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He looks as much the growly bear now as he did the day of the auction.
My parents, sister, Felix, Julie, and Markus’s close friends, Julian, Elena, and their daughter, join us in our celebration.
With our hands joined, we stare into each other’s eyes. We recite our vows, and Markus grabs onto me, pulling me into his chest, planting a possessive kiss against my lips when we are announced as husband and wife.
Everyone smiles, and I’m sure I’m going to implode with happiness.
“Now you’re never going to get away,” Markus whispers into my ear.
I shiver from the possessive tone he takes.
“I wouldn’t even try to leave. I was yours before I even realized it,” I reply, my eyes catching on the diamond ring on my finger.
“You’ve always been mine.” He pulls me even closer to his side, and I squeal as I trip over the end of my dress, only for him to catch me around the waist.
It’s still surreal and crazy how our lives have changed over the last year. We walk up the beach and toward the condo where we have dinner and drinks set up. We both agreed that something small and private would be perfect.
“I can’t believe we’re married and that this year passed by so fast,” I announce when we reach the entrance to the small reception area. There are light decorations, flowers, and candles lit. It’s intimate and totally us.
“This year has been a wild one.” Markus hands me a flute of champagne. “I personally can’t believe I convinced you to marry me.”
“There was no convincing,” I reply just as everyone else comes walking into the backyard.
My parents are the first to arrive. They don’t know that I know about the adoption. Amelie doesn’t know either, and I don’t want her to. I don’t want anything in my life to change. They might not be my family by blood, but they are my family in every way that counts.
Everyone takes a seat, and we have a buffet-style dinner. There are laughs, tears, and joy. The sun starts to set, the sky turning a hazy orange as it kisses the horizon.
Felix and Julie end up leaving right after we eat. Not that a fight would break out or anything, but the tension between Felix and Julian is noticeable.
“Let’s make lunch plans,” Julie says as she wraps her arms around my middle.
“Yes, let’s go next week. We need to catch up, and I have no idea when Felix is going to run back to the island with you.”
Julie laughs, and it makes me happy to see her smile. She’s healthy, cared for, and I’m so happy for her. “Who knows, but yes. We will catch up.”
“You’re so fucking beautiful. Have I told you that?” Markus’s voice dips seductively, and my core tightens. I swear I could get pregnant just from the things he says some days.
“Only a handful of times, but please, tell me again because there is nothing like being told how beautiful you are by the man you love.”
Markus chuckles, and we move on to cut the cake.
My parents leave not long after that, and though it saddens me, I know they don’t approve. My mother said I was too young to get married when she found out, and my father told me he didn’t feel Markus was good enough for me. Little did he know, the man he claimed wasn’t good enough had saved both his daughters on more than one occasion.
We part ways, me kissing them goodbye and sending them on their way. Amelie, of course, stays behind. For the most part, she is stuck to my side. She’s attending college downtown, and even though she’s never really spoken about her time in captivity, I know something happened. I can tell just from the constant paranoia she exhibits. Always glancing over her shoulder as if someone is going to come for her.
Markus squeezes my hand, and his deep voice drags me back to reality. “I’m going to step away and talk to Julian for a couple minutes. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
Grabbing my fork, I slice through the piece of marble cake in front of me.
Elena, Julian’s wife, catches my eye as I shove a forkful into my mouth. She’s beautiful with long dark brown, almost black hair, and piercing green eyes. Markus told me a little about how she and Julian came to be.
Julian took her as revenge, forcing her to marry him. Obviously, it all worked out, judging by the happiness that radiates off her. She cradles their sleeping daughter in her arms.
“Congratulations.” Elena smiles sweetly.
“Thank you. Your family is beautiful.”
The fact that they have a daughter and seem to have overcome their circumstances, giving in to love, gives me hope. I’m not sure if Markus and I will ever have children. We’ve discussed it briefly but decided now wasn’t a good time. We want to have some time for us before we add any small little humans to the mix.
