Chapter 14 - THE LIFE WE BUILTYears passed.
Lily grew into a strong, compassionate teenager.
Mark and I married beneath the oak tree in Dad's backyard.
Dad walked me down the aisle.
When he placed my hand in Mark's, he whispered:
"Take care of her."
Mark smiled.
"I will."
Lily cried.
Everyone laughed.
For the first time, our family wasn't defined by blood.
It was defined by love.
Then came another surprise.
I was pregnant.
Nine months later, I held my son in my arms.
Thomas.
Named after my father.
Lily became the proudest big sister in Texas.
Dad cried when he first held him.
Mark cried too.
I laughed at both of them.
Our house became louder.
Messier.
May you like
Happier.
The life I once thought I'd lost had somehow become better than the life I'd imagined.
Related Stories
Chapter 15 - THE FAMILY TABLEThomas's first birthday was chaos.
Chapter 16 - LILY'S QUESTIONWhen Lily turned thirteen, she started asking questions.
Chapter 17 - FATHER AND DAUGHTERRyan stood beneath a tree in the park.
Chapter 18 - THE LETTER FROM THE PASTYears later, another letter arrived.
Chapter 19 - THE NIGHT I FINALLY UNDERSTOODYears after that dinner, I returned to the old Carter house.
Chapter 20 - THE DOOR I LEFT OPENThat night, everyone gathered around our table.
