Page 111 of Walkoff Wedding

“Am I allowed to go there? I just… I really want to see it for myself,” I mumble quietly.

Grant pulls back to look at me, sweeping his thumb along my cheek in quiet reassurance.

After a brief pause, Investigator Bishop says, “You can. It’s been cleared structurally, so while I wouldn’t advise attempting to go in the dark, it’s not unsafe to enter. There is a lot of smoke and soot residue, so please take proper precautions if you do.”

As thankful as I am to know that it’s not going anywhere, I still want to see it for myself. I’ll feel better if I can see the damage. The last time I saw it, it was engulfed in flames, and I’m desperate to replace that image in my head.

“Thank you, again.” I set the phone down on the counter next to me once we hang up and glance up at Grant. The hopeful, soft expression on his face is what causes the emotional well to spill over, fresh, hot tears wetting my cheeks and staining his T-shirt.

“I can’t believe it,” I whisper tearily. “I- I thought that… I would never see the bakery again. I thought the only piece I had left of my mom was gone.”

Grant’s fingers gently stroke my hair as he holds me against his chest. “I know, baby. But it’s not. It’s still here, and it’s yours. No one can ever try to take it away from you again.”

With Brent being arrested on felony arson charges, my attorney said he’s no longer able to contest the will to try and retain ownership of the property. I couldn’t even feel a sliver of relief in hearing that because I wasn’t even sure if there was going to be a bakery. We had no idea the extent of the damage. Until now.

And now… the hope I’ve been clinging to is a reality.

“Do you think we could go right now?”

“Of course, baby. Are you sure that you can handle that right now? I just want to make sure you’re going to be okay. It’s been an emotional few days.” The space between his brows is bunched in worry, and my heart swells.

This man always takes care of me. He always considers my feelings and wants to make sure that I’m okay, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever had.

I nod. “I feel like there’s this weight lifted off my shoulders knowing that we can restore it. I know it’ll probably take an incredible amount of work, and it won’t be easy, but I feel like I need to assure myself that part of it is still there, even if seeing the damage is hard.”

Grant looks deeply into my eyes, and apparently, he finds what he was searching for because he kisses me softly and gives me his trademark wink. “Okay, babe, let’s go.”

I keep reminding myself that no matter what I’m seeing right now, Ever After can be saved. That once the debris is gone, the walls have been repainted, and new equipment installed, it will look like the place that I have always known.

Maybe even better.

But seeing it the way it is right now is even harder than I anticipated. My chest feels hollow as I take in the sight of the kitchen in front of me.

The walls are scorched and charred, revealing the framework beneath the drywall. Most of the equipment has been destroyed and melted, leaving behind skeletons of metal. It feels eerily… empty with so much missing. The smell of smoke lingers in the air and clings to every surface, a constant reminder of what’s occurred. Soot and ash blanket everything in a charcoal sheen.

I’m fisting my hands so tightly I can feel the skin of my nails as they cut into my palm, and I will myself to release them and try to take a calming breath.

It’s fixable. No matter what, we can fix it.

I wish with all of my heart that this hadn’t happened. That everything would still remain the same and I could walk into Ever After without it being tainted by what Brent and Dixon had done.

But the reality is that it did happen, and now we have to make the best out of what we’ve got. I’d take it still standing, in any condition other than being gone.

Grant steps into me and wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me gently back against him. “Are you okay, baby?”

I nod, sinking into his arms. When the world is turbulent around me, his touch always calms me. Like a ship along rough waters and the sail that holds it steady. “Yeah. It’s just… hard. Being in the midst of all of these broken pieces. Seeing the place I love like this. I’m trying to see beyond what’s in front of me. I’m… I’m thankful that there’s even a bakery to come to and that with a little love and renovation, it’ll be back to exactly the way it was.”

And this time… the people responsible for trying to destroy it are facing felony charges and will pay for what they did.

“You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met,” he whispers against my neck. “And I am so fucking proud of you.”

My head falls back against his chest. “Thank you. For being here with me and being my strength when I feel like I have none. I’m not sure I could’ve made it through this without you.”

“Yes you could have, baby. I’m just glad that you didn’t have to.” Grant pauses, glancing around the kitchen. “Do you want to look around? See if we can find anything that’s not been damaged?”

I nod. With a chaste kiss against my hair, he lets me go and reaches for my hand. Together, we walk around the empty, wrecked kitchen.

Most of the things in here have been touched by the fire, whether the smoke or flames, but there are a few things that have somehow managed to survive. An old apron on the far side of the room that’s only slightly charred. A mixing bowl that’s missing a handle.

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