Beautifully Damaged

by Fiore, L. A.

  I walked with Trace into the bar and as soon as we stepped over the threshold, I spotted Victoria. It took her only a moment to turn and when she did, her expression said it all. Trace had yet to let go of my hand and, when he started to walk, I realized that he wanted me to come with him. We met her halfway and I watched as mother and son were reunited after over a decade of separation. I couldn't help the tears that fell freely down my face when Trace moved without speaking a word and wrapped his strong arms around the delicate frame of his mother. She, in turn, wrapped her arms around him, both of them crying. Trace reached for my arm and pulled me towards them as they both included me in the hug and there we stood for quite some time.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  The day before my wedding, I was in my room getting ready for the rehearsal dinner as my thoughts drifted back to the reunion between Chelsea and Victoria. After our near Guinness record-breaking group-hug, Trace and I sat with Victoria for almost five hours talking. It had been heartbreaking to witness the pain in Victoria's eyes as Trace recounted the events leading up to the accident and Chelsea's condition. Like mother like son, Victoria blamed herself while fervently telling Trace that he was not at fault. None of it mattered when the two women actually met and though thirteen years had passed, the bond between mother and daughter was still there. In the two weeks since, the three of them had gotten to know each other and had become a family reconnected.

  There was also the moment when my dad and uncle got to meet the woman who, among many things, avenged my mother's death. Needless to say, the three of them came to be like Manny, Moe and Jack. In Fishtown, among our families' close circle of friends, Victoria Michaels was a local hero and with none of the Moore family in the area any longer, her secret identity was safe.

  With all that was happening, I decided to wait until after the wedding to give my gift to Trace but I found myself to be almost as excited for that as I had been for the actual ceremony.

  "Ember, come down here."

  My dad sounded odd so I hurried down the stairs to find him, my uncle, Trace, Lucien, Rafe and Trent standing in the living room looking at the television.

  "What's wrong?"

  Trace looked up and his eyes moved from my head to my toes and back again. He clearly liked my hot-pink bandage gown as a wicked smile curved his lips.

  "Nice."

  I threw him a saucy smile as he moved to pull me to him so he could get his hands on me, roaming in a manner that was not appropriate in front of his soon-to-be father-in-law.

  "Stop it, you wicked man," I whispered.

  "Make me," he growled before he bit my ear.

  I blushed, he laughed, and then my father's voice pulled both of our attentions.

  "An ethics committee has been convened to review the case files on two of the Carmichaels, the judge and the DA."

  "I wonder what prompted that?" I asked.

  Lucien's voice was so very soft when he said, "It's only the beginning. The Carmichael empire is going to crumble. I won't stop until they're all ruined." I turned to Lucien just as Trace placed his hand on Lucien's shoulder. "We won't stop."

  "Damn straight," My Dad and Uncle Josh said in unison.

  The sun was shining and the chapel was filled. I stood in the small room designated for the bride as I studied myself in the full-length mirror. My gown of white was of embellished lace on tulle with a sweetheart neckline, halter straps, and fitted bodice with a flared skirt. My hair was twisted up and I wore a cathedral-length veil trimmed in beads. The only jewelry I wore were the earrings from my dad and Trace's ring.

  Kelly, Chelsea, and Victoria had been in earlier to help me dress but now I stood alone thinking about Trace and our journey together. Though it wasn't a particularly long one, it was certainly a very colorful one. To imagine living a day without him, I couldn't. From the very beginning he appeared like some kind of mystical hero and I was lost to him. Maybe it was fate or destiny or maybe it was just two unlucky souls finally getting a bit of luck.

  The soft knock at the door pulled me from my reflection as I called for my dad to enter. He pushed open the door and a big smile spread over his face.

  "Ah, Emmie girl, you look exquisite."

  I spoke the words that had previously only been spoken in my heart. "I wish mom was here."

  He moved to me as he reached for my hands to hold in his own. "She is Ember. She is here with us and I know that she's smiling as she watches us. Her baby girl is getting married to a man who is very worthy of her, the man who grew from the child for whom she died trying to save. Life works in mysterious ways, Ember, and the secret is to not think too hard on the why of it or the how, and to not mourn what is no longer, but to appreciate what is and to live: live hard and love hard. Your mom would want that for you, both of you."

  I kissed my dad as tears filled my eyes.

  "Your name will change today but you will always be my little girl."

  "...and you will always be my daddy."

  He wiped at his eyes before reaching for my hand and pulling it through his arm. "...let's go get you married."

  The chapel was small with wooden pews lining the sides. The long, center aisle reached from the back of the church down through the nave and standing on the altar next to the priest was Trace. As soon as my dad and I stepped through the doors, Trace and I locked eyes and as I approached the altar, I saw tears in his and knew that he would see the same in mine. The entire service flew by and before I knew it, the priest had announced us husband and wife. Trace's hands framed my face as he lowered his head so that our lips were almost touching and then he whispered, "My beautiful wife."

  "My beautiful husband."

  And then he kissed me.

  Epilogue

  I have been Mrs. Trace Montgomery for three weeks, two days, nine hours and seven minutes and am deliriously happy. Thanksgiving is coming up and Trace and I are having everyone over. Trace, Chelsea and I are doing all of the cooking and this year, it will be eighteen for dinner including Hank, Dougie, Jimmy and Jerry. Well, actually it will be nineteen since I am playing matchmaker; there was something in the way that Vincent spoke of Victoria and I sensed there could be something between them.

  Trace invited Charles and Vivian to Thanksgiving. I remember the day when Victoria walked into Charles' office; the man actually cried. Who knew that there really was a heart beating in his chest. I still don't like him and I know that Trace doesn't either. The man knew what was happening to Trace and Chelsea when they were kids and he chose to stay quiet. There was nothing he'd ever be able to do to make up for failing them so stunningly. He will never be welcomed into our family but he will be part of our lives and we are going to need his help with Dane.

  Lucien is picking us up in a few minutes so I can give Trace his wedding gift. He gave me mine while we were honeymooning in Marblehead and I broke down when he did. He worked with Lucien and they created a chain of shelters for battered women and children. They named these safe havens, these beacons of hope, Mandy.

  Down the hall in the office, Trace is standing by the window looking outside. I wonder what he is thinking about.

  "Trace?"

  He turns and a smile spreads over his face which is always a treat to see. He comes from around the desk and walks to me and pulls me into his arms.

  "Hello, Mrs. Montgomery."

  "Hello, Mr. Montgomery."

  "I don't think I will ever get used to you being mine."

  "I am and have been since the very beginning."

  He brushes his lips over mine before I ask, "What were you thinking about?"

  "You, and how my life is so different from how it would have been without you. You saw past a damaged surface and found the man beneath it. More, you loved that man and allowed him the honor of loving you."

  "I feel like the lucky one, Trace."

  He says nothing to that but watches me in that way of his before he lowers his head and just when his mouth touches mine, the door bell rings. />
  "Damn bell." Trace growls.

  I step back and take his hand as excitement surges through me. "It's Lucien, it's time."

  Trace comes with me but not quietly as he nags me to share my secret.

  "You're going to see it in ten minutes, patience young Jedi."

  I reach for the door as Trace whispers in my ear, "I know what I want for my birthday this year."

  I stop in my tracks, mid-motion, to look back at him. "What?"

  "You dressed like Princess Leia in the slave girl costume."

  I blush and he grins. "Oh, yes, I am so going to buy that outfit. Hell, it doesn't have to be just for my birthday; it could be for all the days in the week that end in 'y'."

  I narrow my eyes at him and he kisses me hard on the mouth before he reaches across me and opens the door.

  "Lucien, my friend."

  "Good morning." Lucien turns to me and grins. "Are we ready?"

  "Yup."

  I blindfold Trace since all of our friends and family will be standing outside Everything for the unveiling. We pull up to the curb and my eyes move to the steel-blue sign with 'Everything' written across it in black with pictures representing the stages of cooking. Inside there are twelve workstations complete with granite counter-tops, Viking appliances, All Clad pots and pans and chef-knives: lots of chef-knives.

  I climb from the car before helping Trace out and walk him to the perfect spot. Lucien comes to stand next to us.

  "Thank you, Lucien, for making this happen."

  "It was truly my pleasure."

  "Can I see now?"

  "Remember you told me once that it wasn't every day a wish came true?"

  Trace's voice holds such affection as he answers, "Yes."

  I remove the blindfold, step back, and just watch. It takes him a minute for his eyes to adjust and then he just stares. I watch as his eyes take in our friends and family first and then move to the sign before traveling to the prominently displayed bronze plaque, which reads:

  Dedicated in loving memory to Roberta Fletcher,

  friend and teacher,

  without whom none of this would be possible.

  Trace turns to me with overly bright eyes. "What have you done?"

  "Making your wish come true."

  He pulls me to him and buries his face in my neck as his arms wrap around me, holding me so tightly against him. "I love you, Ember Montgomery, I love you so fucking much."

  "Love, my husband, is not strong enough a word."

  He pulls back and frames my face with his hands. "You are my wish come true."

  "And you're mine."

  He kisses me and pays no mind to the people standing around us before he pulls away with a smile.

  "A cooking school."

  "Yes, and you already have pupils but you need to create the curriculum."

  "I can do that." He lowers his forehead to mine before whispering, "Thank you, wife. You are still the greatest gift I will ever receive but this..." he looks up at the school before looking back at me as a smile spreads over his face "...is pretty fucking awesome."

  "I couldn't have done it without Lucien."

  Trace turns to Lucien but instead of shaking his hand he pulls him in for a hug and when Lucien returns it, I almost cry. Everyone else then approaches and my dad and uncle sign up for classes hoping to learn how to conquer the Thanksgiving meal. They don't want to be dependent on me but that is just silliness since there won't be a Thanksgiving that we aren't all together but I understand their desire to support Trace. I watch as Rafe and Trace laugh and I think about how far they have both come. I smile to see Luke and Trace shake hands; for two people who didn't hit it off at first, they have become such fast friends in the few months since. Victoria stands with Chelsea, who holds Trace's hand as he laughs over something Trent says and for me, this is all that matters. Trace is happy, he is healing and for this, a smile curves my lips.

  "Not bad, eh?"

  I turn at the sound of Lucien's voice and say, "We make a good team."

  "It's funny you should say that because I have this idea about a jazz club for aspiring artists. Think you might be interested in helping me set that up?"

  "Yeah, Lucien, I would."

  "Excellent." Lucien looks to Trace for a moment before looking back at me.

  "You did a really good thing here today."

  "We did a really good thing here."

  "I saw the memorial for Sabrina at Sapphire. You know as hard as I try to hate him for stealing you from me, I just can't. He's a good man."

  I look over at Trace as a smile touches my lips. He had hand-cut, crystal stars made in memory of my mom and Sabrina and hung them prominently over the bar in Sapphire. "Yes, he is." I reach for Lucien's hand and squeeze before adding, "So are you."

  "Don't let that get out, it'll ruin my reputation."

  "Your secrets are safe with me, Lucien."

  Trace walks over with such a beautiful smile on his face.

  "Let's check out the inside."

  "Absolutely."

  Lucien starts inside as everyone follows after him until only Trace and I are left standing on the front step looking up at the sign. Trace looks down at me and smiles. "Everything."

  "I thought it was fitting."

  He runs his finger along my jaw and whispers, "It is very fitting."

  He reaches for my hand as his eyes move to our linked fingers and when he looks back up at me, I see everything I am feeling looking back at me.

  "From a damaged, lost soul to having you as my wife, I will be forever grateful. I love you, Ember."

  "Not damaged. Beautifully damaged, Trace. And I love you, husband."

  And then he kisses me.