My Butterfly

started to rise again. And right then, I saw in her every moment that made her, her and every moment that made us, us. I saw her blond hair bathed in the sun’s rays as she sat atop a set of monkey bars, laughing and calling out my name. I saw the fire’s flames dancing on the gold in her eyes the night I knew she had found it in her heart to see me differently than her monkey-bar days. On her sweet lips, I saw the words she had wanted to say in the years we had been apart but just somehow couldn’t because it wasn’t the right time. And I saw all our goodbyes and our hurts written on her face, but now, they were also intertwined with our hopes and our dreams and the moments that now bind us together. And I couldn’t help but think right then: I love this girl.
    “To Will and Julia,” I suddenly heard Jeff shout from the back of the bar.
    “To Will and Julia,” the people echoed.
    And then, as if it were fate itself smiling down on us—or maybe just Jeff, now standing at the juke box—a song came pouring through the walls. And it was a song about us.
    “Our last, first dance?” I asked, extending my hand toward Jules.
    She smiled at me again and then touched her hand to mine.
    I took her hand and led her to the tiny dance floor. Then, I wrapped my other arm around the small of her back and pulled her close.
    “Tell me this is real,” I said.
    I could hear her softly laughing.
    “I believe this is real,” she said.
    “Jules,” I said then.
    I pulled back and found her eyes.
    “I’ll quit the firefighting gig,” I said.
    She sent a puzzled look up to my face.
    “No,” she said, shaking her head. “Why would you do that?”
    “I know about your dad,” I whispered near her ear.
    Her eyes started to gloss over.
    “I mean, I didn’t know until just recently,” I said.
    “No,” she said, stopping me and pressing her head against my chest. “I want you just the way you are.”
    I paused then and let a slow and steady breath escape past my lips. Then, I pulled her closer, closed my eyes and let my head come to rest on the top of hers as I breathed in the smell of her hair and breathed out a smile.

Chapter Forty-Four
    I Do
     
     
    “W ill, you ready?” Jeff asked.
    I found his goofy stare and then lowered my head and smiled.
    “Right,” he said. “Ten years.”
    I met his gaze again. He was smiling too.
    “Let’s go,” I said, standing up and readjusting my collar.
    As I walked past him, he put his hand on my shoulder and followed me out. We made our way across the street and through a grassy knoll. Then, I stopped when I saw the people. They were our family and close friends, and they were sitting around the gazebo that sat at the edge of the levee. I took a deep breath and then felt a smile start to edge up my face. A moment passed as I reflected back on the journey to this very place. Every grand adventure has its own missteps, right? Luckily, mine didn’t do me in.
    “You have the rings, right?” I asked, eventually turning to Jeff.
    I watched as he reached his hand into the pocket of his slacks, and suddenly, his face went blank.
    My heart sped up, and my eyes widened.
    “Jeff,” I said, dramatically drawing out the letters in his name.
    We stood there staring at each other for several seconds—neither one of our expressions changing; his was blank and mine was setting into panic—before the left side of Jeff’s mouth started to lift into a grin.
    “I’m just pullin’ your leg, buddy,” he said, snickering to himself.
    Speechless, I watched as he pulled out a small, black box, held it out and then quickly shoved it back into his pocket.
    I closed my eyes and took in a deep, slow breath.
    “But I do have a piece of advice for ya, buddy,” he said, patting my shoulder.
    I found his eyes again.
    “You sure?” I asked him.
    He flashed me a puzzled look. Then, he seemed to catch on.
    “No, no,” he said. “I think this is pretty good advice for once. It’s actually from my dad.”
    “Well, in that case,” I said, starting to smile again.
    “All right,” he said. “My dad always told me that there are two sides to every argument.”
    I kept one eye narrowed on him.
    “Okay,” I said, slowly starting to nod my head.
    “Well,” he continued. “You find out which side is hers, and you jump on it. Then, you both win.”
    I closed my eyes, lowered my head and laughed.
    “Thanks, Jeff,” I said, patting him on the shoulder. “That’s probably pretty good