Amber had given up on love, but sparks flew when she met Steve, an old friend of her father’s, at a barbecue. As their whirlwind romance blossomed into marriage, everything seemed perfect. But on their wedding night, Amber discovers that Steve has a shocking secret that will change everything.
I stopped in front of my parents’ house and stared at the line of cars parked on the lawn.
“What is this about?” I mumbled, already preparing myself for the family surprise that awaited me inside.
A woman in her car | Source: Midjourney
I grabbed my purse, locked the car, and headed home, hoping there was nothing too chaotic.
As soon as I opened the door, I smelled the smell of grilled meat and my father’s thunderous laughter. I walked into the living room and peeked out the back window.
Of course, Dad was having some kind of impromptu barbecue. The whole backyard was filled with people, most of them from his auto repair shop.
People at a barbecue | Source: Pexels
“Amber!” Dad’s voice cut through my thoughts as he flipped a burger in that same apron he’s had for years. “Come on, grab a drink and join us. It’s just the guys from work.”
I tried not to scream. “It feels like the whole town is here,” I mumbled as I slipped off my shoes.
Before I could join in the familiar, chaotic atmosphere, the doorbell rang. Dad threw down his spatula and wiped his hands on his apron.
A man entering a house | Source: Midjourney
“That must be Steve,” he said, almost to himself. He glanced at me as he reached for the doorknob. “You haven’t met him yet, have you?”
Before I could even answer, Dad had already yanked the door open.
“Steve!” he said, giving him a firm pat on the back. “Come on in, you’re just in time. Oh, and this is my daughter, Amber.”
I looked up and my heart pounded.
A man standing in a doorway | Source: Midjourney
Steve was tall and a little rough, with graying hair and eyes that managed to be both warm and deep. He smiled at me and I felt a strange flutter in my chest that I wasn’t prepared for.
“Nice to meet you, Amber,” he said, holding out his hand.
His voice was calm and collected. I shook his hand, a little embarrassed by how I must look after driving for hours.
“I’m also pleased to meet you.”
A woman | Source: Midjourney
From that moment on, I couldn’t help but stare at him. He was the kind of man who made everyone around him feel comfortable, who always listened more than he spoke. I tried to focus on the conversations around me, but every time our eyes met, I felt an attraction.
It was ridiculous. I hadn’t even thought about love or relationships in ages. Not after everything I’d been through.
I had pretty much given up on finding “the one” and focused on my job and family. But something about Steve made me want to reconsider, even if I wasn’t ready to admit it.
A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney
As the day drew to a close, I finally said my goodbyes and headed to my car. Of course, when I tried to start it, the engine sputtered and died.
“Great,” I said, sinking into my seat. I considered going back inside to ask Dad for help, but before I could, there was a knock on my window.
It was Steve.
“Car trouble?” he asked, smiling as if this sort of thing happened every day.
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
I sighed. “Yeah, it won’t start. I was just going to pick up my dad, but…”
“Don’t worry about it. Let me take a look,” he offered, already rolling up his sleeves.
I watched him work, his hands moving with practiced ease. After a few minutes, my car roared to life. I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until I exhaled.
A car engine | Source: Pexels
“There you go,” he said, wiping his hands on a rag. “It should be fine now.”
I smiled, genuinely grateful. “Thanks, Steve. I think I owe you one.”
He shrugged and gave me a look that made my stomach churn. “How about dinner? We can call it even.”
I froze for a second. Dinner? Is he asking me out on a date?
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
I felt that familiar doubt, that little voice in the back of my head reminding me of all the reasons why I shouldn’t say yes. But something in Steve’s eyes made me want to take a chance.
“Yes, dinner looks good to me.”
And just like that, I agreed. I never would have guessed then that Steve was exactly the man I needed to heal my wounded heart… or how much he would hurt me, for that matter.
A woman | Source: Midjourney
Six months later, I stood in front of the mirror in my childhood bedroom, looking at myself in a wedding dress. It was surreal, honestly. After everything I had been through, I didn’t think this day would ever come.
I was 39 and had given up on any fairy tales, but here I was, about to marry Steve.
The wedding was small, with close family and a few friends, exactly what we wanted.
A wedding venue | Source: Pexels
I remember standing at the altar, looking into Steve’s eyes, and feeling an overwhelming sense of calm. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t questioning anything.
“I do,” I whispered, barely managing to keep the tears from falling.
“I do,” Steve replied, his voice thick with emotion.
And that’s how we became husband and wife.
A newlywed couple | Source: Pexels
That night, after all the congratulations and hugs, we were finally able to be alone. Steve’s house, our home now, was quiet, the rooms still unfamiliar to me. I slipped into the bathroom to put on something more comfortable, my heart full and light.
But as soon as I returned to the room, I was greeted by a shocking sight.
Steve was sitting on the edge of the bed, his back to me, talking quietly to someone… someone who wasn’t there!
A man talking to someone | Source: Midjourney
My heart raced.
“I wanted you to see this, Stace. Today was perfect… I wish you were here.” His voice was soft, full of emotion.
I stood frozen in the doorway, trying to make sense of what I was hearing.
“Steve?” My voice was small, uncertain.
He turned around slowly, guilt showing on his face.
A scared man | Source: Midjourney
“Amber, I…
I stepped closer, the air between us thick with unspoken words. “Who… who were you talking to?”
He took a deep breath, his shoulders slumping. “I was talking to Stacy. My daughter.”
I stared at him, the weight of his words slowly sinking in. He’d told me he’d had a daughter. I knew she’d died. But I didn’t know… that.
A worried woman | Source: Midjourney
“She died in a car accident, along with her mother,” he continued, his voice tight. “But sometimes I talk to her. I know it sounds crazy, but I… I feel like she’s still here, with me. Especially today. I wanted her to know about you. I wanted her to see how happy I am.”
I didn’t know what to say. My chest felt tight and I couldn’t catch my breath. Steve’s grief was raw, a living thing between us, and it made everything heavy.
But I wasn’t afraid. I didn’t feel angry. Just… so sad. Sad for him, for everything he’d lost and how he’d carried it all alone. His grief hurt like it was my own.
A sad man | Source: Midjourney
I sat down next to him, my hand finding his. “I understand,” I said softly. “I understand. You’re not crazy, Steve. You’re grieving.”
He let out a shaky breath, looking at me with such vulnerability that it nearly broke my heart. “I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner. I didn’t mean to scare you away.”
“You’re not scaring me away,” I said, shaking his hand. “We all have things that haunt us. But we’re in this together now. We can carry this together.”
A serious woman | Source: Midjourney
Steve’s eyes filled with tears, and I hugged him, feeling the weight of his pain, his love, his fear, all wrapped up in that moment.
“Maybe… maybe we can talk to someone about this. A therapist, maybe. It doesn’t have to be just you and Stacy anymore.”
He nodded against my shoulder, his grip on me tightening. “I thought about it. I just didn’t know how to start. Thank you for understanding, Amber. I didn’t know how much I needed this.”
An emotional man | Source: Midjourney
I pulled away just enough to look him in the eye, my heart swelling with a love deeper than I had ever known. “We’ll figure it out, Steve. Together.”
And as I kissed him, I knew we would. We weren’t perfect, but we were real, and for the first time, that felt like enough.
But that’s the thing about love, isn’t it? It’s not about finding a perfect person with no scars; it’s about finding someone whose scars you’re willing to share.
A couple holding hands | Source: Pexels
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This work is inspired by real events and persons, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to real events is purely coincidental and is not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims as to the accuracy of events or portrayal of characters and are not responsible for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is” and the opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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