I Loved Her Mother
Rowan's POV
The past one month had been filled with healing.
The next one? Filled with so much sex I feared Remi might end up pregnant again. Not that I’d mind. In fact, a part of me wanted it—wanted more of her. In every way. Body, soul, forever. It had been dates. Travelling, gosh. We had travelled so much. She took a break from her research project to actually enjoy her life. I did too. The kids were happy. Everything was just finally smooth. Well life isn't a bed of roses but at least it's something we can manage.
As the old adage goes, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.
That’s why today, I found myself standing beside Cedric, under the harsh afternoon sun, both of us staring down at her mother’s grave.
It felt strange. Formal. But right.
“I loved her mother,” Cedric said after a while, hands tucked behind his back. “Back when I still had a soul. She was... my only softness.”
I stayed quiet.
He glanced at me. “She would've hated me now. But she loved Remi more than anything in this world.”
“I know.”
Cedric gave a dry chuckle, then crouched down and placed a small white flower on the grave. “This place... it's the only one that ever made me feel small. And today you're here, asking to marry my daughter, like I’m some sentimental old bastard with permission to give.”
My lips twitched. “Are you?”
He looked up, one eyebrow raised. “No. But I’m still gonna make you earn it.”
I held his gaze. “You know I love her.”
“I do. Still doesn’t change the fact that you broke her once.”
“I’ll never do it again,” I said quietly. “Ever.”
Silence settled between us again, heavy with everything unspoken.
Then Cedric stood up, dusted off his pants, and turned to me. “Alright. If you want my blessing, you have to shoot something for it.”
I blinked. “Come again?”
He pulled out a rusty old slingshot from his back pocket. “See that power line over there?”
I followed his gaze to the skinny wire running across two crooked poles. A tiny bird was perched on it.
“Is that…?”
“A pigeon. Ugly little thing. Hit it, and you can marry my daughter.”
I stared at him. “You’re joking.”
Cedric grinned. “Do I look like I’m joking?”
He handed me the slingshot.
I stared at the thing like it was a cursed relic.
“If I miss?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Then maybe Remi’s not meant to be a Vaughn after all.”
“Cedric.”
“What? I loved her mother, but I’m also petty.”
I bit back a groan, took the damn slingshot, and squinted up at the bird. The sun glared in my eyes, sweat trickled down my back, and this felt like the most ridiculous moment of my entire life.
But when I pulled the band back and let it fly—
Thunk.
The pigeon flapped its wings wildly and took off in a panic.
Missed.
Cedric stared
.
I stared.
He smirked. “Damn. Close. Guess you’re marrying her then.”
I blinked. “Wait. What?”
He shrugged. “I said if you miss, maybe she’s not meant to be a Vaughn. But she already is. That girl’s got your blood stamped all over her now. So don’t screw it up.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“Thanks… I think?”
He clapped me on the back so hard I stumbled forward. “Go propose before she changes her mind.”
I turned to leave.
But his voice stopped me one last time.
“Hey.”
I looked back.
Cedric stared at the grave. “One day I am going to meet her mother and tell her I tried.”
I nodded, softly.
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