Amber had given up on love, but sparks fly when she meets Steve, an old friend of her father’s, at a barbecue. When their passionate romance leads to marriage, everything seems perfect. But on their wedding night, Amber discovers that Steve has a troubling secret that changes everything.
I arrived at my parents’ house and stood staring at the line of cars parked in the garden.
“What’s all this about?” I murmured, already bracing myself for whatever family surprise awaited inside.
I grabbed my purse, locked the car, and headed toward the house, hoping it wouldn’t be too chaotic.
As soon as I opened the door, the smell of grilled meat hit me, along with the sound of my father’s booming laughter. I stepped into the living room and peeked through the back window.
Of course, Dad was hosting an impromptu barbecue. The whole backyard was full of people, mostly from his mechanic shop.
“Amber!” My dad’s voice broke through my thoughts as he flipped a burger wearing the same apron he’s had for years. “Come on, grab a drink and join us. It’s the guys from work.”
I tried not to complain. “Looks like the whole town is here,” I murmured, taking off my shoes.
Before I could join the chaotic, familiar atmosphere, the doorbell rang. Dad dropped the spatula and wiped his hands on his apron.
“It must be Steve,” he said, almost to himself. He looked at me as he grabbed the doorknob. “You haven’t met him yet, have you?”
Before I could answer, Dad had already swung open the door.
“Steve!” he boomed, giving him a hearty slap on the back. “Come in, you’re right on time. Oh, and this is my daughter, Amber.”
I looked up, and my heart skipped a beat.
Steve was tall and a little rough around the edges in a sturdy, attractive way, with gray hair and eyes that somehow managed to be both warm and deep at the same time. 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, shaking my hand.
His voice was calm and steady. I shook his hand, a little self-conscious about how I must have looked after driving for hours.
“Nice to meet you too.”
From that moment on, I couldn’t stop looking at him. He was the kind of man who made everyone around him feel at ease, always listening more than talking. 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 thought about love or relationships in ages. Not after everything that had happened.
I had practically given up on finding “the one” and was more focused on work and family. But something about Steve made me reconsider, even though I wasn’t ready to admit it.
At the end of the day, I said goodbye and headed to my car. Of course, when I tried to start it, the engine sputtered and died.
“Great,” I groaned, slumping into the seat. I thought about going back inside to ask Dad for help, but before I could, someone knocked on my window.
“Car trouble?” Steve asked, smiling as if that kind of thing happened every day.
I sighed. “Yeah, it won’t start. I was going to ask my dad for help, but…”
“Don’t worry. Let me take a look,” he offered, already rolling up his sleeves.
I watched him work, his hands moving with ease. After a few minutes, my car roared to life. I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until I exhaled.
“All set,” he said, wiping his hands on a rag. “It should be good now.”
I smiled, sincerely grateful. “Thanks, Steve. I guess I owe you one.”
He shrugged and gave me a look that made my stomach twist. “How about dinner? That way we’re even.”
I froze for a second. Dinner? Was he asking me out?
I felt that familiar flash of doubt, the little voice in the back of my head reminding me of all the reasons I shouldn’t say yes. But something in Steve’s eyes made me want to take the risk.
“Yeah, dinner sounds good.”
And just like that, I agreed. I never would have imagined back then that Steve would be exactly the man I needed to heal my broken heart… nor how deeply he would hurt me.
Six months later, I stood in front of the mirror in my childhood bedroom, looking at myself dressed in a wedding gown. It was surreal, honestly. After everything that had happened, I didn’t think this day would ever come.
I was 39 years old and had given up on the fairy tale, but here I was, about to marry Steve.
The wedding was small, just close family and a few friends, exactly what we wanted.
The 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 while, I didn’t question anything.
“Yes, I do,” I whispered, barely able to stop the tears from falling.
“Yes, I do,” Steve replied, his voice full of emotion.
And just like that, we were husband and wife.
A Newlywed Couple | Source: Pexels
That night, after the congratulations and hugs, we were finally able to be alone. Steve’s house, now our house, was silent, the rooms still unfamiliar to me. I went into the bathroom to change into something more comfortable, my heart full and light.
But when I returned to the bedroom, I found a horrifying sight.
Steve was sitting on the edge of the bed, facing away from me, speaking quietly to someone… to someone who wasn’t there!
A Man Talking to Someone | Source: Midjourney
My heart skipped a beat.
“I wanted you to see this, Stace. Today has been perfect… I wish you could’ve been here.” His voice was soft, full of emotion.
I froze in the doorway, trying to understand what I was hearing.
“Steve?” My voice was small, unsure.
He slowly turned around, a guilty expression on his face.
A Scared Man | Source: Midjourney
I moved a little closer, the air between us heavy with unsaid 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, feeling the weight of his words. He had told me he had a daughter. I knew she had passed away. But I didn’t know… this.
A Worried Woman | Source: Midjourney
“She died in a car accident, with her mother,” he continued, his voice tight. “But sometimes I talk to her. I know it sounds crazy, but… 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 tightened, and I couldn’t catch my breath. Steve’s pain was raw, something alive between us, and it made everything feel heavy.
But I wasn’t scared. I wasn’t angry. I was just… very sad. Sad for him, for everything he had lost, and for the way he had carried it all alone. His pain hurt me as if it were my own.
A Sad Man | Source: Midjourney
I sat next to him, and my hand found his. “I understand,” I said softly. “I understand. You’re not crazy, Steve. You’re grieving.”
He let out a shaky sigh, looking at me with such vulnerability that it almost broke my heart. “I’m sorry. I should’ve told you earlier. I didn’t want to scare you.”
“You’re not scaring me,” I said, squeezing his hand. “We all have things that torment us. But now we’re in this together. We can handle this together.”
A Serious Woman | Source: Midjourney
Steve’s eyes filled with tears, and I pulled him into an embrace, feeling the weight of his pain, his love, his fear—all of it wrapped up in that moment.
“Maybe… maybe we can talk to someone. A therapist, maybe. It doesn’t have to just be you and Stacy anymore.”
He nodded his head against my shoulder and hugged me tighter. “I’ve thought about it. I just didn’t know how to start. Thank you for understanding, Amber. I didn’t realize how much I needed this.”
An Emotional Man | Source: Midjourney
I pulled away just enough to look into his eyes, 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 enough to me.
But that’s the thing about love, right? It’s not about finding a perfect person with no scars; it’s about finding someone whose scars you’re willing to share.
