Chapter 29 - The Gathering of Friends
To celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary, Owen and I decided to host a small dinner party in our backyard—a quiet echo of the wedding ceremony under the apple tree.
We invited a few close friends, our neighbors, and my father, who was now using a wheelchair but still possessed the sharp, quick wit of his youth.
The backyard was lit with the same fairy lights, casting a soft, romantic glow over the lawn. The table was set with a rustic linen runner, wildflowers from our garden, and a spread of simple, delicious food we had prepared together.
As our guests laughed and chatted, I stood by the barbecue grill with Owen, watching the gathering.
"Five years," Owen whispered, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me close. "Can you believe it?"
"It feels like a lifetime," I said, leaning my head against his shoulder. "And at the same time, it feels like it went by in a flash."
"Are you happy, Nora?" he asked, looking down at me.
"I am happier than I ever thought possible," I said, looking at him with absolute sincerity. "I have everything I ever wanted, Owen. A family that loves me, a husband who respects me, and a home filled with peace."
My father wheeled himself over, holding a glass of red wine. "A toast," he said, his voice slightly raspy but strong.
The guests turned, raising their glasses.
"To Nora and Owen," my father said, his eyes shining with pride. "Two people who showed us that even when the foundation is destroyed, you can still build a beautiful, lasting home. To five years of love, and to many more."
"Hear, hear!" the guests cheered, clinking their glasses.
May you like
I raised my glass of sparkling water, looking around the table at the faces of the people who had stood by us. There were no secrets here. No hidden agendas. No lingering shadows.
There was only light.
