Chapter 19
Marco died on a Sunday morning.
He was surrounded by family.
Rose was holding his hand.
Leo was sitting beside him, drawing a picture for him.
Sarah and I were there.
My brothers were there.
He went peacefully.
His last words were to Leo.
"I love you, son. Be good."
And then he was gone.
The funeral was small.
Just family.
Rose, Sarah, Leo, me and my brothers.
A few of Marco's distant relatives.
Detective Carter came too.
We buried him in the same cemetery as our father.
It seemed fitting, somehow.
Two men who had been like brothers. Who had become enemies. Who had destroyed each other's lives.
Now they were at peace.
Side by side.
After the funeral, we went back to the restaurant.
We ate. We talked. We shared stories.
Some were sad.
Some were funny.
All were honest.
Leo was quiet. He was holding the picture he had drawn for his father.
It was a picture of Marco, young and strong and happy. Standing in a beautiful garden, surrounded by flowers.
"He's in a better place now," Leo said. "He's not sick anymore. He's not sad anymore. He's happy."
I put my arm around him.
"I think you're right, buddy."
That night, after everyone had left, Sarah and I sat on the porch swing.
The stars were bright. The air was warm.
"It's over," Sarah said softly.
"Yeah," I said. "It's over."
She leaned her head on my shoulder.
"What now?" she asked.
I thought about it.
About the restaurant.
About Tony's program for kids.
About Leo.
About our family.
About the future.
"Now," I said. "Now we live."
Sarah smiled.
"I like the sound of that."
She looked up at me.
"Michael?"
"Yeah?"
"Will you marry me?"
I stared at her.
I had been thinking about asking her. I had even bought a ring. I had been waiting for the right moment.
But she had beaten me to it.
I laughed.
"Sarah Carter, are you proposing to me?"
She smiled. "I am. So what do you say?"
I pulled the ring out of my pocket.
"I say yes," I said. "And I was going to ask you the same thing."
Sarah's eyes went wide when she saw the ring.
"You had a ring?"
"I've had it for a month," I said. "I was just waiting for the right time."
She laughed and cried and kissed me.
I slipped the ring on her finger.
It was perfect.
A few months later, we got married.
The wedding was at the restaurant.
All of our friends and family were there.
Rose was there, crying happy tears.
Detective Carter was there, smiling.
The Petersons—wait, no, the regulars were there. The kids from Tony's program were there.
Leo was the best man.
He stood beside me, looking very serious in his little suit.
When the priest asked if anyone objected, Leo raised his hand.
Everyone laughed.
"I just want to say," Leo said, "that Michael is the best stepdad ever. And my mom is very happy. So you can keep going."
The room erupted in laughter and applause.
We said our vows.
We kissed.
We were married.
It was the happiest day of my life.
After the wedding, we danced.
Sarah and I danced to a slow song.
"I love you, Michael Donnelly," she said.
"I love you too, Sarah Donnelly," I said.
We danced, and for the first time in a long time, I felt completely at peace.
The past was the past.
The pain, the anger, the secrets, the lies—they were all behind us.
The future was bright.
Full of love.
Full of family.
Full of hope.
May you like
And I couldn't wait to live it.
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