Page 38 of Luckiest Love
He kissed her hand when he raised it to his lips.
She smiled at him and he looked over at his mom and dad, “I know you didn’t want me to live the life I am, but I want you to know that Sean isn’t like Gerard. He has changed and made the family better. Madeusbetter. I’m happy with him and if it wasn’t for Sean, I would be in prison right now. He saved me. Helped me channel my anger into something productive and I have helped him change as well. He doesn’t want to be the man Gerard was.”
Steven raised an eyebrow and Gage went on, “He wanted to live up to your legacy, not Gerard’s. And Sean is doing it. He found love, like me. And he isn’t the same person he once was. I’m not either. I wanted to let you know that. To know we are happy. That I am finally able to be me again. And it’s all because of Honor.”
Honor smiled, and she leaned into his shoulder.
His dad studied him, “The son that left our family all those years ago wouldn’t be here now. He wouldn’t be apologizing to us and wouldn’t have cared. We knew you died that day as well. And it broke your mother and I. We didn’t know how to help you, because we were also broken. And we are so sorry that we didn’t try harder. We are proud of you, Gage. We always have been. Yes, you made the choice that I didn’t want you to make, but it was yours to choose. You are a good man. And we are so proud of you. We are both so happy that you are here and that you found someone to love you.”
Gage kissed Honor’s temple, “She brings out only the best in me. She came into my life on my darkest day, and her sunshine made my soul see the light for the first time. I love her.”
His mom put her hand to her mouth and his grandma sniffled.
Gage looked at his parents, “And she is connected to us. More than I ever thought was ever possible.”
His mom lifted an eyebrow, “How?”
Gage nudged Honor and she said, “When I was growing up, I was really sick. I had a heart problem and was in the hospital more than I was out of it. And finally, they told me, my twin and my parents that I would die without a heart transplant.”
His mom gasped and Honor went on, “I got one. A few weeks after my thirteenth birthday, I got the best present I could ever get. A second chance. But, someone had to die for me to get that and I have tried to live up to their memory, even though I didn’t know who they were. And I have lived my life to the fullest because of it. But I was missing something. Someone. And I found him in the last place I expected. With a story and a connection to my past I wasn’t expecting.”
Gage smiled at her and Honor said, “Gage told me about Renee and how she died. I’m so sorry you all had to deal with that and had to lose someone so precious to you. He told me you chose to give her organs to those who needed them. I was the one who received her heart. And because of her gift, I got to live. I get the chance to marry the love of my life and grow old at his side. I get to have children one day and see them as they change and be there when they get married one day. All because of your daughter. Thank you. Thank you for choosing to donate her organs. If it wasn’t for you and for her, I wouldn’t be here.”
His mom started to sob during her story and was holding onto his dad as she cried.
Honor looked away and at him and he could see the tears in her eyes and she whispered to him, “I think I shouldn’t have told her.”
Gage kissed her, “Yes, sunshine, you should have.”
His mom stood, and she rushed over to Honor and Honor stood and hugged Faye.
They both cried and his dad stood slowly and Gage nodded and his dad pulled them all in for a group hug.
When they let go, Honor wiped her eyes and Faye used a handkerchief his dad handed her. “Can I hear it? Your heart?”
Honor nodded, “You absolutely can.”
His mom had gone into nursing after Renee’s death and she rushed from the room and came back with her stethoscope.
She put the ends in her ears and lifted the end to Honor’s chest and she shut her eyes when she did so.
Honor cried a little more and Faye opened her eyes, “It’s so strong.”
Honor nodded, “It is. I have lived a full life because of it.”
Faye pulled the ends out of her ears and hugged Honor again.
She handed the stethoscope to his dad and he also heard Honor’s heart beating.
Then his grandparents did the same thing and Gage knew that Honor would always have a special place in their lives.
Not just because of him, but because of the heart in her chest.
His dad pulled him aside, “I have missed you son.”
Gage hugged his dad, “I have missed you too.”
Ewan grinned, “I like Honor. She is wonderful.”
