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I’m crying now, quietly, and he thumbs tears off my cheek and keeps going.

“Billie’s going to come around. I know my daughter’s heart better than she knows it right now. She wants me happy, and one day she’ll look at us and know this is real.” He tucks my hair back. “Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good.” A beat, then his mouth goes crooked. “Marry me.”

“Beau.”

“I’m gonna keep asking.” He’s enjoying himself now and rolls us so I’m straddling him. “I’m gonna wear you down. Over and over, until you say yes to shut me up. It’s a long campaign. I’ve got resources.”

I laugh as his cock finds its way inside me. Then we both go quiet and look down to where our bodies are connected.

“I want to say more one thing.” His hand stills on my back. “Life throws shit at you. We both know this better than most.” He rocks my hips against him. “I’m not going to spend whatever I’ve got left being careful anymore. However much time we get, I want every hour of it with you. Preferably doing this.”

I can’t say anything. I lean down and kiss him instead.

He takes my face in both hands and I know.

Without any shadow of doubt.

Beau Bixby has always been my wicked destiny.

One Year Later

Strange how life changes.

The last time my band wore black suits, they carried my wife’s casket down the steps of a church while I walked behind them clinging to both my kids.

This afternoon they’re on folding chairs on my lawn with their wives waiting on me to get married again.

We’re in the backyard of our new house in Kirkland, on the grass above the water. The lake’s gone silver the way it does at the end of summer. Our dock runs ten feet out with a new speedboat tied at the end.

My new favorite toy.

Elodie picked this house. Arranged for me to see it. She walked through ahead of the agent, paid no attention to the kitchen or the size of the closet. Wandered through the great room into a sort of mini-cathedral the previous owner built, complete with high ceilings and ornate woodwork.

“Listen, Beau.” She clapped once and the sound resonated perfectly. “This is where your piano will go”

I fell in love with her again as I do every day.

She picked this particular house so I’d have the perfect room to create music. We bought the place on the spot. And, yes, I mean we.

I wore her down.

Today, nobody’s standing up with us. Even though it’s Elodie’s first wedding, neither of us felt the need to have a wedding party. She adamantly refused to have anyone walk her down to hand her over. She comes to me on her own. I stand here on my own.

Whatever we are, we built it ourselves.

We’re surrounded by love. Theo’s in the front row with Maya’s hand in his. He’s marrying her in the spring. My daughter Billie’s sitting next to him on the aisle. Elodie’s sister and her boyfriend sit next to Priya. My bandmates and their significant others are here too.

When the music starts, our small group of friends and family rise. I forget every one of them when Elodie emerges around the corner of the house and walks down the path toward me. The sunlight off Lake Washington filters through her hair, making her appear lit from the inside.

Her dress is a simple, ivory silk fitted to her body. She didn’t want a veil, and her hair’s down and curled softly. Her mother’s little diamond hoops glitter, and I know having a memento of Meredith up here with us makes her feel closer to her mom.

My eyes begin to leak before Elodie’s halfway up the grass. Right there in the open. In front of my children and my bandmates, who will tease me for the rest of my life and I don’t give two fucks.

She arrives and sees tears running down my face, and cups my cheek.