Page 106 of Where the Roses Bloom
Well, they all knew now.
“But all weddings are exorcisms of a sort, aren’t they?” she went on. “When we gather to celebrate the beginning of a new, shared life, we’re exorcising the demons of our past…we’re discarding grief and old wounds, at least for a while. We are sitting in joy, and we’re saying to those woes—get the hell out of here!”
A few people laughed, but I wasn’t sure if that was just because they were still shocked that they’d shown up at an exorcism.
June turned slightly, her gaze sweeping the crowd. “And I say this with all the pastoral authority granted to me by my bishop and by the Archdiocese…if there’s any spirit here that doesn’t serve joy, that doesn’t bless this union, that doesn’t wish these two well—” her voice dropped a few pitches “—then it isnot welcome.”
Maybe it was just me…but I thought the air trembled.
And a look at the wedding party showed me that it definitely wasn’t just me.
Holden flinched and rubbed his arms; Whit frowned and looked around like something bit him.
I was starting to think June was legitimately a witch.
“I just met the Wards, but I know this family has seen pain,” she went on. “This land has known sorrow—of course it has, just like the rest of our beautiful country, right? We’re no more than a hundred miles from where ten thousand people died at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain; where even more human beings were driven out of the state and forced to walk the Trail of Tears. And Delilah shared that this town has a history with witch trials and executions.”
She paused.
“It’s…well, it’s a lot. But even land like this deserves healing, because there are still people here, beautiful people who remain God’s children. And sometimes…that healing begins withjoy. With love. With two people standing up and saying, ‘It’s time to see those hurts, and know them, and build something that honors that.’”
My fingers twitched in Rhett’s, but my eyes wereon Silas over his shoulder, because it felt like June was talking to him too. Even considering our actual ghost…he’d been haunted for years, the Ward son most affected by the curse.
I hoped this was the beginning of something for him as well.
June looked between us now, her voice softening.
“Rhett and Willow have written their own vows,” she said. “And in the presence of family, friends, and the holy company of those we’ve loved and lost, they would like to speak them now.”
I looked into Rhett’s eyes, our hands still joined. His thumb brushed over mine—just once, steady and warm. I could see he was trying not to cry already.
He cleared his throat, then pulled his hand away to take a folded scrap of paper from his pocket. “I, uh…yeah. Okay.”
A ripple of soft laughter moved through the crowd, and he huffed.
“Right,” he said, more to himself than anyone else, then looked up at me with those gorgeous green eyes.
“Willow,” he said, voice low and raw, “from the moment I found you asleep at the end of my driveway, I’ve known two things. One—that you’re the strongest person I’ve ever met. And two—that my life wasn’t mine anymore.”
My chest tightened.
“You walked into this house like you’d always belonged in it. You healed our garden, you faced down our ghosts—hell, you even took on my whole family without flinching. And every day since, you’ve taught me what it means tochoosesomeone. Not out of fear, not out of habit, but because the world feels like it finally makes sense when we’re in it together.”
The shimmer surged again. I swore I felt it in my bones.
“So I’m choosing you. Today, tomorrow, every damn day we’re given. I promise to love you when you’re laughing andwhen you’re pissed off and when you’re scared. I promise to build a life with you—a home, a family, a thousand small and ordinary things that feel like miracles.”
He squeezed my hands. “I promise not to let go. Not ever.”
I was crying before I even started. Not sobbing, not loud—just tears slipping quietly down my cheeks, carried by the wind and the magic and the moment.
I gave a watery laugh and blinked up at him. “You just had to be better at this than me, huh?”
Another laugh from the crowd. He winked.
I reached into my bouquet for the slip of paper I’d hidden there. My voice shook, but I didn’t care.
“Rhett,” I said, “when I came to Willow Grove, I thought I was just…running. I thought I’d broken too much to ever be whole again. And then you opened your front door and you looked at me like I wasn’t ruined. Like I was…home. And for the first time in years, someone—you—chose me.”
