Page 213 of Love Arranged

My uncle never bothered to write an inscription, so I did.

I take a seat on the bench beside Lily, which I had recently installed once I knew I’d be staying in Lake Wisteria. If I’m going to pass by every Friday for the rest of my life, I might as well make it comfortable like we did with Lily’s garden.

Plus I like the permanency of it.

I circle an arm around Lily, and she smiles up at me before facing the headstones.

“Hi,” I say, the word partially cut off by a gust of wind that touches my cheek. Lily’s hair and the leaves beside our shoes remain unmoved, but I don’t think much of it.

Lily keeps her arms locked around my waist while I share the election results with my parents.

“Your son did it,” she speaks aloud, like they are here with us. “I had no doubt he’d be able to pull it off—” I arch a brow. “Okay, I had a little doubt, but it wasn’t ever because ofhim. The Ludlows…” A look passes over her face. “They’ve held on to power for far too long, but finally their time has come to an end.”

My eyes water, and I panic at the sensation.

“I’m sorry,” I mutter when a tear slips from the corner of my eye, which turns out to be the first of many. “It’s just…I miss them so much,” I confess while she brushes her hands through my hair.

“I know you do.”

“I’d do anything to see them one last time. To be able to tell them how much I love them.”

I mourn their absence and the time that was stolen from us, and I mourn the future they’ll never be a part of.

My parents won’t be here to see me become the mayor or get married to the woman I love. They will never be able to attend Sunday lunches with the Muñoz and Lopez families, and they won’t have a chance to pass along their own recipes.

I’ll never get to share the joys of fatherhood with my dad, and I’ll always wish my mom was around to teach me how to step up and be the partner Lily needs.

But most of all, I cry for the boy who had to grow up way too fast and for the man who will always struggle because of it.

Lily holds me like I could break, and with the way my chest aches, it sure feels that way.

Eventually I gain control over my emotions. I expect for my mind to be cloudy, but the sad fog fades, leaving me feeling lighter than ever before.

Lily doesn’t loosen her hold until I confirm that I’m okay. When I pull back, she places her hand on my cheek.

“I love you,” she says.

I kiss her before replying, “I love you too.”

This time, a stronger wind blows through the cemetery, coming out of nowhere and ruffling her hair and mine.

I’d like to think it’s my parents reminding me that they love me too.

We hang out with my parents for a little while longer before I check the time and stand up. “We should get going.”

Lily reaches for my extended hand and rises to her feet. “You’ve got a speech to give and a party to get to.”

I’m overwhelmed by another rush of relief. “It’s still hard to believe it is happening.”

She tilts her head back and kisses my jaw. “Well, believe it, Mayor Vittori, because you did it. Youwon, and if your parents were here, they would be telling you how proud they are of you.”

In more ways than one, because in the process of becoming mayor, I earned the best reward of all.

Liliana Guadalupe Muñoz—the people’s princess…and my future wife.

EPILOGUE

LILY