Beth wiped her cheeks.
Then she looked at the men lining the aisle.
“No,” she said softly. “I want them here.”
Patrick nodded.
The music began again.
And Beth walked toward my son between the 11 men her father had trusted with his life.
I thought that was the whole story.
I was wrong.
The ceremony continued, and Bryce and Beth exchanged their vows.
There were plenty more tears, but also laughter when Bryce briefly forgot which pocket held his written vows.
By the reception, everyone was talking about the firefighters.
Beth embraced each of them, asking questions and listening to stories about Richard.
But I noticed something unusual.
Every time Patrick approached Janet, she looked away.
Later, I found Beth sitting with a thick envelope in her hands.
Patrick stood beside her.
“What’s that?” I asked.
Beth looked up.
“Letters from my dad.”
Inside were copies of 11 handwritten letters, each addressed to a different firefighter.
