blues and purples, Christian waits on the end of the small wooden pier, and our families and friends sit patiently on the bank. He looks staggeringly handsome in a dark blue tweed suit, purple heather affixed to his buttonhole, dark hair styled elegantly, and his beard cropped close to his jaw. Themoment he turns and sees me, his dark eyes begin to glitter, and he shakes his head with what looks like disbelief, mouthing what I think is: “wow”. His eyes shine with pure love, and I know my own are the same.

It’s not a long walk to him, past a few rows of loving, friendly faces. I see that Leo has made it to watch his father remarry, and it settles some sadness inside me; he even offers me a smile as I pass. Felix, too. Christian’s parents look tearful but happy, but it’s when I look at Amata that I almost lose it. She’s clinging to Gael as she sobs quietly. I almost want to go and comfort her, but the instant my eyes meet Christian’s, I know he’s my only destination. I’ve never been this happy in my fucking life, and in a matter of minutes, I get to marry Christian. I get to live the rest of my life with him by my side; I get to call himmy husband. And he gets to call me his.

His Asher.

His Darling.

Theend