I shook my head gently, pushing the thought away. I did not want anything to dampen the happiness of this moment.
The uneasy feeling that had stirred low in my chest for weeks was still there, faint but persistent. But I chose not to dwell on it.
Things were finally moving forward in my life.
And I believed everything would be alright.
44
COLE
In the last week of February, I picked Jiya up for our appointment with the caterers for the wedding reception. Just seeing her standing outside the café waiting for me, a rush of affection reminded me how lucky I was that she had chosen me.
“How was your day, sweetheart?” I asked as she got into the car.
“Busy, but wonderful,” she replied. “What about you?”
“Better now that you’re here,” I said, reaching for her hand and lifting it to my lips. I pressed a gentle kiss to the back of it, enjoying the way her eyes softened when I did.
“How’s the project going?”
“It’s quite good,” I replied as I pulled the car onto the road. “We finally managed to find a site for it. Talks are now in progress.”
I wanted to build a community centred around families—a place where grandparents, parents, and children could live close to one another instead of scattered across cities and towns. I had seen too many families drift apart over the years, and I wanted to create something that encouraged people to stay connected.
The project meant a lot to me, and I had been working on the idea for months.
“That’s great, honey,” she said.
The drive to the venue in Duncan took us along winding roads that gradually opened into a landscape of gardens and farmland. Mount Tzouhalem rose in the distance, its slopes covered in dense green forest. The air felt fresh and clean as we stepped out of the car.
The venue was beautiful.
The grounds were surrounded by rolling farmland and colourful gardens that stretched toward the mountains. A table had been arranged for us near the edge of the property so we could enjoy the view while tasting the dishes.
The head chef approached us with a friendly smile as he began placing small plates in front of us.
“Here we have prosciutto pear bites with herbs and blue cheese,” he announced. “Smoked salmon bites with cucumber and capers, cheesy mushroom puff pastry bites, and mini kebab skewers.”
Jiya picked up one of the appetizers and tasted it.
“These are delicious,” she said.
I couldn’t have agreed more. Every bite seemed better than the last. As we worked our way through the menu, we confirmed lobster tails and beef filet as the main courses for the reception. By the time we finished discussing the mains, I could already feel myself getting full.
God, I should have skipped breakfast,I thought, shifting slightly in my chair.
“There will be a dessert bar set up for the guests to enjoy,” the chef continued. “A sample will be placed on the table shortly.”He paused briefly before adding, “Now for the wedding cake options.”
I leaned closer to Jiya and whispered in her ear.“God, I’m already stuffed.”
“Same here,” she said with a soft laugh. “But I always leave room for dessert.”
“Oh, I have room for dessert,” I replied with a playful pause. “But they don’t have what I want on the menu.”
I winked at her, a mischievous smile tugging at my lips.
She rolled her eyes but could not hide her smile.
