The wind carried the scent of salt and morning mist as Julia stepped onto the quiet stretch of coastal sand, her fingers intertwined with Brandon’s. The sky overhead was a soft gray—clouds suspended as though holding their breath. Waves rolled in with steady, hushed rhythm, nothing like the thunderous storms that had once mirrored their lives. Today felt different. Still. Expectant.
Brandon brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. “You ready?” he murmured.
Julia exhaled. “I’ve never been more sure.”
Their guests stood waiting in a gentle semicircle—Mrs Bailey with her umbrella clutched in both hands, trying and failing to hide how her chin trembled; Sophia and Maya sharing an excited smile; Arthur subtle and steady beside them. It was small. It was quiet. It was perfect.
Julia stepped
