Updated Mar 13, 2026 • ~4 min read
Today marks six months since Vegas.
Six months since we woke up accidentally married.
Six months since our lives changed forever.
It’s also the day we technically could have gotten divorced. The IRS requirement is complete. We’re free to go our separate ways.
Instead, we’re hosting Thanksgiving.
“Are you nervous?” Holden asks as I check the turkey for the third time.
“About Thanksgiving or about the fact that we chose not to divorce?”
“Both?”
“Yes to both.”
He laughs and pulls me away from the oven. “The turkey is fine. We have enough food. Both families are going to get along. Everything is going to be perfect.”
“You can’t know that.”
“I can absolutely know that. Because we’ve done the hard part. We told everyone. We got married for real. The rest is easy.”
The doorbell rings.
“Here we go,” I mutter.
My parents arrive first. Then Eleanor. Then Noah and Margot. Hudson and his family. Wren and her husband. Holden’s aunt and uncle.
Soon the apartment is packed. Kids everywhere. Adults laughing. Food covering every surface.
It’s chaos.
It’s perfect.
During dinner, Noah stands with his wine glass.
“I want to make a toast,” he announces.
Everyone quiets.
“Six months ago today, these two woke up married in Vegas. They panicked. Understandably. They could have immediately filed for divorce. But they didn’t.”
I squeeze Holden’s hand under the table.
“Instead, they took a chance. On each other. On us. On building something real out of something chaotic. And watching them this year has been—” His voice catches. “It’s been incredible. They’re proof that sometimes the best things in life are the unexpected ones. So here’s to Tessa and Holden. To six months of real marriage. And to all the years to come.”
“Hear, hear!” everyone choruses.
Glasses clink. Tears flow (mostly my mom and Eleanor).
“Happy not-divorce day,” I whisper to Holden.
“Best divorce we never had,” he whispers back.
After dinner, when everyone’s in food comas, Holden pulls me into our bedroom.
“What are we doing?” I ask.
“Taking a moment. Just us.”
We sit on the bed. I can hear the party continuing without us.
“Six months,” he says.
“Six months.”
“We could be divorced right now.”
“But we’re not.”
“We’re very much not.” He takes my hand. “Do you ever regret it? Choosing to stay?”
“Not for a second. You?”
“Never. This—us—it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. Even if it started as an accident.”
“Especially because it started as an accident. If we’d done this the normal way, we might never have taken the leap.”
“True. Sometimes you need a push.”
“Or an Elvis impersonator.”
He laughs and pulls me close. “I love you, Mrs. Reid.”
“I love you too, Mr. Reid.”
We rejoin the party. Spend the evening with family. Play games. Tell stories. Laugh until we cry.
This is what marriage is supposed to be. Not just the two of us. But all of us. Families merged. Lives intertwined.
Perfect chaos.
As everyone leaves, my mom pulls me aside.
“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.”
“For what?”
“For taking a chance. For being brave. For building this beautiful life.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Your father and I—we had our doubts at first. Vegas wedding, tax problems, the whole thing seemed insane. But watching you two together, seeing how happy you are… we were wrong to doubt. You found something special.”
“We really did.”
She hugs me tight. “Happy not-divorce day, baby.”
I laugh through tears. “Thanks, Mom.”
When everyone’s gone and the apartment is clean, Holden and I collapse on the couch.
“That went well,” he says.
“Better than well. That was perfect.”
“Our first Thanksgiving as a married couple.”
“Technically our second. Remember last month at your mom’s?”
“That was the rehearsal dinner. This was the real thing.”
“Fair point.”
We sit in comfortable silence. Exhausted. Full. Happy.
“Six more months until our one-year anniversary,” Holden says.
“What should we do?”
“Something big. Trip somewhere amazing. Celebration worthy of surviving our first year.”
“Italy?”
“Perfect.”
We’re already planning. Already looking forward. Already building our future.
Six months ago, we could have ended this.
Instead, we’re just beginning.
END OF CHAPTER 26
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