Michael

MICHAEL

When Alice stops before me in the room decorated with twinkling lights and filled with the handful of people who are truly important to us, all I can think about is how perfect it all is.

The place.

The time.

The woman.

“Can I go first?” Alice asks. And I dip my chin.

She presses her lips together, and I grip her hands in mine.

“I can’t tell you how many times I fantasized about this day. How many times I closed my eyes at night and wished you were by my side. How many moments of my days I spent thinking of you.” My chest tightens at her words. “I’ve loved you for so long, Chef . But even with my birthday wishes, the most I ever wished for was your happiness.” She smiles up at me, and my heart grows with each of her words. “All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy.” I hold her hands tighter. “I can see it in your eyes, you know? When you look at me, like you are right now, I can see that—by some miracle of the universe—it’s me who makes you happy.” A single tear trails down Alice’s cheek, and it mirrors my own. “You’re my real-life fairytale, Mr. Kesso. And this is my real-life happily ever after.”