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Gage laced his fingers with his wife, something he found himself doing more than he ever had, touching her any chance he could. When he did, Heather looked up at him, smiling, knowing just why he did. Because he loved her, he was truly and deeply in love with his wife. She forgave him seven months after the accident. Coming to him one night, explaining that she hadn’t helped their situation at home, in their marriage, trying to find her own happiness in a career, while pushing everyone aside to do just that. A career she gave up shortly after they reconciled and began doing the books for Sutherland’s Landscaping. It hadn’t been an easy road to travel down, to get them to where they are today. But they both worked at it, fought for their marriage when they should have had all those years ago. But sometimes, life takes you down a path unexpectedly. No rhyme or reason why. And sometimes, people are lucky enough to find a gem, something that shines in their life, waking them up when they didn’t even realize they were sleeping. Tilly did that for Gage. Came into his life, casting a light bright enough for him to see what he had all along. She would forever hold a special place in his heart. A small piece of him would always love her, but what he realized during his journey is that as much as he loved her and thought he needed her, what he really needed had been standing by his side the whole time.
“You ready?” Heather asked her husband, turning to face him and straightening his bow tie.
Gage took a deep breath through his nose. He wasn’t ready. He’d never be ready to let go of his little girl. But knowing how happy she was. How happy Austin made her and what a good man he was, yeah, he was okay with walking his daughter down the aisle. He nodded and grinned at his beautiful wife. “I’m ready.”
She reached up, not having to go far in her heels, and laid a kiss to her husband’s lips and whispered, “I love you.”
He squeezed their interlocking hands and spoke softly. “Forever.”
Later that night, at his daughter’s wedding reception, he sat in the corner, watching everyone move around the gardens of Cairnwood Estates, laughing, talking and dancing to the music. Jesus, this wedding cost him a mint, but it was worth every penny seeing the smile glued to his daughter’s face. He’d get her back, asking for grandkids once she and Austin stepped off the plane from their honeymoon. The familiar strains of a song started. Gage’s lips tipped up and into a wide smile. It was Tilly’s favorite; one she would sing on long road trips they’d take. One that he had on his playlist because it made him smile.
Those thoughts brought him to now, and in this moment was she happy? As happy as he was. At one time, he knew she was, didn’t have to think about it because his wife had given him that. It was one day, years after the affair, that she caught him sitting in the new garden he had designed in the backyard, staring off into the distance. Without words, she handed him her tablet, and open on the screen was Tilly’s Open Book page.
“I know you need to know,” she started gently. “Not because you need or want her back in your life, but because you are a good man, Gage Sutherland, and want what’s best for everyone.” She gestured to the tablet in his hands. “So, you take the time you need, and when you’re done, I’ll be in the kitchen.”
Gage looked through her photos, her posts, got caught up on her life. She was happy. That was all he needed to know. He walked into the kitchen, handed his wife her tablet back. If he’d had any doubt, that very moment he knew he had made the right decision to fight for the one he loved the most, and that was Heather. Because no one would understand him like she did.
Her hand landed on his shoulder. “You okay?”
His eyes drifted up and to the blue loving ones looking back at him, pulling him back to the reception, to his family. “Yeah, baby, I’m good.” And… he was.
Heather jerked her head to the dance floor. Gage nodded, rose and took her hand, leading them to the middle. He pulled her close, both holding onto each other tightly as they turned another page in their story.
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Tilly and Luke were together for thirty-two more years. He died at seventy-four, surrounded by his wife, his children, his seven grandkids and his two great grandkids. They were just shy of celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Tilly lived another ten years, staying in the home she had created with her family. She often could be found in her back gardens, by the waterfall, surrounded by her flowers. When she died, she asked to be buried with only three things—her wedding ring, her mother ring and a bracelet her children had never before seen, white gold with three hearts. The words etched on them…
The grass is greener
The sun is brighter
Flowers smell sweeter
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It had been a week after Gage had buried his wife. The years they’d spent together were blissful and full of love, laughter and adventures with their four grandchildren and one great granddaughter. He pulled the gray bin from the bottom shelf, his back aching as he did. Dragging it over to the bench, he sat down and opened it. Pushing aside the signed documents of when he sold Sutherland’s Landscaping to his son-in-law, he grabbed for what he wanted. Hammering a nail into the wall beside the window that looked out into the garden, he placed the picture on the nail and stood back. He read the words on the drawing Tilly had given him all those years ago and he…smiled.
