Endless Love Letter (Love Letter Duet Book 2) (11 page)

S
eptember

I
t was
Emilia’s last day of chemotherapy.

We’d made it.

We’d reached the end.

Four months had passed. Four brutal months, but she was alive. She was stronger than ever and, based on her results, she was in remission.

That morning, the alarm didn’t wake us up. Emilia and I both sat in bed staring out the window as we watched the darkness fade and the sun begin to rise in the east. We held each other, thankful and content. Though I hated what she’d gone through, it had made us closer.

“I can’t believe it’s today,” Emilia said as her hands traced invisible love letters on my chest. “It seemed that four months would be so long and now we’re here.”

I pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. “I want to tell you that I’m proud of you.” I paused. “No, proud doesn’t seem like the right word. You are so brave, Em. You’re a fighter, and though these past few months have been hell at times, you never quit.”

She looked up at me. “Because I had you by my side.” Capturing her mouth with mine, I kissed her tenderly. Emilia pulled back and smiled. “We have one more treatment and I’m done. I’m
so
done. I’m ready for this to be behind us.”

“Today is a new day.” I brushed my hand over her soft skin. “Today we can say goodbye to chemo and continue with the rest of our lives, together.”

“I love you so much, Weston.” She pressed her lips into a fine line. “I love you with everything that I am.”

I kissed her forehead and muttered, “Me too.” My hand grazed up her arm, writing the words I love you over her skin.

After dropping Lyra off at school, we headed toward the cancer center. The first time we had driven there in complete silence, my heart pounding with each passing second, but this time the radio played behind us. I asked Emilia what her plans were now that she would have all this free time on her hands.

I pulled the car into the parking lot and glanced over at her. “I think I want to go back to work.” She pouted her lips. “Maybe go on a vacation. Go to Europe.” She shrugged and threw her hands in the air in defeat. “I don’t know, we should do something fun.” She looked at me with a spark as I held the door for her and smiled. “We
should
do something fun.”

Walking in, Emilia stopped mid–step and gasped. The nurses and staff members who had worked with us for the past four months were gathered around and clapping as Emilia walked to her recliner. A banner that read ‘Last Chemo Day’ hung above her station.

This was the last fucking time.

Mary, a sweet, elderly nurse who had taken care of Emilia before, hung the chemotherapy bag and inserted the syringe into her port. She would sit by her chair and share stories about her grandchild with us. Though I couldn’t wait for this treatment to be over, I would miss Mary.

Emilia reached for my hand and I brought the back of it to my lips. Four months ago, when we sat at this very spot, I’d wondered if we would make it here. I had no clue what was in store for us, but now a vision of my future was clear in my head. I didn’t want to spend another day away from her. I didn’t want to lose her again.

This time, I wanted her by my side forever.

Emilia continued to talk about the places she wanted to visit while I drew a love letter on her forearm. I wrote the same letters over and over until I caught her attention.

She stopped talking and looked over at me. “What are you writing?”

“You figure it out.” I winked. Sliding my hands over her milky skin, I wrote the letters M–A–R–R–Y–M–E.

Emilia’s eyes widened and she looked over at me. When she didn’t respond, I drew a question mark.

“Are you asking me?” she whispered shakily. I knew her divorce with Jeremy was finalized and there was nothing keeping us apart anymore.

I pushed off the chair and lowered myself to one knee. Digging into my back pocket, I pulled out the engagement ring I had bought earlier in the week. I knew I wanted to marry her from the moment I fell in love, and now that this bump was over, I wanted to start fresh. I wanted to hold on to her and never let her go. We could be a family and give us a real shot. We could put all the bullshit behind us and start over.

I took her hand in mine and cleared my throat.

“Emilia Darcy, you are my best friend, the mother of my daughter, the love of my life, my yellow gel. The story of our love is only beginning. Let’s write our own happy ending. I love you, Em. Marry me?

Emilia’s eyes pooled with tears. With a trembling hand, she caressed the side of my face. “Yes!” Her smile grew wide. “I will be honored to be your wife.”

I stood and captured her lips with mine. Tears of joy dripped down her face and applause erupted around us. Pulling my lips away, I rested my forehead on hers. She was going to be my wife.

“I love you.” She beamed up at me. 

“When we got here today you said you wanted to do something fun.” I joked and gave her a chaste kiss.

“I don’t want to wait.”

We don’t have to.” I pulled away from her and slipped the ring on her finger. “I’ll marry you tomorrow if you want to.”

Emilia laughed and showed her ring to Mary. “Tomorrow I might be a little sick. How about in three weeks?”

I nodded and leaned forward, resting my head on her legs and closing my eyes.
Thank you, God, for not taking my girl.

T
he scent
of roses and lilies wafted through the house. Emilia had requested that I not see her until she walked down the aisle, so I sat on the bed in the empty guest room with my arms resting on my knees as I stared at the pattern on the carpet. It had been four weeks since Emilia’s last chemo treatment and today would be the most beautiful day of our life together.

The day I married the love of my life.

I would vow to love her and cherish her all the days and seconds we had together. There would never be enough time with her. I could have seventy years with her and still that wouldn’t make me happy. I wanted her for all eternity.

“West?” I heard my mother’s voice on the other side of the door before she pushed it open. “Oh, my child.” She cupped my face as I stood to greet her. “I can’t believe my baby is getting married.”

“Mom.” I held her hand and kissed her palm.

“Almost everyone is here and I wanted you to have something before we started.” My mother placed a jewelry box in my hand. “My father gave this to me when I turned sixteen.”

I pushed back the lid and was greeted with a diamond eternity band. Each small diamond looked as if it was floating on its own. “I know she asked to use the ring Mama gave you and I know you can give her something much more beautiful and more expensive than this, but I’ve been holding onto this ring for you. I didn’t know when exactly to give it to you, but I figured it was now or never. You can give her this one if you want. I’ve had it sized to fit Emilia’s ring finger.”

“It’s perfect.” I held the small band in my hand.

Axel knocked on the open door. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Walking over to me, he reached for my shoulder. “You ready?” His eyes were glassy.

My mother leaned up and kissed my cheek. “I’ll see you out there.”

Axel cleared his throat again. “You need me to hold that?” He pointed to the band. “I think that’s what a best man is supposed to do.”

“You okay, Ax?”

“Bloody hell.” He threw his hands in the air. “I’m a little emotional, okay!” I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t laugh. “I feel like I’ve been in this relationship since the get–go and it’s about time you two got your shit together.”

I laughed and tapped him on the shoulder. “I’m sorry it took so long to figure it out. I hope I didn’t inconvenience you.” I handed the diamond band over to him and nodded. “Let’s go see my wife.” I said.

When Emilia told Leslie we were getting married, Leslie insisted on being in charge of the decorations—it was her maid of honor duty. Emilia didn’t argue. We wanted to be married. Nothing else mattered.

Beautiful flower arrangements were scattered throughout the house, and candles covered most surfaces. Twinkling lights were strung through the air, setting the sky alight with infinite stars, and swirls of rose petals led down the steps of the deck to an arch of roses on the other side of the lawn. I stood to the right of the arch waiting for Emilia. Axel stood behind me and the string quartet began to play the Pachelbel Canon in D Major.

Leslie came out first, smiling through her tears. She walked down the aisle and stood across from me. Pure joy was present on her face when our eyes met.

“Shit, I’m such a baby when it comes to weddings, especially this one,” Axel muttered in my ear.

Everyone stood when Emilia appeared at the door. A crown of small flowers rested on her head, and a lace dress hugged her body. With a bouquet of pink flowers in one hand and Lyra holding onto the other, she walked toward me. She was my queen. She was perfection.

My everything.

My beautiful bride.

My soulmate.

She took her time as she strolled down the aisle, savoring every moment. “Hi,” she mouthed when she finally approached me. Handing her bouquet to Leslie, she reached for my hand. Lyra stood between us holding both of our hands.

“Dearly beloved,” the minister began once everyone took their seats, “We are gathered here to join Weston Carter and Emilia Darcy in holy matrimony.” He continued to speak as I stared at the stunning woman beside me.

“Do you, Weston, take Emilia to be your lawfully wedded wife?” Pastor Curtis asked.

“I do.”

“And do you, Emilia, take Weston to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Emilia’s smile grew. “I do.”

“The ring?” he asked.

Lyra handed my band to Emilia and Axel handed me hers. I took Emilia’s hand. “Emilia, I promise to always be the person who earns your love. You are my best friend. You are the one I love the most. We’ve shared so much together, but I know that the future holds so much more. I promise to learn from you, to cherish you, to care for you in sickness and health. I promise to be your family, to be your friend, and to love you always.”

Emilia brushed a tear from her eye and reached for my hand. “Weston, you gave me no choice but to love you. You call me
your
yellow gel but, in reality, that’s who you are to me. You have the purest heart and the most beautiful soul. There are days I look in the mirror and wonder why you picked me.” She bit her lower lip to hold back her tears. “In front of our daughter, our family, and our friends, I give you my heart, my promise that I will walk with you, hand in hand, wherever our journey leads us, living, learning, and loving, together. Forever.”

“By the powers vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Weston, you may kiss your bride.”

I released Lyra’s hand and framed Emilia’s face. “I will love you all the days of my life.” I brought my lips to hers and kissed my wife.

“I will love you through all eternity,” she whispered against my lips when I pulled away.

Leslie handed Emilia her bouquet and I scooped Lyra into my arms. For the first time, the world greeted us as the Carter family.

T
he deck had been transformed
into a beautiful reception hall. Christmas lights were strung above like twinkling stars, and a few round tables were scattered about the make–shift dance floor. A jazz band began to play as I brought Emilia to the center of the dance floor.

I cupped her face. “You make me so happy, Mrs. Carter.”

“Hmm,” she moaned when I kissed her lips. “I really like the sound of that.”

I pulled her closer to me and she whimpered. “Are you in any pain?”

“No.” She smiled up at me. “I just can’t believe I’m hugging my sexy husband.” She pushed up on her tippy toes and kissed me, running her hands up my body and lacing them around my neck. Her mouth opened and her tongue invaded my mouth. Hungry for her, I deepened the kiss.

“Are you two going to dance or make out the whole time?” Axel shouted.

Our lips pulled away from each other and we turned to look at him. Emilia laughed and rested her head on my shoulder. As the band sang Frank Sinatra’s ‘The Way You Look Tonight,’ I held her close as our bodies swayed to the music.

O
ur guests danced
, the food was impeccable, and Emilia laughed non–stop throughout the evening. As the night grew on—our wedding night—I fell more in love with her. I didn’t think that could be possible, but it was.

I was standing by the bar with Cinthia, her former boss, and her husband, Scott, when Emilia wrapped her arms around me. “Mr. Carter,” she whispered in my ear. I turned and draped my arms over her.

“Mrs. Carter.” I pulled her close and pressed my lips to hers.

“The love you two have is so beautiful.” Cinthia put her hands over her heart. “And to think I was there at the very beginning.”

Emilia tucked into my side and laughed. “Yes, and he wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Her gaze looked up at me. “Can I borrow you for a moment?”

“Excuse us.” I followed Emilia across the room and inside the house. “Is everything okay?” I asked.

She stopped and turned to face me. “I want to consummate our marriage.” Her hands ran down my face.

“Emilia . . .” I shook my head slowly. “Our reception is in mid–swing.”

“Come on. Please?” She bit her bottom lip and gave me the most irresistible and devious grin.

“Now?”

“Right now.” She giggled and tugged on me to follow her. “I told Leslie I was feeling a bit tired and I was going to have you bring me to bed. She said she would handle the guests and Lyra.”

I chuckled. “What if they hear us?”

“We’re husband and wife. I
hope
they hear us.”

In one quick movement, I swooped Emilia into my arms and carried her to bed. If we were going to consummate our marriage, we were doing it the right way. Emilia’s giggles echoed through the house as I kicked open the bedroom door. Roses were scattered around, and bedroom candles had been lit, making the room glow.