He had not seen his mother laugh so freely in years.
Leah approached and handed him a glass of lemonade.
“You look happy.”
Nathan considered the word.
“I think I am.”
She leaned against him.
“Do you ever wish the wedding had happened differently?”
He looked toward the garden.
“Sometimes I wish I had understood sooner.”
Leah nodded.
“But if I could go back, I wouldn’t change my decision.”
She squeezed his arm.
“Dad would be proud of you.”
Nathan smiled sadly.
“I hope so.”
A moment later, Eleanor called them to the table.
Nathan reached down and picked a single red rose.
He walked toward his mother.
She raised an eyebrow.
“What’s this for?”
He held it out.
“For keeping your promise.”
Eleanor accepted the flower.
For a moment, she looked at him as though he were seven years old again.
Then she kissed his cheek.
“You don’t owe me anything, sweetheart.”
Nathan shook his head.
“I know.”
He looked around at the people gathered in the garden.
At his sister laughing with old friends.
