Chapter 135 Chapter 135

Chapter 135 Chapter 135
Chapter 135

Next morning sunlight streaming through windows. New day. Better day. Healing day.

Sienna awake in bed still sore everywhere but better than yesterday better than days before alive home safe.

Landon beside her also awake watching her like he’d been doing all night making sure she was real was breathing was here.

Knock on door soft hesitant careful.

“Come in.” Sienna called voice still hoarse but stronger than before.

Door opening Lora entering nervous visible in every movement every breath every step.

“Hi.” Lora said quiet shy almost. “Can we talk just us?”

Landon started to get up give them privacy but Sienna grabbed his hand.

“Stay.” She said to husband to partner to everything. “Whatever Lora needs to say you can hear too.”

Landon nodded settling back against headboard holding Sienna’s hand supporting her always.

Lora sat in chair beside bed wringing hands together anxious terrified almost.

“What’s wrong?” Sienna asked concerned seeing fear in sister’s face.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Lora said quick then correcting. “I mean something happened but it’s good I think I hope.”

“Okay.” Sienna encouraged patient waiting.

Lora took deep breath gathering courage needing it for this for confession for everything.

“I’m with Noah.” She blurted out fast like ripping bandage off. “Romantically we’re together now as of last night.”

Silence for moment. Sienna processing. Landon smiling slightly already knowing probably seeing it coming.

“Okay.” Sienna said calm not upset not angry just listening.

“And I need to know.” Lora continued words rushing out now can’t stop them. “If you’re okay with it with us because you and Noah were engaged once you were going to marry him.”

She paused breathing hard emotional vulnerable exposed.

“If you’re not okay with it I’ll quit.” Lora said serious meaning it. “I’ll end things with Noah right now today I won’t let my relationship hurt you hurt us hurt our sister bond.”

Sienna stared at Lora seeing sincerity seeing sacrifice she was willing to make seeing love for both Noah and her.

“Lora.” Sienna said gentle reaching for her hand with free one. “Come here.”

Lora moved to bed sitting on edge holding Sienna’s hand scared of answer scared of everything.

“First.” Sienna started looking directly at Lora at sister at friend. “I need to tell you something about my engagement to Noah.”

Lora nodded listening heart pounding.

“Noah and I were engaged yes.” Sienna said honest open. “But we never had sex never did anything intimate like that.”

Lora’s eyes widened surprised not knowing this never asking before.

“We never even kissed passionately.” Sienna continued small smile forming remembering. “We only pecked quick ones on lips like friends almost like obligation.”

“Really?” Lora whispered shocked relieved something shifting inside.

“Really.” Sienna confirmed squeezing her hand. “Our engagement was arrangement more than romance. We cared for each other but not like that not in love not really.”

She paused glancing at Landon at real love at difference between then and now.

“When I met Landon.” Sienna said looking back at Lora. “I knew what real love was what passion was what everything should feel like. Noah and I never had that.”

“But you were going to marry him.”

“Because it made sense.” Sienna explained. “Not because it felt right. There’s difference big difference.”

Landon spoke up first time since Lora entered. “My brother deserves real love too not just arrangement not just sense real love.”

“And you deserve real love.” Sienna said to Lora firm certain final. “You deserve all the happiness in world Lora after everything you’ve been through everything you’ve lost everything you’ve survived.”

Tears starting in Lora’s eyes relief gratitude love all together.

“So you’re okay with it?” Lora asked needing to hear it clearly definitely.

“I’m more than okay with it.” Sienna said pulling Lora into hug careful of injuries but needing this. “I approve completely I’m happy for you for Noah for both of you.”

Lora sobbed against her shoulder relief overwhelming everything.

“Thank you.” She whispered through tears. “Thank you so much.”

“Don’t thank me.” Sienna said also crying happy tears. “Just be happy love him let him love you that’s all I want.”

They held each other sisters in everything but blood family in everything that mattered.

When they pulled apart both smiling through tears both lighter somehow.

“Now go tell him.” Sienna said playful almost. “He’s probably freaking out waiting for your answer.”

Lora laughed nodding standing up. “Thank you again for everything.”

“Love you.” Sienna called as Lora walked to door.

“Love you too.” Lora called back leaving closing door behind her.

Alone again Sienna looked at Landon who was smiling proud of her of maturity of love she showed.

“That was beautiful.” He said kissing her forehead.

“She deserves it.” Sienna said simple true. “They both do.”

Evening came family dinner first one since Sienna came home everyone together finally.

Dining room table full Sienna and Landon Victoria and Richard Eleanor and Thomas Lora and Noah.

Food everywhere prepared by Eleanor and Victoria together celebration meal gratitude meal family meal.

Conversation flowing easy natural happy almost normal almost healing beginning.

Then Noah stood up tapping glass with fork getting attention getting silence.

Lora looked up at him nervous excited knowing what came next.

“I have announcement.” Noah said voice strong but emotional underneath. “We have announcement.”

He reached down taking Lora’s hand pulling her to stand beside him.

Everyone watching waiting some knowing already some guessing all hoping.

“Lora and I.” Noah started looking at her at love of his life. “Are together now in relationship as of last night.”

Silence for second just second then explosion of joy.

Eleanor jumped up rushing to them hugging both crying happy tears.

“Oh my babies!” She cried holding them tight. “I’m so happy for you both!”

Thomas standing too clapping Noah on shoulder proud of son of choice he made.

Victoria also up also hugging Lora also crying. “You deserve this sweetheart so much happiness.”

Richard shaking Noah’s hand welcoming him to family officially this time.

Sienna and Landon stayed seated but smiling wide clapping supporting celebrating.

“About time!” Landon called out teasing brother. “Took you long enough!”

Noah laughed looking at brother at Sienna grateful for approval for support for everything.

Lora looked at Sienna across table mouthing “Thank you.”

Sienna mouthed back “Love you.”

Family settled down eventually back to seats back to dinner but atmosphere changed lighter happier hopeful.

“To Noah and Lora!” Thomas said raising glass in toast.

“To Noah and Lora!” Everyone echoed glasses clinking together celebrating love celebrating family celebrating life.

They ate together talked together laughed together family complete family happy family healing.

Noah held Lora’s hand under table squeezing gently grateful for her for this for everything.

She squeezed back also grateful also happy also believing finally that she deserved this deserved him deserved love.

And across table Sienna watched them smiling seeing happiness she helped create helped protect helped bless.

Seeing love win again against fear against doubt against everything wrong.

Love winning always.