Someone You Love by Kristen Granata

Charly

My heart flutters in my chest when I hear the music change.

“That’s our cue.” Santiago holds out his elbow. “You ready, mija?”

My hands tremble.

My pulse races.

My stomach clenches.

My chest rises and falls with rapid breaths.

But I’m not nervous.

This feeling? It’s excitement. Anticipation. It’s every cell in my body knowing with complete certainty that I’m about to walk down the aisle toward the love of my life, and promise my life to him.

I nod. “I’m so ready.”

“I’m honored to be giving you away.” Tears glisten in his eyes. “I know you wish your mother could be here, and I do too. But she is here in spirit. She’s in your blood. She’s the sun shining down on you today.”

I tip my face up toward the sky, the sun warming my skin like a gentle caress from my mother’s hand. She is here. It might not be in the way I want, but she’s not missing this.

Santiago and I turn the corner of the inn, and step into the backyard. I know Freddie, Gianna, and my friends from the diner are standing on the left. I know Bryce’s friends from his spinal cord injury group are on the right. I know Jenny is standing just outside the gazebo, looking radiant in the pale-yellow chiffon dress she picked out. I know Anthony, Bentley, and Watson are standing on the opposite side. And I know Edward is wiggling like a worm because he’s spotted me.

I know everyone we love is here, but I don’t see them. My eyes are drawn to one person. And when he sets those sable eyes on me, my welling tears fall.

Bryce wanted to tie his hair back, but I made him promise he’d leave it down. I want him to look exactly like the man I fell in love with five years ago, the sexy reclusive lumberjack I was forced to spend the summer with—the summer that turned into forever.

When we reach the gazebo, Santiago leads me up the ramp so I can stand beside Bryce in his wheelchair. He puts my hand in Bryce’s, and clutches them together. “Take care of each other.” Then he takes his seat with the rest of the guests.

“You look ...” Bryce’s throat bobs as he swallows. “So beautiful.”

I swipe a tear from his cheek with my thumb. “My mom had good taste.”

I had her strapless lace wedding dress altered, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. It’s form-fitting yet comfortable, and the lightweight material is perfect for our outdoor nuptials.

Edward tugs against his leash that’s tied to Bryce’s armrest. I smile, bending down to pet the top of his head. “I see you, bud. I see you.”

The officiant makes a lovely speech, short and sweet like I requested, and then it’s time for the best part.

I turn to face Bryce as he swivels his chair. “Five summers ago, we hosted a wedding here at the inn. I stood beside you on your porch, watching two guests marry the person of theirs dreams, wondering if I’d ever have a wedding of my own. I looked at you then, unsure of what our future held beyond that summer. I was afraid, and so were you. But together, we’ve found our way to the exact place we were meant to be. I’m so thankful that summer was only the beginning for us.”

I pause to take a shaky breath, and bat away a tear. “Bryce, you are the most incredible person I’ve ever known. Your heart, your vulnerability, your kindness, and your courage have made me fall endlessly in love with you. You inspire me to be the best version of myself, because I see how hard you work on being the best version of yourself. You never give up, and you never let me down. Your shoulder is the one I want to lean on for the rest of my life.” I swallow a sob. “Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for giving me a chance to prove my love for you. And thank you for believing in us. I’m so happy to stand here and marry you today. You’re everything to me.”

Bryce wipes his eyes with the backs of his hands. Edward nuzzles his leg, and Bryce smiles down at him, giving him a reassuring pat on his head. “I used to think I wanted to be alone. I told myself I liked it. No one could hurt me or disappoint me if I was alone. I was afraid of taking chances. Afraid of the what-ifs. But when I met you, you turned my whole world upside-down. You made me realize that I didn’t want to be alone if I could be with the right person instead. You showed me that not everyone will disappoint me, because some people will only lift me up. And you showed me how I needed to look within myself, to trust myself, so that I could learn to trust someone else. I thought I knew everything, but the truth is, you can’t foresee the twists and turns that lie ahead of you. You can’t predict the way things will turn out. All you can do is follow the path that makes your heart beat faster, because whether you’re scared or excited, your heart is galloping like that for a reason. It’s telling you something matters. It’s your roadmap, guiding the way. And taking that chance might pay off, or it might not. But you won’t know the outcome unless you go for it.”

He clasps my hand. “Taking a chance on you was the best decision I’ve ever made. You saved me, Charly. You brought me back to life, and I’m going to spend the rest of it giving you the love you deserve.”

I slip Bryce’s white-gold band onto his finger, repeating after the officiant, and then he slips his grandmother’s ring onto mine. I gaze down at the sparkling yellow diamond.

Miss you, Bea.

I lean down to press a soft kiss to Bryce’s lips, and he deepens it, pulling me onto his lap, clutching my face, and kissing me with the same passion he kissed me with on our first camping trip.

I pull back. “Truth or dare, husband?”

He arches an eyebrow. “Dare.”

“I dare you to roll us down this ramp as fast as you can so we can get this party started.”

Bryce hands Edward’s leash to Anthony, and everyone cheers as we fly down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. Holden.

We spend the afternoon laughing with our friends, soaking up as much of this moment as we can, and at the end of the night, we drag our tired bodies into the guest house—our home.

I flop down on the couch, and Edward dives on top of me.

Bryce lowers himself onto the cushion next to me, and hands me a white envelope. “You ready to read this?”

A ball of emotion lodges in my throat as I blink down at Beatrice’s elegant handwriting: Don’t open until your wedding day.

Her lawyer gave it to us six months ago after she passed from a sudden heart attack. It’s been difficult here without her. But she died in the home she shared with her beloved husband, and she didn’t suffer. That’s what I remind myself and Bryce when the grief seems too much to bear.

I slide my finger under the flap, pull out several folded letters, and read the first one aloud:

To my beautiful grandchildren,

If you’re reading this on your wedding day, it means I’ve passed on. I hope you’re not wasting too many tears on me. I lived a full life, and I have no regrets. I’m with my Benjamin now, and I am filling him in on everything he’s missed.

Watching the two of you fall in love has been my greatest joy. I only wish I could be there to meet my great-grandchildren, should you choose to have them one day. (You know where I stand on that matter.) But maybe there’s a way I can still be a part of your life.

I don’t want to burden you with taking care of the inn if it’s not what you want. I never want you to feel obligated to run it now that I’m gone. But I’m leaving the inn to the both of you. It’s your home for as long as you want it to be. Bryce has built so many memories there, as did his parents. And it’s where you both met, after all.

Sunnyside healed you, just as I knew it would. May it continue to give you comfort until you’re ready to move on.

I love you, Charly. Thank you for giving my sweet boy the love and patience he needed.

Bryce, you are unstoppable. Never forget that. I love you more than anything in this world, and I’m so very proud of the man you’ve become. Don’t ever let anything stand in your way—especially not fear.

And remember: You’re always stronger together.

Love Always,

Nana

Bryce covers his face with his hands, and I wrap my arms around him, holding him while he cries.

“I hate that she’s gone,” he whispers.

“Me too.”

Edward licks my arm as if he agrees.

“I don’t know how you feel, but I want to run the inn.”

Bryce pulls back to look at me. “Are you sure?”

“I could never let go of this place.” I smile as another tear rolls down my cheek. “It’s home.”

“You are my home, Charly.”

“And you’re mine.” I place my hand over his heart. “Always.”

THE END

Thank you for reading Charly & Bryce’s story!

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What’s Left of Me