Page 60 of Fighting For Light
I give the waiter a severe look, and his eyes widen a bit.
“We can certainly get that added for you, not a problem,” he says quickly.
“Thank you so much,” Cordelia says. I’m craving it so badly right now. Can we do the cobb for the salad? Then, for dessert, I want that chocolate cake with vanilla Swiss buttercream, cherry compote filling, and chocolate ganache.”
“Yes, ma’am, anything else?” he asks her. She shakes her head, and I nod in thanks. The waiter goes around the table, collecting orders from each family member.
“You didn’t have to scare that guy over some garlic bread,” Cordi whispers in my ear.
I move my hand to the side of her neck and rub my thumb on the edge of her jaw. “Whatever you want, you get. It’s that simple. Also, a place like this can make you almost whatever you want. Don’t feel bad. Mom knows the head chef, and I think he has a crush on her, so he will do it.”
“Ooo, scandalous,” she says. I lean in and kiss her cheek.
“Thedrama,“ I say, and she giggles and takes a sip of her drink. “Are you happy, Cordi?”
Her expression drops, and her cute eyebrows squish together. “Why would you ask that?”
Without thinking, I smooth my thumb between them, and she makes a silly face. “Because this was probably not how you dreamed your wedding day would be. We can do that later, but—“
“Kai, I’m happier than I can put into words, okay? I told you I was sure, and I meant it. I love you, and we’re with our family. I’m happy if you’re happy.”
“I’m happier than I deserve, baby,” I say roughly.
“Then you clearly have no idea what you deserve,” she says quietly and tilts her head up for a kiss. I press a gentle one on her, then lift her hand to kiss her knuckles.
Minutes later, a few waiters bring in our cheesy garlic bread and Cobb salad.
Cordi wiggles in her seat and bites into the bread, sighing. “This is the best thing I have ever eaten.” I smile down at her, enjoying the food, and sneak a bite of hers. I faintly hear Liam snort, and I ignore him as Cordi feeds me some of her garlic bread. “Isn’t it good?” she asks.
I nod, chewing. I glance up at Emerson, who is looking at us with something in his eye that I can’t place. My older brother is locked up tighter than Fort Knox, and now is hardly the time or place to ask him about it.
“This place is amazing, or maybe I’m just famished and very pregnant,” Cordi adds.
“It’s definitely good,” I say and take a bite of my own food.
After we enjoy the appetizer, our main course comes out.
While we eat, I look around the table at my family and smile to myself. I actually saw Emerson the grump smile. The peace can be tangibly felt. I can count on one hand the number of times we have sat down and ate, enjoying the time we’ve spent together. All of those times have been without my father. This one is special, though. Not just because I’m a married man now but because it feels like, for the first time in a long time, there is a light at the end of this never-ending tunnel.
My family and I have been in this darkness since my brothers and I were born. I glance at Mom as she talks quietly to Emerson, and the stress that usually regally sits on her face is smoothed out. We will see this to the end, whatever it takes. I turn back to Cordi, and she’s still digging into her food, not paying attention to anything else. I love her so much, I love our kid, and I will stop at nothing to make sure we are all safe andcan move on with our lives. The chains my father has had around us for years will be severed.
“Are you okay?” Cordelia asks, bringing me back into the room like a rubber band snap.
“Yeah, I’m alright, baby,” I tell her and kiss her temple.
A bit later, they bring out the cake with long sparklers on the top, fizzing and lighting up Cordi’s eyes. After the sparklers go out, the waiter cuts everyone a piece. Emerson clears his throat and stands. My heart pounds in my chest. I’m amazed he’s saying anything.
“I’d like to say something, if you don’t mind,” he says. I’m frozen in place but manage to nod. “First, congratulations, you two. Welcome to the family, Cordi and Reece. We’re glad to have you. I can sense a change in the air, and you, Cordelia, are the beginning of that. So, to new beginnings.Tueri, defendere, amare. To Kai and Cordelia.“ My throat is too tight, and my eyes burn. My brother sacrificed more than Liam and I, and it will never go unacknowledged. He deserves so much more.
“Thank you, brother,” I rasp and raise my glass to him.
On our way out of the restaurant, Cordelia hugs my arm close to her, and I shuck my jacket off and lay it over her shoulders. “Thank you,” she says and resumes holding on to me.
Everyone tells us goodbye, and I take my wife to the penthouse. “What does that mean?” Cordelia asks while we wait for the elevator.
“Hmm?” I ask in a hum, and she looks over her shoulder at Emerson and Liam, who are heading to the hotel bar. Mom and Reece both went their separate ways when we left.
“What Emerson said, what did it mean?” she asks.
