Page 177 of Savage Roses
In time, I work through accepting what happened in that cell. Both the physical and psychological torture I endured.
Most importantly, it helps my relationship with Delphine.
She does her own work, grieving the loss of her father, processing the things she’s been through in recent years, and figuring out her future.
Our future.
Delphine toys with the idea of still practicing law. Only for her own firm. She selects the clients and the cases she accepts. The causes she’ll fight against.
Just because she’s no longer assistant district attorney doesn’t mean she’s not fighting against corruption. The difference being, she’ll have more freedom to move around, no longer weighed down by her official city position.
As summer approaches, she decides on her first case. Defending a prostitute who is being brought up on charges for murdering her pimp. It’s exactly the kind of justice Delphine would pursue, recognizing that not everything’s black and white.
More often than not, things are gray. A lesson we’ve both learned through the years.
Another lesson I learn is to stop wasting time. We’ve known each other for more than half our lives. We were separated for twelve long years.
Enough fucking waiting. Enough imagining a theoretical future when we can make that future our present.
I marry Delphine for real. On the first day of summer.
It’s a small wedding. Only our true inner circle. Almost as intimate as the first one, where it was just me and her under the stars, and she didn’t even know what was happening. We choose Rose Hill, among the blooming array of roses and overlooking the shimmering Northam River in the background.
The location of our first date so many years ago.
This time, it’s official in the eyes of the law. We exchange rings, vows, and an affectionate kiss to the joyous applause of the likes of Stitches, Medjine, Fabio, and even Rhino, who turns up out of retirement for the occasion. Salt and Pepa even attend as a joke—yes, they’re the ring bearer and flower girl despite the fact they both scamper off to chase a squirrel up a tree.
Our fingers intertwine and I grin at her as confetti is tossed at us walking down the center of the makeshift aisle.
She smiles back, almost too beautiful to bear in the flowing, breezy white gown she’s wearing. So gorgeous I can’t help staring.
Soon we’ll be off on our honeymoon—a whole month in the Caribbean. While I’m still not a beach and water guy, Delphine in a bikini and sex on, or at least near, the beach are more than enough to convince me.
It’s not as though I’ll be letting her out of our hotel suite often anyway. I want her all to myself.
We come together for a dance during our reception. Just like I’m not a beach guy, I’m also not a guy who dances. But, for Delphine, and considering the occasion, I sweep her along, flush against me.
“Be honest,” she says as we dance and everyone in attendance watches. “Did you ever see us here? Coming this far together?”
“You mean from when we first met?”
She nods. “That night so many years ago. The night of your party.”
I think on it as we sway, my grip possessively on her. Then, again, when isn’t it?
“Yes,” I answer simply. No explanation provided.
She smiles a little, almost quizzically. “Yes?”
“Yes,” I repeat, my hand sliding along her tailbone. Just above her delicious round backside.
“Care to elaborate?”
“I don’t need to, Phi. A part of me always sensed it.”
“Always?” Her smile spreads, so damn bright it lights up her whole face.
I cup her face and kiss her lips. “Yes, always. Even when I was obsessed and lying to myself. I said I would never fall for you… but what I meant was always. Right from the beginning.”