She looked back.
“Yes.”
Daniel blinked.
“That fast?”
“You took a year.”
“Fair.”
He slid the ring onto her finger.
Victoria examined it.
“It's perfect.”
“You're not allowed to change it.”
“I heard you.”
“You have a history of acquiring things.”
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“Shut up and kiss me.”
He did.
The garage door remained open.
Morning traffic moved beyond.
Somewhere down the block a truck honked.
The city did not stop because their lives had changed.
It rarely did.
Lily entered through the side door thirty seconds later.
She saw Victoria’s hand.
Then screamed so loudly the barber next door came outside.
Daniel covered one ear.
Victoria laughed.
Lily launched herself at both of them.
“YOU DID IT!”
Daniel held her.
“Apparently.”
“Are you getting married?”
Victoria looked at Daniel.
“Yes.”
“When?”
Daniel frowned.
“We haven't—”
“Summer,” Victoria said.
He stared.
“We just got engaged.”
“I plan efficiently.”
“You are not scheduling our wedding like a capital deployment.”
Victoria smiled.
“Too late.”
Lily shouted, “I WANT PANCAKES.”
Daniel looked at Victoria.
“She is definitely yours now.”
Their wedding happened seven months later.
Not at a resort.
Not in Europe.
Not on a yacht.
Victoria could have arranged any of those.
Daniel wanted something smaller.
Victoria surprised him by agreeing.
They married in the courtyard behind the Chicago art school where Rachel had once taught.
Daniel had suggested another location.
Victoria refused.
“This place matters to Lily.”
“It matters to Rachel.”
“Exactly.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
So they married there.
Lily carried flowers.
Naomi cried before Victoria did.
Mike from the transmission shop wore a suit that did not fit.
Sam the barber gave Daniel an unsolicited shave at six in the morning.
Victoria’s mother attended wearing red and informed Daniel privately that if he broke her daughter’s heart, billions of dollars would not protect him.
Daniel believed her.
The ceremony was short.
The vows were not.
Daniel did not promise forever.
He had learned that people could not control forever.
He promised presence.
Honesty.
Return.
To come home when he said he would.
To answer when life became difficult instead of disappearing inside work.
Victoria promised something stranger.
“I promise never to solve a problem for you simply because I can.”
Everyone laughed.
Daniel did not.
He knew how serious she was.
“And I promise to ask before helping.”
“Thank you,” Daniel whispered.
She smiled.
“Most of the time.”
“Victoria.”
The guests laughed again.
Then she became serious.
“I promise your independence will never threaten me.”
Daniel's eyes filled.
“And I promise my power will never be something you owe me gratitude for.”
That was the vow he remembered most.
Years passed.
Mercer Auto Works expanded into the building next door.
Daniel bought it himself.
No Hale Meridian money.
Victoria understood why.