It started when Amber pulled into her parents’ driveway, surprised by the number of cars parked on the lawn. “What’s going on now?” she muttered, half-expecting yet another one of her dad’s spontaneous gatherings.
As soon as she stepped inside, the smell of grilled meat hit her, and she heard her father’s booming laughter. She peered through the window to see the backyard full of people, mostly familiar faces from his auto repair shop.
“Amber!” her dad shouted, flipping burgers in his well-worn apron. “Come join us! It’s just the guys from work.” Amber sighed, slipping off her shoes and preparing herself for an afternoon of small talk.
Just as she was about to settle in, the doorbell rang. Her father set the spatula down, wiping his hands on his apron. “That must be Steve,” he said to no one in particular, glancing at Amber. “I don’t think you’ve met him yet, right?” Before she could answer, he opened the door.
“Steve!” her dad greeted him with a hearty slap on the back. “Come in! Oh, and meet my daughter, Amber.”
Amber’s heart did a small flip when she saw him. Steve was tall, ruggedly handsome, with graying hair and kind eyes that seemed to look straight into hers. He smiled, offering his hand. “Nice to meet you, Amber,” he said, his voice calm and steady.
“Nice to meet you too,” she replied, feeling unexpectedly flustered.
From that moment on, she found herself sneaking glances at him throughout the BBQ. There was something about the way he made everyone around him feel at ease, always listening more than talking. Amber hadn’t been thinking about relationships for a long time, but something about Steve made her reconsider.
As the day came to an end, Amber headed to her car, only for it to refuse to start. Frustrated, she was about to head back inside to ask for help when there was a knock on her window. It was Steve.
“Car trouble?” he asked with an easy smile. Within minutes, Steve had her car running again. “Thanks, Steve,” Amber said, feeling genuinely grateful. “I guess I owe you one.”
“How about dinner?” he suggested casually. Amber hesitated but, looking into his eyes, she found herself saying yes.
Six months later, Amber stood in front of the mirror in her childhood bedroom, gazing at herself in a wedding dress. She never thought this day would come, especially not at 39, but here she was—about to marry Steve. The wedding was small, just close family and a few friends, and Amber couldn’t help but feel at peace as she looked into Steve’s eyes at the altar.
That night, after the celebrations wound down, Amber and Steve finally found some alone time in their new home. But when she returned to the bedroom after changing, she was greeted by a sight that stopped her in her tracks.
Steve was sitting on the edge of the bed, speaking softly to someone—someone who wasn’t there.
“I wanted you to see this, Stace. Today was perfect… I just wish you could’ve been here,” Steve said, his voice filled with emotion.
Amber’s heart pounded as she stood frozen in the doorway. “Steve?” she whispered.
He turned to face her, a mix of guilt and sadness in his eyes. “Amber, I—”
“Who were you talking to?” she asked, stepping closer.
Steve took a deep breath. “I was talking to Stacy. My daughter.” He explained how Stacy had died in a car accident with her mother years ago, but sometimes, especially on important days like this, he still spoke to her, feeling as though she was still with him.
Amber’s heart broke for Steve. Sitting beside him, she took his hand and said, “I get it, Steve. You’re grieving, and that’s okay. We’ll get through this together.”
In that moment, Amber realized something profound: love isn’t about finding someone who’s perfect or unscarred. It’s about finding someone whose scars you’re willing to share. And with Steve, she knew they would figure it out—together.
Love, after all, is about embracing the imperfections and facing life’s struggles side by side.
