My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

Peter and Celeste had gone to Willowcombe. The little family was lying under a blanket, shaded from the sun by a huge tree-one that Celeste had always loved, and that Spike, back when he was younger, had loved climbing.

Peter had one hand tucked under his head. Celeste rested her head on his chest, while his other arm wrapped protectively around her small body.

His eyes were closed, and he breathed in her familiar scent of roses-a scent that, for him, now meant "home."

Every time he caught the fragrance of roses, he knew: that was what home smelled like now.

"I love you, Celeste," Peter said suddenly, without even opening his eyes.

Hearing him, Celeste lifted her face and gave him a bright, joyful look. She turned her gaze toward their twin girls, sleeping peacefully in their bassinet.

"Peter... I love you even more. I love you for everything you've given me," Celeste said with emotion.

Peter opened his eyes at her words, intrigued.

"What have I given you?" he asked curiously.

Celeste smiled warmly, meeting his gaze, and then she began to speak:

"You've given me a family. Before, I was alone... well, not completely, I had Spike, my old cat, who now spends more time sleeping than awake.

"But you you came out of nowhere and gave me this beautiful family. You gave me a home, a real home, like the one I used to dream of when I was a little girl watching from the outside.

"Since I've been with you, I have to confess I'm not afraid anymore. I used to live my life in fear, always worried that something might happen to me, and there'd be no one to care for me or for Spike. But ever since you arrived, that fear disappeared.

"I love you because you gave me the chance to be a mother again—and not just once, but to two beautiful little girls.

"Having you, having our daughters, having Spike, and this home-I don't need anything else. This is the life I want. I want a simple, peaceful life. I want a family life. I want a life with you and our girls," Celeste finished, her voice heavy with emotion.

Peter listened intently, studying her beautiful features. He watched her hair, wild and curly, long and tangled from the wind. He watched how simply she dressed, and it made him-almost involuntarily think of Katherine.

After a few minutes, he smiled and said, "Looking at you now... can I tell you something?"

"Yes... tell me," Celeste said, curious about the strange look he was giving her. "There's no woman in the world I'd rather be with than you. Did you know... you're not my type at all?" Peter said, grinning.

"You've told me that a few times," Celeste said, rolling her eyes playfully.

"Well... I can tell you that now, for me, there's no one more beautiful than you. You have a beauty that's captivating-here," he said, pointing to his heart, "and here," he said, motioning to all of her.

"I know I've said it a million times-that you're nothing like the women I used to chase after. But that's the magic. You, just being you, have captured me completely. I don't even know what spell you cast on me... but believe me, I can't be without you.

"I can't go without seeing those beautiful eyes of yours, without kissing those luscious lips, or burying my face in your neck to lose myself in your scent of roses."

"Did you know," Peter said softly, "that your scent makes me feel at home?"

"No..." Celeste replied, shaking her head in disbelief.

"I feel so lucky to have you by my side," he continued, "just look at you. I'm almost twice your age and now you're my partner-and soon, you'll be my wife."

Which led him to a very serious question.

"So... when do you want to get married? And also, very important: where do you want us to get married?" Peter asked seriously.

"Are you serious? I thought you didn't even want to get married," Celeste said, a little shocked.

"Why wouldn't I want to marry you? I gave you an engagement ring, didn't I?" Peter said, looking at her as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Yes... but I thought it was just symbolic," Celeste said shyly.

"No, my love, if I've decided we're getting married, it's because we're truly getting married. The only thing I need to know is when and where you want it to happen."

He sat up slightly, pointing around them as he spoke, already imagining it all:

"This would be a perfect spot for a wedding... just picture it: a few tables over there, a few more there, string lights hanging up as night falls, a small dance floor here, and the altar right beneath this big, beautiful tree. What do you think?" he said, smiling as he pointed in every direction.

Celeste was still caught in the surprise of it all. Peter had already imagined everything—and it wasn't that she didn't want to contradict him, but... everything he described was exactly what she had once dreamed of.

At some point, she had convinced herself that Peter wasn't the type to get married -much less to dream up a wedding. Once again, she realized she had been wrong about him.

He was serious-really serious-and from the sparkle in his eyes, it was obvious he truly wanted the wedding to take place there in Willowcombe.

That idea made her heart swell with joy.

"You know... everything you just said, I love it," Celeste said, her voice light with excitement. "Just imagine-simple decorations on the tables, candles, soft little touches here and there..."

"I'd love for us to get married at sunset. What do you think?" she asked, a wide, happy smile blooming across her face.

"Nothing would make me happier than making you happy, Celeste," Peter said, taking her hand and kissing it sweetly, then using his other hand to gently draw her closer by the neck, pulling her lips to his.

"But Peter... the girls..." Celeste said, giggling nervously.

"They're fast asleep in their little crib," Peter whispered against her mouth. "Come here... I want to taste those delicious lips of yours. I promise... no indecency in front of the girls," he added with a playful grin, laying her back gently on the blanket and kissing her.

If there was one thing to say about Peter, it was that after his conversation with Serenity, he really had taken the time to reflect deeply on his life-his present, and his future.

His past? It no longer held him.

The few memories he did have were of being eternally in love with Katherine. Maybe it had been love, maybe it was just passion-he wasn't sure anymore.

But day by day, seeing Celeste's

belly grow, going with her to

ultrasound appointments, seeing their twin girls take shape-pieces of himself growing inside the woman who now said she belonged to

him that's what changed him.

Cóntent belongs to

Sure, Celeste wasn't the type of woman he would have gone for at twenty-five.

But she had something.

Something that slowly but surely captured his heart.

At first, he hadn't known what it was. But over time, it became clear: the scent ofnoveldrama

roses that clung to her had embedded itself into his soul.

And now, the truth was simple: There was nowhere Peter would rather be than here-beside the woman who had become his home.