Chapter 38 - The Anniversary Fountain
For our twentieth wedding anniversary, Julian took me to the Fairmont.
I almost refused.
“That place?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You’ll see.”
The hotel had renovated the courtyard years earlier.
The old fountain remained.
Same stone.
Same shape.
Different memory.
When we entered, the courtyard was empty except for candles and white flowers.
I stopped.
“No.”
Julian smiled.
“No what?”
“If you arranged some ridiculous vow renewal—”
“I did.”
“I hate surprises.”
“I know.”
Then people emerged.
Eleanor.
Now seventeen.
Tall.
Brilliant.
Terrifyingly confident.
Allison and Daniel.
Leo.
Patricia.
Robert.
Marcus.
Vance.
Maya Chen.
Dozens of Meredith House staff and former clients.
I covered my face.
“You’re impossible.”
“Yes.”
Eleanor approached holding my old eight-carat wedding ring.
I rarely wore it anymore.
Too large for daily work.
“Mom.”
“What are you doing?”
“Dad gave me a job.”
“Fire him.”
She laughed.
Julian took my hands.
“Twenty years ago, this courtyard represented the worst night of your life.”
“Technically the ballroom was worse.”
He smiled.
“And yet that night began everything.”
He looked toward the fountain.
“I thought about removing it.”
“I remember.”
“But you wouldn't let anyone make the memory disappear.”
“No.”
“Because you changed what it meant.”
My eyes filled.
He continued.
“You changed me too.”
Behind him, Robert looked down.
Patricia cried openly.
Allison held Daniel’s hand.
Julian slipped the ring onto my finger.
“Meredith Campbell-Sterling, would you choose me again?”
I laughed through tears.
“After twenty years?”
“Yes.”
“Despite the snoring?”
“I do not snore.”
Eleanor shouted, “He does!”
Everyone laughed.
I looked into Julian’s gray eyes.
Older now.
Softer.
Still mine.
“Yes.”
He kissed me.
Applause filled the courtyard.
Then Eleanor walked to the fountain.
She tossed a coin.
“What did you wish for?” I asked.
She smiled.
“Can't tell.”
Robert stood beside me.
“I’m sorry.”
I looked at him.
“For bringing you here?” he clarified.
I understood.
“This isn't your place anymore.”
He nodded.
“No.”
I smiled.
“It’s mine.”
And that was true.
The fountain no longer belonged to humiliation.
Or Robert.
May you like
Or the guests who laughed.
It belonged to everything that came after.
