Amber had long since given up on love. After years of disappointment and heartbreak, she’d convinced herself that she didn’t need a man to be happy. But life, as it often does, had other plans for her.
One sunny afternoon, she found herself pulling up to her parents’ house, her car rolling over the gravel driveway. The sight that greeted her made her pause. Cars were parked everywhere, even across the lawn.
“What’s going on here?” she muttered under her breath, her eyebrows knitting together. She had hoped for a quiet visit, not a family gathering. With a sigh, she grabbed her purse, locked her car, and made her way to the door, bracing herself for whatever chaos was brewing inside.
The moment she stepped inside, the smell of sizzling meat and the laughter of her father filled the air.
“Amber!” her dad’s voice rang out, warm and loud as always. He was flipping burgers with the same old apron he’d worn for years. “Come on in, grab a drink, and join us. It’s just the guys from work!”
Amber rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what she was walking into. “Looks like the whole town’s here,” she muttered, slipping off her shoes as she stepped into the bustling living room.
She peeked out the window into the backyard, where she could see the familiar faces of her dad’s auto repair shop crew enjoying the BBQ.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, cutting through the noise of the gathering. Her dad paused, looking over his shoulder with a grin. “That must be Steve,” he said, almost to himself. “You haven’t met him yet, right?”
Before Amber could respond, her dad flung the door open with a dramatic flair. “Steve!” he boomed. “Come on in, you’re just in time. And hey, meet my daughter, Amber.”
Amber turned around and was instantly struck by the sight of Steve. He was tall, with a rugged, slightly weathered look—handsome in a way that made her heart flutter without warning. His graying hair and deep, warm eyes held a certain kindness that she wasn’t expecting.
“Nice to meet you, Amber,” he said, extending his hand with a calm smile.
Amber took his hand, trying to ignore the strange feeling stirring in her chest. “Nice to meet you too,” she replied, trying not to look as flustered as she felt.
As the day wore on, Amber couldn’t seem to shake the pull she felt towards Steve. He had an easy, quiet charm that made everyone feel comfortable around him. She was used to seeing people like him at family gatherings, but for some reason, this time was different. She found herself stealing glances at him more often than she intended.
After dinner, when she was finally ready to leave, Amber tried to start her car—but of course, it refused to start. “Great,” she groaned, frustrated. She wasn’t about to go back inside to ask for help from her dad.
But just as she sank into the seat, there was a tap on her window.
It was Steve.
“Car trouble?” he asked with an easy smile, like it was no big deal. Amber gave him a look of defeat. “Yeah, it’s not starting. I was just about to ask my dad, but…”
“No worries, let me take a look,” Steve offered, already rolling up his sleeves and walking around to the front of the car.
Amber watched him with curiosity as he got to work, his hands moving with expert precision. Within minutes, the engine roared back to life. Amber released a breath she didn’t know she was holding.
“There you go,” Steve said, wiping his hands on a rag. “Should be good now.”
Amber smiled, relieved. “Thanks, Steve. I guess I owe you one.”
Steve gave her a playful look. “How about dinner? We can call it even.”
Amber hesitated for a moment. Was he asking her out? Her mind screamed at her to be careful, but there was something about Steve’s easy smile and the warmth in his eyes that made her want to take the chance.
“Yeah, dinner sounds good,” she said before she could stop herself.
And just like that, her world tilted.
Six months later, Amber found herself standing in front of the mirror in her childhood bedroom. She was staring at herself in a wedding dress, her heart racing as she adjusted the delicate lace. She could hardly believe this was her life. She had never expected to find love again, but here she was, about to marry Steve.
The wedding was small—only close family and a few friends, just the way they wanted it. The ceremony was beautiful, and when Amber looked into Steve’s eyes as they exchanged vows, it felt as though everything in the world was right.
“I do,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
“I do,” Steve replied, his voice thick with emotion as well.
And just like that, they were married.
After the wedding, as they settled into their new home—Steve’s house, now their house—Amber felt a sense of peace. The rooms were unfamiliar, but they were filled with the promise of a new life. She changed into something more comfortable, her heart light with happiness.
But when she returned to the bedroom, the sight that greeted her made her freeze.
Steve was sitting on the edge of the bed, his back to her. He was talking softly, but the words felt strange. There was no one else in the room.
“I wanted you to see this, Stace,” Steve murmured, his voice full of emotion. “Today was perfect… I just wish you could’ve been here.”
Amber’s heart skipped a beat. “Steve?” she called out, her voice shaky.
He turned around slowly, a flicker of guilt crossing his face.
“Amber, I—”
“Who were you talking to?” Amber asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Steve took a deep breath, his face full of sadness. “I was talking to Stacy. My daughter.”
Amber’s stomach sank. She had known about Stacy—Steve had told her about his daughter, how she had tragically died in a car accident with her mother. But she didn’t know that Steve still talked to her, even now.
“She died in a car accident, with her mom,” Steve continued, his voice breaking. “But sometimes… sometimes I talk to her. I know it sounds crazy, but I feel like she’s still here, especially today. I wanted her to know about you. I wanted her to see how happy I am.”
Amber’s chest tightened, her mind reeling with the weight of his words. She didn’t know what to say. But then she realized something—she didn’t feel scared. She felt sad. Deeply sad for Steve, for everything he had lost, and the way he had carried that grief for so long.
She sat down beside him, her hand finding his. “I get it,” she said softly. “I do. You’re not crazy, Steve. You’re grieving.”
Steve let out a shaky breath, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. “I’m sorry. I should’ve told you sooner. I didn’t want to scare you away.”
“You’re not scaring me away,” Amber said, squeezing his hand. “We all have things that haunt us. But we’re in this together now. We can carry this together.”
Steve’s grip tightened as he pulled Amber into a hug. They sat like that for a long time, the weight of their shared sorrow wrapping around them like a blanket.
“Maybe we can talk to someone about it. A therapist, maybe. It doesn’t have to just be you and Stacy anymore,” Amber suggested gently.
Steve nodded against her shoulder. “I’ve thought about it. I just didn’t know how to start. Thank you for understanding, Amber. I didn’t know how much I needed this.”
Amber pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes, her heart swelling with love for this man who had so much to heal from. “We’ll figure it out, Steve. Together.”
And in that moment, Amber knew that their love was real. It wasn’t perfect, but it was deep, and it was theirs. And that, she thought, was more than enough.
Because love, after all, isn’t about finding someone without scars; it’s about finding someone whose scars you’re willing to share.
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