Chapter 12 - The Miracle in the Garden
Spring arrived in Seattle six months later, bringing warm sunlight, blooming cherry blossoms, and blue skies over Elliott Bay.
Our wedding was held in the private rooftop gardens of the penthouse—a small, intimate ceremony attended only by our closest friends, staff, and little Sadie, who served as the world's most enthusiastic flower girl.
She wore a tiny white lace dress, running down the petal-strewn aisle with a basket of pink roses, dumping half of them on Cameron's shoes before hugging his knees.
"You look pretty, Mr. Cameron!" Sadie giggled.
Cameron laughed—a rich, booming sound that filled the rooftop garden—and scooped her up into his arms, kissing her cheek before turning to watch me walk down the aisle in my white silk wedding dress.
When the minister pronounced us husband and wife, Cameron held both me and Sadie in a warm, fierce embrace under the canopy of cherry blossoms.
That evening, after the small reception had ended and Sadie was fast asleep in her bedroom, Cameron and I walked out onto the balcony, looking out at the city lights.
The penthouse was no longer quiet. Toys were neatly stored in the living room, framed family photographs lined the grand hallway—including photos of Eleanor and Lily alongside new photos of Sadie, Cameron, and me—and the warmth of a real home filled every room.
Cameron stood behind me, resting his hands on my stomach, burying his face in the crook of my neck.
"Thank you, Clara," he whispered softly.
"For what, my love?"
"For giving me a second chance at life," he said. "For helping me remember that loving someone doesn't mean forgetting the ones we lost. It means honoring them by living fully."
I turned in his arms, smiling up at him, placing his hand gently against my lower stomach.
"Then you're going to love the next chapter, Cameron," I whispered softly.
He froze, his dark eyes widening in shock. "Clara... are you...?"
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"Chef Marco had to make me plain toast this morning because I was nauseous," I smiled through happy tears. "You're going to be a father again, Cameron."
Cameron stared at me, his chest heaving, before he let out a joyful, tearful laugh, lifting me off my feet and spinning me around under the starlit Seattle sky.
