He was there, and it was awful and amazing, and shocking and magical.

He held me close, and I knew that nothing had changed between us at all.

So we sat in shock. Us, the family. The girls didn’t know how to feel. They were very confused, but Bernie tried to make them feel at ease.

I had no idea how he could be here, after so many years of praying. I hadn’t spoken to him in so long.

He held me and told me that everything would be alright.

I believed him. Of course. It was Bernie. my Bernie. My only love. The father to my girls.

He loved me. I could see it in the relief and the happiness in his face. The love in his eyes and the touches on my skin.

We would be married. Nothing mattered other than this.

We made love that night like it was the first time, and when it was over, we settled into bed like he’d never left. This was how it was meant to be.

In the morning, I asked him to tell me everything. The girls were at home and I had taken a day off work. He sat me down for the story.

“Well, when I moved back home, my parents wanted me to take a bride. But I couldn’t. I could stay there and stall until I could figure out what to do, but I couldn’t do that. I dated. I went to parties. I talked to women, for their sakes. But I did nothing else. No commitment. Yes, not a kiss or a touch or anything. I have no way to prove that. You’ll have to trust me, darling love.

But after a few years, they grew tired. They were old, I needed to marry. To carry on the legacy. But I already had my legacy. I had my heirs, but they were here where I knew I belonged. Where my heart belonged. I had them wathced. And you too. My heart soared and broke with every picture.

But that was not enough. They had a bride for me. They informed me a week before a wedding that they had organised behind my back. A woman named Alison Kenney. She was a truely vile woman, really. And I knew she only wanted my money. She had moved in to my house. The wedding was nearly there and I was giving up. But I found something. A positive pregnancy test in the garbage. I had not topuched her, I swear. The child could not be mine. I confronted her, and dragged her before my parents. I am not proud of my actions, but I did it. She confessed. They said it did not matter.

I was lost. But then something amazing happened. My sister came to me…and she sacrificed herself for me. She was going to leave, but she stayed so I could leave. There must always be a Roby in Hidden Springs. And she was going to be that Roby.”

I was silent.

“Jenna, she knew that I would never be happy there without you. I love you, my darling. I am never leaving you again.”

I grabbed him and kissed him. I didn’t need to hear anything else. He would be my husband. I loved him

***

The girls were growi9ng older by the second and I was so proud. Bernie settled in. They loved him.

He even got them a puppy.

And helped Darcy with her university preperations.

Soon it was the bachelorette party

And Bree helped her imaginary friend become real.

Then, it was time for my wedding, at last. We couldn’t afford anywhere other than home, but that was all we needed.

I might be older, but my life could start properly at last.

The next few days were a blur. It was the girls birthdays

Darcy grew into a lovely young woman. But unfortunatly, Bree wanted to flee the nest as soon as possible with Flynn…I hear wedding bells perhaps.

Darcy was finding it hard to adjust

But they would always be sisters, no matter where they were.

My life has started again, now it’s time for Darcy to start hers.

I’m going to leave my story for now…it’s time to let go of the fairytale, and start living. No more drama twists or cliffhangers, no more waiting…although a kiss in the rain would be a movie scene I’d be happy to live.

No more drama.

Hopefully.