by Eliana West
Reid’s arms crossed over his chest. “I keep replaying what Mom…Dorothy said.”
Callie shuddered. “I’ll never get that scene out of my head.”
“I don’t even know who she is anymore,” Dax said grimly.
Reid was still troubled. “Dax I’m sorry she’s going to go to jail. It’s unavoidable, though. She’s confessed to multiple crimes.”
“I know. And on one hand, I’m sorry for her, but she needs to be punished for what she’s done.”
“She…” Callie shook her head. “I feel sorry for her, she carried this secret around until it broke her. She wasn’t allowed to grieve for the baby she lost.”
“I’m so angry with Dad right now. For what he did to Dorothy, for what he did to my mother, to me.” Reid’s voice had a slight tremor. “I thought we had this special bond and the whole time he was lying to me.”
“He lied to both of us.”
“I can’t believe I’m half Black,” Reid said looking down at his hands, outstretched before him.
“Does it bother you?” Callie asked looking at him with concern.
“No, but everything I thought I knew has changed and it’s going to take some time to…I don’t know,” he exhaled, “get to know myself again.”
“I can teach you the secret handshake when you’re ready.”
Reid gave her a half smile.
“Everyone’s experience is different but I’m here whenever you want to talk,” Callie offered.
“I’d like that.”
Callie looked at Dax. “What happens now?”
“We start over,” he looked over at his brother, “together as a family.”
“I know it’s not true but I feel kind of orphaned.”
“I’m going to say this as many times as you need to hear it. We’re brothers, half Black, half White, gay, you’re my brother.” Dax sighed and shook his head. “I’m not Dorothy, my love for you is unconditional.”
“I love you, too.”
“Then that’s all that needs to be said until you want to say more.”
Despite his brother’s offer to stay with them at Callie’s house, Reid decided to stay with Uncle Robert.
Dax hugged his brother. “Just promise me you won’t stay away for too long.”
“We lost too much time, I won’t let that happen again.”
Reid walked them to their truck and gave Callie a hug whispering in her ear, “Take good care of him.”
They drove back to Callie’s house and instead of going inside Dax sat down on the porch swing and pulled her into his lap.
“How are you, really?” she asked.
He took a deep breath. “I know this is going to sound strange but I’m thankful. You’re safe now and I have my brother back in my life.”
“What do you need Dax, what can I do to help you here?” She put her hand over his heart.
“Can we go for a walk?”
“Where do you want to go?” she asked.
Dax reached for her hand. “It doesn’t matter, as long as are walking in the same direction together.”
They walked toward town. The air was still warm but the heat of the day was gone. The lampposts surrounding the park flickered on just as they made their way into the town.
They waked along two blocks that made up half of the town square and then started down the next block. When they reached the library Dax stopped and took both of Callie’s hands in his. His eyes locked with hers for a moment before he dropped to one knee.
“I know how much you love this place and I want to replace the memory of what happened here with something good.”
Callie squeezed his hands, holding back tears, not from sadness but of pure joy.
“Callie Fisher Colton, you are the love of my life. I will only be half the man I can be without you, because you’re the other half of me. Will you marry me?”
Callie couldn’t hold back her smile. “You are the only man I will ever love, I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Yes I’ll marry you.”
Dax stood and drew her into his arms sealing their promise with a kiss, before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a ring and sliding it on her finger. Callie looked down at the simple round diamond surrounded by smaller yellow ones.
“I hope it’s okay.”
“It’s perfect.” She glance toward the park. “It reminds me of the gazebo surrounded by yellow roses.”
“That’s exactly what I had in mind when I had it made.” He reached up and caressed her cheek. “I’m hoping you’ll want to get married under the gazebo and continue the tradition.”
“There’s no other place I’d want to take my vows with you. But the tradition isn’t why we’re going to have a long and happy life together. We found a way to move forward from the past, with love and forgiveness. I’m glad you came home Dax. When I came to Colton, I had a vision for bringing the town back to life and…I thought I could do it all myself.” Her eyes shone with happiness. “Now I can’t imagine this journey without you by my side.” She looked around the park. “This is a good place, not perfect, but no city or town is but you know what? Perfect doesn’t give us a chance to grow.”
Dax kissed her forehead. “I’m looking forward to every day I get to grow with you.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
It was that magical time of day when the day ended and the birds in the trees began to welcome twilight with a song. Dax looked around the park with pride. The whole town had come together to make their day special. This day showed the promise of what Colton could be, more than a town, a community. The air shimmered and shifted, the scent of eucalyptus washed over him. He looked around and saw her. The same old woman he saw before, smiling and nodding at him.
Uncle Robert straightened his tie. “If you don’t breathe, you’re going to pass out before your bride gets here.”
He wasn’t nervous, far from it. He glanced over to where he saw the old woman was but she was gone. A rightness settled into his bones. Dax took a deep breath, and gazed at their friends and family seated around the gazebo. It was the end of summer and the light filtering through the trees bathed them all in a warm glow. The columns and railing around the gazebo were covered in garlands of yellow roses, freesia, and peonies. Their heady scent filled the air. Lights had been strung across the park and a stage and dance floor had been set up on one side. Dax kept the band he’d hired a closely guarded secret. He couldn’t wait to see the look on his bride’s face when Lucas Monroe serenaded them for their first dance.
Speaking of his bride, he looked toward the library for the hundredth time, anxious for Callie to come out escorted by Mae’s father. Her parents’ absence the only disappointment on their day.
“Don’t worry,” Reid said, slapping him on the back, “you’ll get to see her soon enough.”
Jacob and Isiah joined them. Dax looked over his groomsmen in their gray suits with yellow ties and grinned. “You two clean up well. Thanks for standing up with me today.” He held out his hand to Isiah. “I appreciate you coming back down for the wedding.”
“Oh, he’s not just here for the wedding.” Jacob grinned, rubbing his hands together.
“Oh?” Dax looked at his friend.
“I’d like to introduce y’all to Colton’s new sheriff,” Jacob announced.
“I just signed the paperwork this morning.”
“That’s great. Are you sure you’re ready to give up life in the city?”
“It’s going to be an adjustment, but I need more than a career. I want to be a part of a community where my neighbors are my friends. I like what I’ve seen here, the way you all support and care for each other. Hopefully your kids can grow up with mine someday.”
“And, I’m looking forward to being here and spoiling my nieces and nephews,” Reid quietly added.
Dax looked at his brother with wide eyes. Just when he thought he couldn’t be any happier the day got better.
Reid shrugged. “You and Callie are my fami
ly. We missed out on too many years together. I don’t want to miss any more.”
“You just gave Callie and me the best wedding present we could ever ask for.”
“Gentlemen, it’s time,” Judge Beaumont announced, peering at them over the rim of his glasses.
There had almost been an all-out war between the ministers of the two Baptist churches vying to marry them, each hoping their service would be rewarded with a large donation to their congregations. When the judge called and offered his services as a conciliatory gesture for Presley’s involvement in Dorothy’s schemes, they were happy to accept. The judge’s offer may have been another part of Presley’s punishment as well. He glanced to the lone figure standing under a tree at the corner of the park dressed in black, her face hidden by a hat with…wait, was that a…veil? He rolled his eyes. Other than wreaking havoc in the library and believing his mother’s lies, Presley hadn’t done anything illegal. She had been spoiled and coddled by his mother. Without her influence, Dax hoped that she would learn the same lesson he had: kindness was a gift and forgiveness had to be earned, second chances didn’t happen every day, and if you were lucky enough to get one, you had to treasure and nurture it until it bloomed and grew.
His groomsmen lined up with Reid at his side. Patting the pocket with Callie’s ring, he gave Dax a quick thumbs-up.
And then the library door opened and he caught his first glimpse of his bride. Ruby began singing Etta James’s “At Last” in a strong, clear voice that carried across the park. Emma came out first followed by Mae, wearing matching pale yellow dresses with gray sashes that coordinated with the groomsmen’s suits. Callie came out on her uncle’s arm. Her curls were pulled into a low bun with a cluster of roses tucked behind her ear. She wore a strapless chiffon dress with a yellow sash, carrying a bouquet of yellow roses. His breath caught. When she reached the steps of the gazebo, Joseph placed Callie’s hand in his. “Love each other long and love each other well,” he said. He placed a kiss on Callie’s cheek before joining his wife in the front row.
Dax thought he would burst with love and pride. Callie beamed at him. Her eyes sparkled. She mouthed, I love you.
Dax turned to his bride. “I love you so much,” he said.
The judge cleared his throat. “We haven’t started yet,” he admonished them, to a chorus of laughter.
Judge Beaumont looked out at the guests. “Ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom have asked me to welcome you all here today to witness their vows. Callie and Dax have chosen to write their own vows and will recite them now.”
Callie handed her bouquet to Mae and placed both her hands in his. Her hands trembled, but her gaze was steady and focused solely on him. Dax took a deep breath and began. “Callie Ann Fischer Colton, I was half a man until you made me whole and my life complete. I will love and honor you every day.” He reached up and caught a tear before it could fall. He cupped her cheek and pressed his forehead to hers. “I will always cherish the gift of your trust and forgiveness,” he whispered, brushing his lips against hers before standing back again.
The judge cleared his throat and glared at Dax over the rim of his glasses. “We haven’t gotten to that part yet.”
Dax tried to look properly mollified, but he couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at his lips.
Callie squeezed his hands. “Daxton Madden Ellis, love doesn’t always follow an easy path. Ours took many twists and turns before we could stand here now. When I couldn’t see the end of the road, you held my hand and walked beside me. I will love and honor you every day. I look forward to the years ahead building a life with you. I will always cherish the gift of finding our way to each other again.”
Neither one of them paid any attention to what the judge said next. The world faded away and it was just the two of them. He looked into her gray eyes that he started out tormenting and ended up dreaming about every night. He marveled at the beauty and love standing before him. He would spend the rest of his life trying to be worthy of the gift of Callie’s love.
The judge cleared his throat again. “You may salute your bride.”
Callie lifted her face to his, radiant with love and trust. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “My husband,” she whispered.
“My wife,” he answered.
Their kiss was celebrated with cheers and applause from their guests. When they finally broke apart, Callie’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright. The stars were just beginning to shine as he took his wife’s hand. Mae came forward and laid a broom tied with a yellow ribbon at their feet. They jumped and Dax led his bride down the gazebo steps into the loving embrace of their friends and family. Callie was right: love didn’t always follow an easy path but through forgiveness and hope they found their way forward.
The End
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About the Author
Eliana West writes multi-cultural romance with diverse characters. When not writing, Eliana can be found exploring the many wineries in Oregon and Washington with her husband in their vintage Volkswagen Westfalia named Bianca.
She is the founder of Writers for Diversity a community for writers interested in creating diverse characters and worlds.
Visit her website at elianawest.com
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