Chapter 19 - The Wedding That Almost Happened
One year after the canceled wedding, the Caldwell estate hosted another celebration.
There were no four hundred guests.
No society photographers.
No imported flowers.
No orchestra.
Only thirty-two people stood beneath the garden lights.
Rosa wore a simple cream dress.
Lily wore yellow and carried Button beneath one arm.
Ethan wore a dark suit without a tie because Lily had declared ties “too serious.”
But this was not a wedding.
Not yet.
It was Lily’s fourth birthday.
Ethan had insisted the day belong entirely to her.
A small piano had been moved into the garden.
When everyone finished dinner, Lily climbed onto the bench.
She played “Morning Light.”
The melody was stronger now.
Still imperfect.
Still beautiful.
When she finished, everyone applauded.
Lily bowed dramatically.
Rosa laughed.
Ethan’s sister Caroline stood at the edge of the crowd.
It was her first visit.
She had spent twenty minutes crying when she met Lily.
Lily had solved the awkwardness by asking,
“Why are you leaking?”
Caroline laughed through the tears.
“Because I’m happy.”
Now Caroline approached Rosa.
“I know tonight isn’t about apologies.”
Rosa nodded.
“But thank you for letting me come.”
“You’re Lily’s aunt.”
“I wasn’t sure I deserved that.”
“Deserving a relationship and building one are different things.”
Caroline understood.
“I’ll build it.”
Later, as guests began leaving, Ethan found Rosa near the piano.
“You’re quiet.”
“I’m happy.”
“That usually makes people less quiet.”
“Not me.”
He stood beside her.
“One year.”
Rosa nodded.
“A strange year.”
“I bought you a house.”
“You did.”
“You rejected it.”
“I did.”
“You kissed me.”
“You bring that up too often.”
“You kissed me first.”
“I regret everything.”
He smiled.
Then his expression became serious.
“I almost married Victoria one year ago.”
Rosa looked toward him.
“I know.”
“I thought I wanted a perfect life.”
“Perfect house.”
“Perfect company.”
“Perfect wife.”
“And?”
“I think perfection is another word people use when they’re afraid of being honest.”
Rosa studied him.
Ethan reached inside his pocket.
Her eyes widened.
“Ethan.”
“Relax.”
He removed a small velvet box.
“I am absolutely not relaxed.”
He opened it.
Inside was a ring.
Simple.
Elegant.
Not enormous.
Rosa stared.
Ethan did not kneel.
Not yet.
“I’m not asking tonight.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“I’m telling you something.”
He closed the box.
“One day, if you want it, I’m going to ask.”
Rosa laughed.
“You bought an engagement ring for a hypothetical future proposal?”
“I plan aggressively.”
“You are insane.”
“Possibly.”
She leaned against him.
“When?”
“When I know you’re saying yes because you want our future.”
“Not because you want to repair our past.”
Rosa looked surprised.
“That was a good answer.”
“I practiced.”
She kissed his cheek.
Across the garden, Lily shouted,
“Daddy!”
Ethan turned.
Lily pointed at them.
“Are you doing kissing?”
Rosa burst out laughing.
Ethan called back,
“Mind your business.”
Lily placed both hands on her hips.
“I am your business.”
Rosa laughed harder.
May you like
Ethan stared at his daughter.
He could not argue with that.
