My dad sets the key on the nightstand and extends his arm. I tuck mine inside his and we walk out of the room and out of the house. Noah comes to my other side, and I take his arm too as we walk onto the beach where the harpist begins to play.
I curl my toes in the sand as everyone turns to us and I think how magical this is. Us on the beach like this. Waves rolling softly in. The delicate sounds of the harp. My family all around me. More family than I ever thought I’d have. And at the end of the aisle, my heart.
When Noah and my father hand me over to Dante and he takes my hands, I feel my eyes mist with happy tears. He wraps his arms around me, hugging me close to him, his forehead to mine, nose touching nose.
“Destiny,” he whispers.
“Destiny.”
We kiss.