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“Lance…”
I peer up at Scarlet.
“It’s not official. You have a choice. But I wear my name with pride because it means more than just family to me, and I’m pretty sure it means just as much to you, too. It’s the one thing I had when there was nothing else. It’s home. It’s unconditional. I know that being Mrs Sullivan would make me just as proud. But if you’ll have us…” She gestures around her. “Will you take our name along with your own?”
I drag my gaze down to the papers, the documents adding Mr Lance Lowell-Sullivan and Mrs Nina Lowell to the deeds for the estate.
“I don’t—” I shake my head, my heart feeling funny.
“This is home, Lance. It always was and still is and will forever beyourhome.”
I stare at her, not quite sure if it’s all real.
It can’t be real.
My eyes dart to Mason, his small nod a promise, assurance. “Has a ring to it, doesn’t it?”
I scrub a hand across my mouth, reading the document again. “Scar…”
“Do you need some time?”
I frown. “What? No. No, I don’t need time. I just…”What the fuck?“Are you sure?”
She smiles. “It’s like the only thing I’m sure of. You deserve this, Lance.”
Do I?
“I get to change my name, too, Daddy,” Ave tells me, bouncing on her feet.
“Waverley Lowell-Sullivan.” I grin over at her. “Sounds like a queen’s name.”
“Fitting.” Charlie coughs under his breath, earning a glower from Waverley in return.
I hand the papers back to Mason before settling my stare on Scarlet. I take her face in my hands, smoothing my thumb over her deeply blushed cheek. “God, I love you, Scar. I didn’t think I’d get to stand here like this with you in this lifetime and yet look at us.” I smile. “You gave me a second chance, and I have no idea why. You’re the most kind, loyal, selfless person I’ve ever met, and it’s easy to throw those words around in moments like these, but I know for a fact there isn’t a single person gathered around us who would disagree. My life began when I met you and was made when you had our daughter. Even if I didn’t know it. And now, today, I devote it to you both. For as long as there’s air in my lungs, I’m yours, and I love you. I can’t promise you our time will be perfect. I don’t think I’d want it to be. But I know that every second of the life we’ll share here on this estate, the walks we’ll take, the books we’ll read, the parties we’ll have.” I pull my lip between my teeth, hiding my smile as I remember her spread out for me on the sofa. “The nights we’ll steal”—Scarlet turns her head in my hand, kissing the palm—“will be remembered for a lifetime. By us, our children, and maybe one day their children.” I nod. “I’ll take your name with pride, my sunshine, but know that nothing will ever come close to what being by your side through this life, being your husband, means to me.”
Scarlet’s smile is watery, and I mirror it as she reaches up to blot at the corner of her eye.
She looks from me to Stanley. I follow her gaze, realising he’s stood before us, waiting.
“No one is going to know if we don’t follow it,” he says, holding up the papers. “You guys are doing great.”
Scarlet chuckles, turning back to face me. “My heart’s going wild,” she whispers.
I kiss her forehead. “Mine, too.”
She blows out a shaky breath and steps closer to my chest, looking up at me. “It feels pointless telling you all the ways you amaze me, but it’s our wedding day, and it’s kind of the done thing.” Everyone chuckles at her words, and she frowns, hands shaking in mine. “That came out wrong.”
“Sunshine, talk to me. Forget about them.”
She rolls her lips, locking our eyes. “You won’t believe me, that’s all I meant. You never have believed what I wish you would.” She tilts her head. “You are loved, Lance. By me and so many others around you. I remember meeting you and thinking you were the hardest-faced man in the room. Turns out you are.”
I feign hurt, bringing my hand to my chest as if she’s shot me.
She smiles. “Fortunately, you picked me to share all you hide behind it. And, Lance, what a man you are. I’m so proud of you. I’m certain your dad is proud of you, too. I remember you asked me on our first night together, right here on this lake, if I thought my mother would hate you.” She smiles as laughter rings out. “And I told you I wish I knew.” She pauses, and I know it’s because it hurts that they aren’t here. “Well, she’s the woman who knows every word of our story up until this point. I gave her the best and worst of us over the years, not leaving out a single wild beat.” Her eyes fill as she smiles, voice whispering. “I don’t know if she hates you. I wish I did.” She nods, and I catch a tear. “But I can only take what’s in my heart and in my soul and trust that she loves you as much as I do. That she sees the man you are to me, the friend you are to Mase, and the father you are to Waverley, and knows exactly what you hide from this world. You are good, Lance. You deserve my love and every bit of love you get. You may not believe it, making these words pointless today, but I mean them, and I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you how much.”
My brow dips to meet hers, our smiles wide—forever. “Fuck, I love you.”
There’s a shuffling of papers as Stan clears his throat. “I can see we’ve already exchanged rings,” he deadpans, making us both laugh as he flicks over the page. “Ah, here.” He scans the text. “You may now kiss the bride.”
