I'll Be Seeing You

Twenty-Two.

We officially hit the final countdown—just one week from today, I'd be marrying my best friend. My soulmate. Tears welled in my eyes as I glanced over at Mark, who looked as handsome as ever behind the wheel. We were about an hour away from the beach house. Abby was asleep in the back seat, and Tommy and Rene were close behind us in the other car.

We'd decided to head down early—take a few days to soak in the ocean breeze, do a little sightseeing, and unwind before wedding chaos took over. We were staying in the same area as our last beach trip, but this house was much bigger. Big enough for all of us—me, Mark, Abby, Rene, Tommy, the rest of the bridal party, and even Mark's family. It felt right, having everyone together under one roof. The rest of the bridal party would begin arriving Thursday and Friday, just in time for the rehearsal and final touches.

Saturday would be spent prepping the venue. We'd reserved a beautiful, private section of beach for the ceremony and reception. Tents were being brought in—big enough to hold over three hundred guests. Not that we expected that many, but we wanted the space, especially with the summer heat.

Sunday morning, the catered food would arrive, and the final touches would be put in place. The wedding was set for noon. After the reception, we planned to have everyone back at the beach house for drinks and a bonfire under the stars. Mark insisted that since we were already at the beach, we could plan a honeymoon after we got back home. But if I knew anything about that man, he already had something up his sleeve.

We arrived at the house just before noon. Once everything was unloaded and everyone was settled in, we changed into our bathing suits and headed straight for the beach. The sun was blazing, the sky was cloudless, and the air was scorching hot and thick with humidity. It was perfect.

We planned to spend the entire day on the sand—no schedules, no stress. Just sun, surf, and relaxation. Later in the evening, we'd head out for dinner, then return to stroll along the shoreline, collecting seashells and shark teeth as the tide came in. Today was all about unwinding.

I couldn't stop smiling as I watched Abby tear across the sand, shrieking with laughter as she dodged the incoming waves. She looked so free—her hair a wild halo around her face, her feet kicking up little bursts of wet sand. For a moment, I saw her as the little girl I'd lost for so long. But here she was—right in front of me. Whole. Happy. Mine again.

"This is amazing!" she shouted, spinning in a circle, arms out wide like she could hug the whole ocean. "Why didn't we ever do this before?"

I walked toward her, the sand warm beneath my feet, my heart aching in the best way. "Because life got in the way," I said gently. "But we're here now. And we're not wasting a second of it."

She grinned at me, eyes sparkling. "I've never seen the ocean before. It's... bigger than I imagined."

"You're just getting started, kid," I said, smiling back. "There's a whole world waiting for you."

She tilted her head. "Do you think... if Mom could see us right now, she'd be proud?"

The question hit me straight in the chest. I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat and nodded. "Yeah, sis. I think she'd be proud as hell."

Abby's smile faltered, just a little, but she reached out and took my hand. We stood there for a while, letting the waves rush in around our ankles, the sun soaking into our skin. It wasn't just a beach day—it was a healing day. For both of us.

I watched as Mark and Tommy wrestled around in the surf like a couple of overgrown kids, splashing water and laughing so loud it echoed down the shoreline. Mark looked so carefree—sun-kissed, soaked to the bone, and absolutely beaming. Seeing him like that did something to me. Something quiet but powerful. A shift deep in my chest.