Six Months Later
Eve
"Are you sure?" Cy asks me. His hair is neatly combed back, the scruff I've grown to love on him precisely trimmed, and those eyes of his—intense as always.
I nod and smile. "Absolutely."
He takes my hand in his. A throat clears behind us. I turn and find my father watching us with a cocked eyebrow. "I believe that's my job," he says, and takes my hand from Cy. He juts his chin out to tell Cy to go on without us. Cy flashes me a brilliant smile then walks out to stand beside Parker. "Before you do this," my dad starts, his salt and pepper hair short on the sides and longer on top. His chestnut eyes are sparkling in the sun. "I want you to know how proud I am of you."
"I know. You've told me about ten times since you got here."
"Well, I can't say it enough. You've been through a lot, and your mom and I noticed how much you've changed since we last saw you."
"I changed?"
"Only for the better." He kisses me on top of my head. "We’d best be going. I don't think that man of yours is going to wait much longer."
"He is a little impatient, isn't he?" I look out to the clearing and see him rocking on his heels while his hands stay clasped in front of him. His black slacks pressed without a single wrinkle. The white button-down shirt he's wearing, with the sleeves rolled up, makes him look sexier than I've ever seen him.
Brenda sneaks up by my side and gives me a quick hug before she walks out to stand across from Cy and Parker. She chose a belted chiffon maxi dress. It's pink with printed white, black, and grey flowers and leaves scattered about it. The halter top is covered with the flowers, but below the belted waist, the flowers trail down the sides to gather along the bottom of the dress at her feet. It's a perfect complement to her long, dark hair and slender frame. She's become much more to me than my employer. She's like a sister—my best friend, next to Cy and Parker.
I didn't want a typical, fancy wedding dress, but being an only child and a girl nonetheless, I had to compromise with my mom. By compromise, I mean she got her way in that it's white and lacey. I picked out the style and length of the dress.
The dress has thin, lacey straps, which go down to a sweetheart top. The lace of the dress lies atop satin. There is a delicate silver belt with crystals on it. Then the dress falls to my knees in the front then progressively gets longer in the back to land just above my heels. It's delicate and feminine without being too much. It's perfect.
With my arm looped through my dad's, we walk together toward the man who will soon be my husband. The man I slept apart from last night, since my mom insisted it was bad luck to see him before the wedding. I stayed with Brenda. My parents have been at a hotel in the next town over, since they arrived two days ago. I thought my mom’s eyes were going to pop out of her head when Cy walked toward me when we arrived at the falls. She tried to shoo him away, but he wasn't having any of it. He wasn't happy until he wrapped me in his arms and kissed me.
The closer I get to Cy, the faster my heart beats in my chest. We only have eyes for each other. When we reach him, my father hugs me and kisses my forehead before placing my hand in Cy's. He smiles and we both turn toward Jim. He's not only one of our local police officers, he's also licensed to perform weddings.
Cy and I recite our vows, committing our lives to one another. I asked if he wanted us to write our own vows and he said no. He said no words he could ever think of would come close to describing the love he has for me. I told him that was a good start, and he laughed. I'm fine using traditional vows. It also makes my mom happy.
With our vows said and our rings exchanged, we kiss in front of our closest friends and my parents. No other family of mine is here, and there is no one in Cy's distant family he wanted to invite.
Cy's fingers dig into my waist, a sign he wants to do much more to me than the kiss he's bestowing upon me. When we break apart, a gentle breeze brings some of the mist from the falls around us and tosses my hair about, tickling my nose. It's not enough to get us really wet, just delicate droplets of water glistening on our skin. Cy takes it as an opportunity to lean in and kiss me again with a little tongue. Pulling back, he gives me a wink.
We turn to my parents, and the handful of friends we invited, as Jim pronounces us husband and wife.
We all pile in our cars, our wedding complete. Neither Cy, nor I wanted a big reception, but Brenda insisted on at least throwing us something back at her house.
I did hand Cy the letter his mom left for him. I also told him he didn’t have to tell me what it said. That it was between him and his mom. It’s also all he has left of her. That and what she gave us in the boxes and folders.
On the drive to Brenda’s, I think about all Cy and I have been through in the past six months. His childhood home was torn down and the ground was broken for a shelter for domestic abuse victims. He wanted to do something for those who don't think they have anywhere to turn when they are being abused. As a teenager, he felt lost when his mom wouldn't believe him. Maybe things would have been different if this place he's having built would have existed back then.
He's using the money his mom left him to build and run the home. There will be rooms for a single person or a parent and children. He's already begun the process of hiring a recruiting firm to find the right people he needs to work there.
The past months haven't been easy for him. We found out Everett did in fact tamper with Risa's car, causing her accident. The police obtained security footage from the post office where Risa stopped before the accident. It shows Everett sliding under her car in the parking lot then leaving without anyone noticing. After having the car inspected, the police found the brake line had been unscrewed from the back of the caliper, causing the brake fluid to leak from the line slowly. It was another thing to add to the long list of charges against Everett. We try not to talk about him unless we have to, due to the legal proceedings, media coverage about Cy, or the home he's having built. Everett has no place in our minds. We push him out the best we can. Cy still has nightmares, but they have become few and far between, the longer we're together.
Cy holds my hand as we drive to Brenda's. Parker wanted to get us a limo, but I love Cy's truck, so I politely declined. We’re still living with Parker. We’ve talked about having a home built in the mountains, but Parker insisted we are in no rush to leave, married or not. He likes having us there.
Cy’s hand turns to play with my engagement and wedding rings. He doesn't say anything, but I see the wide smile on his face. He's happy. Really happy and I love seeing him like this.
At the reception, we enjoy food, which is far too fancy for my taste, but damn it’s good. Parker talks to Brenda, each smiling coyly at one another. I can't help but wonder if something is going on with them. Yes, she's a little older than him but only by eight years.
After dinner, Cy and I find a private corner of the house to sneak off to. He kisses me and trails his lips along my neck, causing chills to spread down my arms.
"My beautiful Evie," he murmurs against my lips. "God, how I love you."
"I'm forever yours."
"I don't think I've ever thanked you."
I look in his eyes. "Why would you thank me?"
"You saved my life, Evie. I was trying to put an end to my misery, and there you were, offering me a new beginning. I wanted to die, but you told me to go with you. That you would take me from my hell, and that's just what you did."
"I didn't want you to leave this world. I heard the desperation in your voice. I would have done anything for you at that moment and still will."
"I would burn down the world for you. Then and now. You're my past, present, and future. Where I end, you begin."
"And I will be here loving you for the rest of our lives and beyond."