Chapter 11
Colt
Standing beneath the ancient oak tree in the Corvid Valley Arboretum, I adjust my tie for what feels like the hundredth time today.
The autumn air is crisp and perfect, and the trees surrounding us are ablaze with reds, oranges, and golds that complement the wedding colors Serena chose.
Benjamin stands beside me as my best man, grinning like he's almost as happy about this day as I am.
"You ready for this, man?" he whispers.
"More than ready," I say, and I mean it completely.
Everyone who matters to us fills the wooden chairs arranged in front of us.
Armando and Erin sit in the front row with Gabriel and little Luz, who's now walking and getting into everything.
Tessa is practically bouncing in her seat, having claimed partial credit for getting us together since she was the first to call out my obvious crush.
Goldie from the farmers market gives me a thumbs up when she catches my eye.
The string quartet begins playing, and my heart nearly stops when I see Nova walking down the aisle as maid-of-honor. She flew in from Florida yesterday, and Serena is thrilled to have her cousin in town.
But when the music changes to the wedding march and my bride appears at the end of the aisle, everything else fades away.
She's wearing a flowing ivory dress that moves like water as she walks, with autumn flowers woven into her auburn hair.
Serena made her bouquet entirely of herbs from both our farms, rosemary and lavender and sage that fill the air with their fragrance.
She's walking herself down the aisle, independent as always, and when her eyes meet mine, her smile is so radiant it takes my breath away. I have to blink back tears as she gets closer, this incredible woman who chose to love a grumpy farmer and somehow made him worthy of her magic.
When Serena reaches me, I take her hands and lean down to whisper, "You're perfect."
"So are you," she whispers back.
The ceremony passes in a blur of vows and rings and promises for the future. When the officiant finally says, "You may kiss the bride," I don't hesitate. I pull my wife into my arms and kiss her like it's the first time.