She next looked to Lexi. Tears fell down her cheeks. “Lex, you know what I think about you. Hands down, you’re the bravest... the most courageous person I’ve ever met in my life. You overcame an illness that I can’t even imagine coping with. Yet you do so with grace... and a fierce determination. You’re my inspiration, my faith that a person can overcome anything.”
“Molls,” Lexi cried, unable to speak any further. Austin pulled his wife tightly into his arms and kissed her head. My chest tightened at the sight... my emotions fucking working overtime.
“It’s true, Lex,” Molly assured, “And on your journey you fell in love with Austin. Austin who, along with his two brothers, faced a kind of hell that no human being should ever have to endure.” Molly fixed her eyes on me and Austin and Levi. “The three of you have overcome so much grief... so much heartache. But in the end, your love as brothers... your love for each other... pulled you through and made you the men you are today.”
Molly then smiled at Ally, Elsie and Lexi. “Along with your wives, of course... three women whose tenacity and ability to love fiercely showed you that there was happiness and joy to be had in this life... and that life is far too short to stay stuck in the past.
“Levi plays in the NFL... Austin and Lexi run centers in Seattle to help troubled teens... and of course, Axel and Ally, who have taken the art world by storm.” Molly turned to her husband. “And us, baby. You, the Tide coach. And me, a professor... and our four beautiful children who complete our lives.”
Molly laughed to herself and shook her head, blushing. “I’m rambling. I know I am rambling. But sitting here in this restaurant tonight makes my heart fit to burst with happiness and pride.” She went quiet and I watched a single tear run down her cheek and splash onto the tabletop.
Everything was silent as Molly kept her head low. But inhaling a breath, she continued. “Twenty-five years ago I had no family... I had little hope. And now? Today I am blessed with the best family and friends in the world... and a bucket load of hopes and dreams.”
Lifting her head, a smile spread on her lips and she huffed a watery laugh. “In my head, I picture all of us growing old, our friendships never fading. I picture our children’s weddings, Christmases and birthdays shared together… the years rolling by filled with love and happiness… and I picture all of us as grandparent’s telling our grandchildren stories about how we all met, about all the journeys we took in our lives—both the good and the bad.”
Ally was full on crying beside me. In fact, as I scanned round the table, everyone was fighting to keep their shit together. Even the kids were silently watching Molly talk, her daughter, Taylor, and three sons, Isaac, Archie and Elias, looking at her like she was their sun.
“What I’m trying to say is that the day I took a chance with the move to Alabama was the best thing I’ve ever done… because it brought me to you guys. I love you all so much that some days it’s almost too much to contain.” Raising a glass, Molly announced, “A toast... to taking a chance, because that chance taken may be the very path that leads you to your happily ever after.”
All of us rose to our feet, toasting with a glass of champagne and all the girls ran over to Molly to hug her. As I watched Ally kissing and holding her best friends, I glanced to my right, only to see Austin and Levi moving to stand by my side. Silently, I put my arms around the shoulders of my brothers.
It was at that moment I knew I couldn’t regret a thing. Not one thing that happened in my life, because this moment, right now, this feeling, was worth every bit of pain and heartache.
At that moment, Ally turned and caught my eye. Leaving her friends, she walked over to where I stood looking as damn breathtaking as the day I met her. Levi and Austin clapped me on the back and moved aside. As my brothers headed back to their wives, Ally wrapped her arms around my neck.
Holding her tightly in my arms, she moved back her beautiful face. Searching my eyes, she asked, “Are you happy, querido?”
Sighing, feeling the most content I had in my entire fucking life, I pressed my lips to hers, pulling back only to whisper, “Sono felice insieme a te… Sempre.”
Playlist
The playlist can be found under ‘Sweet Hope’ on: http://tilliecole.com
Tainted Love — Marilyn Manson
Amor Prohibido — Selena
Live With Lonesome — Little Big Town Kiss The Rain — Yiruma
Boot of Spanish Leather — Amos Lee Roses — James Arthur (ft. Emeli Sande) Mess Is Mine — Vance Joy
Bright — Echosmith
You Hurt The Ones You Love/I Don’t Believe That — Maria Mena Brother — NEEDTOBREATHE (ft. Gavin DeGraw) Tutto L’Amore Che Ho — Jovanotti The Prayer — RyanDan
Heartbeats — Jose Gonzales
Run — Leona Lewis
Lips Of An Angel — Hinder
Something Good This Way Comes — Jakob Dylan Brother — Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes What I’ve Done — Linkin Park
Sweet Dreams — Beyonce
El Camino — Emos Lee
My Silver Lining — First Aid Kit Sigh No More — Mumford & Sons L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. — Noah and The Whale Say Anything — Tristan Prettyman Shattered & Hollow — First Aid Kit
Acknowledgements