Chapter 14 - THE WEDDING OF THE LITTLE SPARROW
Their wedding took place in the garden of the Cain Estate.
Not the grand ballroom.
Not beneath crystal chandeliers.
But outdoors, beneath old oak trees and strings of warm lights.
Fay wore a simple ivory dress.
Josie wore pale blue.
Rafferty stood waiting beside Silvano.
His hands trembled.
Silvano smiled.
“Nervous?”
Rafferty nodded.
“Terrified.”
Silvano laughed.
“Good.”
Fay walked toward him.
Josie held her hand.
The little girl carried a basket of blue paper boats instead of flowers.
As they walked, she placed the boats along the aisle.
When Fay reached Rafferty, he took her hands.
His eyes filled.
“You're beautiful.”
She smiled.
“So are you.”
He laughed.
They exchanged vows.
Rafferty promised to listen.
To respect.
To protect without controlling.
To choose kindness even when power offered an easier path.
Fay promised to love him honestly.
To challenge him.
To remind him that dignity mattered more than reputation.
Then Josie stepped forward.
She signed something.
Rafferty watched carefully.
His eyes filled.
Fay translated softly.
“She says families are people who stay.”
Rafferty knelt.
He signed back:
Then I'll stay.
They were married beneath the Louisiana sky.
Later, during the reception, Rafferty took Fay's hand.
“Dance with me.”
She smiled.
“There's no music.”
He looked toward Josie.
“Then we'll make our own.”
They swayed beneath the lights.
Josie joined them.
Three people.
May you like
One family.
And in the pocket of Rafferty's jacket was the faded paper boat he'd kept for twenty-five years.
