Chapter 118 118
CAITLYN'S POV
After the ceremony at the park, we all drove to the clubhouse for the reception. I had never been to the clubhouse before and I was nervous about what it would be like. But when we pulled up I was surprised. It was not some dark scary place. It was just a big building with a parking lot. Normal. Simple.
Tommy and some of the guys had decorated it while we were at the ceremony. There were white lights strung up everywhere. More flowers. Tables with white tablecloths. A small dance floor. It looked beautiful. Nothing like what I expected.
"Wow," I said to Jason as we walked in. "This is amazing. The guys did all this?"
"They did," Jason said. He looked proud. "They wanted to make it special for us. Wanted to give us a real reception."
"It is perfect," I said. "Tell them thank you."
We walked in and everyone cheered. Started clapping. Tommy came over with two glasses of champagne. Well, one was champagne. Mine was sparkling cider since I was pregnant.
"To the happy couple," Tommy said raising his glass. "May you have a lifetime of happiness together."
"To the happy couple," everyone echoed.
We all drank and then people started coming up to congratulate us again. To hug us. To tell us how beautiful the ceremony was. How happy they were for us.
Marcus came over with his wife. An older woman with gray hair and a kind smile.
"Congratulations you two," Marcus said. "That was one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever seen. Those vows had everyone crying."
"Thank you Marcus," I said. "And thank you for all your help. Jason said you helped him pick out my ring."
"I just gave him some advice," Marcus said. "He knew what he wanted. He just needed a little push."
"Well the ring is perfect," I said. I held up my hand to show his wife. "I love it."
"It is beautiful," she said. "Simple and elegant. Just like you."
We talked for a few more minutes then moved on to other guests. Detective Rourke was standing near the back looking a little out of place. Like he was not sure if he belonged here. I walked over to him.
"Detective Rourke," I said. "Thank you so much for coming. It means the world to us."
"Thank you for inviting me," Rourke said. "I am honored to be here. To see you both so happy after everything you have been through."
"We would not be here without you," I said. "You saved us. You made all of this possible."
"You saved yourselves," Rourke said. "I just helped. But I am glad I could be part of your journey. Part of your story."
"You will always be part of our story," Jason said coming up behind me. "You are family now Detective. Whether you like it or not."
Rourke smiled. A real genuine smile. "I like it," he said. "I like it a lot."
The music started playing and people began eating. The food was good. Simple but delicious. Burgers and hot dogs and salads. Nothing fancy but it felt right. Felt like us.
After we ate Tommy stood up and clinked his glass. Everyone got quiet.
"I would like to make a toast," Tommy said. "To my best friend Jason and his beautiful wife Caitlyn."
Everyone raised their glasses.
"I have known Jason for over fifteen years," Tommy said. "And in all that time I have never seen him as happy as he is right now. Never seen him smile this much. Never seen him this at peace."
Jason squeezed my hand under the table.
"Caitlyn you are good for him," Tommy continued. "You make him better. You make him want to be better. And that is what love is supposed to do. It is supposed to make you the best version of yourself."
"I remember when Jason first told me about you," Tommy said. "Years ago. He said there was a girl from his childhood. This girl he could never forget. This girl he loved but thought he had lost forever."
I looked at Jason. He was looking down at the table. Emotional.
"He talked about you all the time," Tommy said. "Wondered where you were. What were doing? If you were happy. And when he found out you were married to Hayes it broke him. I had never seen him so devastated."
"But he never gave up," Tommy said. "He never stopped loving you. Never stopped hoping that maybe someday he would get another chance. And then that chance came. And he did not waste it. He fought for you. Saved you. Loved you the way you deserved to be loved."
I was crying now. Could not help it. Tommy's words were hitting me hard. Making me realize how much Jason had always cared. How much he had always loved me.
"So here is to second chances," Tommy said. "Here is to fighting for what you want. Here is to love that survives anything. Here is to Jason and Caitlyn. May you have a lifetime of happiness together."
"To Jason and Caitlyn," everyone said.
We all drank and then Detective Rourke stood up. I was surprised. I did not know he was going to make a speech.
"I would also like to say a few words," Rourke said. "If that is okay."
"Of course," Jason said.
Rourke cleared his throat. Looked a little nervous. He was not used to speaking in front of people like this.
"I am a cop," Rourke said. "I have been a cop for twenty years. And in those twenty years, I have seen a lot of bad things. A lot of evil. A lot of people are hurting other people."
He paused. Looked at Jason and Jason.
"But I have also seen good," Rourke said. "I have seen people overcome impossible odds. I have seen people survive things that should have destroyed them. I have seen love win when it should have lost."
"Jason and Caitlyn are proof that good can triumph over evil," Rourke said. "That love can survive abuse. That people can heal from trauma. That second chances are real."
"When I first met Caitlyn she was terrified," Rourke said. "She had been through hell. She thought she was going to die. She thought her baby was going to die. She had given up hope."
I remembered that day. Remembered how scared I was. How hopeless everything felt.
"But she did not give up," Rourke said. "She found the courage to testify. To stand up to her abuser. To fight for her freedom. And Jason stood by her side every step of the way. Protected her. Loved her. Gave her the strength she needed to keep going."
"That is what real love looks like," Rourke said. "It is not about flowers and chocolates and romantic gestures. It is about showing up. Being present. Fighting for each other. Choosing each other every single day."
He raised his glass.
"So here is to Jason and Caitlyn," Rourke said. "Two of the bravest people I have ever met. Two people who deserve all the happiness in the world. May your marriage be filled with love and joy and peace. May you always choose each other. May you always fight for each other."
"To Jason and Caitlyn," everyone said again.