The Man I Love (The Road Trip #2)

35. Chapter Thirty-five

February

Five months later

Samantha took a deep breath as she came to a stop at the edge of the dock. Everyone was waiting for her: Tristan, Renee, and their entire family.

For some reason, her body was shaking. Not out of fear or worry, but excitement. Today she and Tristan would be married in the very spot their romance first began. The Montgomery family cabin, in front of the lake where they’d shared their first kiss over ten years earlier.

“Are you okay, sweetie?” her dad whispered in her ear. His breath smelled of bourbon and tobacco, and she smiled, imagining the pre-wedding celebration he had likely been pulled into against his will.

Her eyes then locked on Tristan, who waited at the other end of the dock, holding their daughter. He was watching her, his expression serious and full of emotion, like nothing in the world could distract him from this day. Like he’d been waiting his whole life for this moment, and he didn’t want to miss a single second of it.

Sawyer appeared to be sleeping in his arms, scrunched up and face down like a football. Samantha watched the pair with reverence, because fatherhood came so easily to Tristan. No other person could get her to sleep like that, but she was always comfortable in his arms, falling asleep within minutes.

Often, she would keep herself awake for hours, only to fall asleep in his arms the second he came home forlunch. They both joked that it was her plan to keep him from leaving her, and Samantha couldn’t blame the girl.

She looked over at her father now, and a peace like she’d never known before washed over her body. She couldn’t imagine her life any other way.With any other people.

“I’m beyond okay,” she whispered, then rested her head on his shoulder the way she did as a child. He kissed her hair, then slowly took a deep breath and began to walk with her down the dock. Each side was flanked by members of their family. Her mom and Tristan’s parents—his stepmom, little Liam, and, of course, Phin and Renee. Tristan wore a dove gray suit, and his ivory-colored shirt was left open at his throat.

He swallowed, and even from a distance she could see him fighting back tears. His jaw was tense, his eyes slightly squinted. For some reason it warmed her heart, and a single tear ran down her cheek.

Her dress was simple, made of ivory lace which swept the ground with a long train. The bodice was V-necked, with delicate straps that criss-crossed at her back. Her hair was down, curled in beachy waves that made her feel like a princess.

She’d dreamed of this moment when she was a little girl. She’d cut images from endless magazines and pasted them tirelessly inside of her and Renee’s dream book. In all those fantasies she’d never imagined she’d already have a child, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She couldn’t explain it, but this was exactly how it was meant to be. If they’d gotten married at another time, Tristan’s father wouldn’t have been there, and neither would his little brother. Two people who’d become irreplaceable in their lives over this past year. If they had gotten married earlier, Sawyer wouldn’t be here either. Despite it being untraditional, Samantha wanted their daughter to see this. Even though she would have to be reminded of it later, she knew exactly what she would tell her.

She would say that sometimes love didn’t come in traditional packages. Sometimes relationships weren’t perfect, and sometimes you struggled. Sometimes there were misunderstandings, and sometimes things hurt. What was important is that you kept choosing each other.

That you chose each other when things were easy.

And you choose each other when things are hard.

Overand over and over again.

That was the point of marriage. Why “through good times and bad times” were often part of the vows.

Finally, at the edge of the dock, they stopped. The water was calm, and the lake peaceful. February was the off-season for the town, which meant they had the entire place to themselves. It was just before sunset, and the lake was cast in a warm glow.

Tristan took a deep breath, then turned toward his mother and handed her the baby. She stood by Phin, who held Sophia on his shoulders.

Although the two cousins were only a few months apart, they could easily have been mistaken for twins. Both had the Montgomery blond hair, blue eyes, and a dimpled chin. Sam smiled, remembering how she and Renee had often dreamed of being related. Now, their daughters would forever be mistaken for sisters.

Renee stepped toward the middle of the dock, wearing a blush-colored dress. She opened a notebook and gripped it tightly in her hands. “Good evening,” she said, trying not to laugh at being so formal in front of her family. “I don’t know why Tristan and Sam chose me, but the bride and groom have asked me to officiate their wedding.” She cleared her throat, as though trying to make things more official. But her chin wobbled slightly, and Sam could tell she was fighting back tears.

Renee glanced around the dock, making eye contact with each person. “Tristan and Samantha first asked that I thank you all for being here today. For taking the time out of your busy lives to join them in this truly special moment.

“Today is especially special for me though, as I get to be the one to marry both my big brother, and best friend on the same day.” She laughed. “Three years ago, if any one of you would have told me I’d be here, I would have laughed in your face. But thinking back on it, I really was so blind.” Her voice broke a little, and her eyes locked on Samantha’s. “I’m sure everyone here has borne witness to their love story. The moments when they were young and thought no one saw them looking at each other. The way they both avoided eye contact for no reason whatsoever.”

Everyone in attendance laughed, and Sam only looked at Tristan. Had they really been that obvious?

Renee took a step closer, shifting her weight to her other foot. “We all watched when they fell in love years later, then traveled the world, and shared a romance that was so sweet it was like it came straight out of a movie. But just like that movie, they faced strugglesand stubbornness that made us all want to beat them over the head with a stick!”

Everyone laughed again, and Rene paused, letting their enjoyment settle. “Their love is a reminder that stories come in all sorts of packages. Some are short, some are long, and some wind around like a roller coaster until they get to the good part.

Despite all their differences, Tristan and Samantha were meant for each other. As both his sister and her best friend, I can attest to that. They balance each other well. Where one is weak, the other one is strong, and they love each other more fiercely than should be humanly possible.

“Today marks their first day as husband and wife, but their incredible journey can’t be summed up in a single moment”—she waved her arm toward the lake, gesturing to the picturesque scene around them—“not even this breathtaking one.

Their love is made up of a million tiny moments that have built the foundation they stand on today. One single kiss that took place in this very spot. The spot where their story began.”

Tristan and Samantha then shared traditional vows, because as they searched the internet for inspiration, nothing else resonated quite as much.

“...to have and to hold from this day forward, through good times, and bad, for better, or worse, for richer, or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, till death do us part...”

In one way or another, they’d already survived all of it, and their story was just getting started.

When the ceremony was over, they went back to the Montgomery cabin, where a gourmet chef had prepared the fanciest version of a hamburger and fries Samantha had ever seen. Dessert was a cheesecake, specially ordered from their favorite bakery, which read “Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery” on top.

In the evening, when it was quiet,the family changed into pajamas, sat at the large farmhouse table, and exchanged memories that hadexpanded over decades. They all knew each other as neighbors and friends, and now they were united as a family.

Samantha found Tristan standing at the foot of the table, smiling as he watched their family laughing at a game of charades. Even his mom, dad, and stepmom had formed a friendship through their union.

Sam walked up to him after putting Sawyer to bed and slipped her arms around his waist. “Hello, husband,” she whispered so only he could hear.

He took a deep cleansing breath, and his eyes shifted downward. They were so crystal blue she could practically see her own reflection. “Hello, wife.”

The simple greeting caused goosebumps to cover her from head to toe, and she took a moment to compose herself. “I have a surprise for you,” she whispered.

He grinned, then leaned in to bite her earlobe. “Does it involve a private cabin, and you naked?”

She pushed him backward, grinning as she shook her head. “No,” she said, but then her hand trailed down his armuntil she took hold of his hand and led him out into the night. “Come on,” she said quietly, like they were teenagers again, and sneaking out without their parents' permission.

She led him out on the porch, down the steps, then into the woods.

“Why am I nervous?” He chuckled.

She bit her lower lip, then took a blindfold from the pocket of her robe and handed it to him.

His eyes widened, but his expression became mischievous. “What are you up to, Mrs. Montgomery?”

Giddiness over her new name made her shiver as she looped the blindfold around his face and tied it behind his head.

“Can you see anything?” she asked, waving her hand in front of his eyes.

“Nope. Not a thing.”

“Good.” She grinned, then took his hand again and guided him down a long path. Dead leaves crackled beneath their feet as they walked for what felt like miles.

“Are we going swimming?” he asked.

“No.”

“Skinny dipping?”

“No—and isn’t that the same thing?”

He grinned. “I can show you the difference if you’d like.”

For a moment, she thought she’d taken a wrong turn, but then they stepped into a small clearing, and she spotted it just ahead. Exactly where she and Renee had left it earlier. “Wait here,” she said, unable to hide her excitement in her voice.

“Sam, where are you going? You know I’m afraid of the dark,” he called out. But she could barely contain her giggles when she found the extension cords covered by leaves and plugged the two ends together.

The forest was illuminated by the bright flood lights which her and Renee had strategically hung from the trees. “You can take off the blindfold now,” she yelled.

Slowly, he lowered the mask, letting the blindfold hang loosely from his neck, but his expression changed instantly. From confusion, to recognition, then to complete shock.

Samantha’s hands started shaking as she watched him. She’d been waiting for this moment for so long. She stood at the front of the Mustang, one hand on the hood in her best Vanna White position, as she waved over the body of the car like she was presenting the prize hidden behind curtain number two.

“What’s this?” he asked, his voice hoarse and soft.

“Your car,” she answeredsoftly, though her voice was failing her. He looked like he was about to cry.

He turned his face toward the ground and gripped the back of his neck.

“I tracked down the guy you sold it to,” she told him, in case he had any doubts about it being the same car he’d had since he was sixteen years old. “It had been in his garage, just sitting. I told him this car was the beginning of our love story, and he told me he was a hopeless romantic and would be happy to sell the car back to me. I bought it for the exact amount I sold the sculpture I made that was inspired by you .”

Tristan’s face scrunched with adoration, and he rushed toward her, lifting her up off her feet and into his arms. “You shouldn’t have done this,” he whispered into her neck. “It’s too much.”

She shook her head and hugged him so tight it was almost painful. “No. It’s not.”

“I’ll never be able to give you anything this big in my entire life.”

She paused, then pushed at his chest, needing the distance so she could look at him better.She knew exactly what he meant. That he would never be able to buy her something this expensive.

“You’ve already given me everything I’ve ever wanted,” she whispered.

As though struggling with his own inner demons, he paused and lifted her chin. He had been told for so long that being a man meant he needed to be the provider, that taking care of his family came in the form of a paycheck. But slowly, together, they were re-writing that narrative.

“Sometimes I’ll take care of you,” she whispered. “And sometimes you’ll take care of me.”

He bent down slowly, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. It was soft yet passionate, conveying all the love he had held for her over the last decade. “Thank you,” he whispered into her ear.

“You’re welcome,” she replied softly.

And from that day forward, they fought, laughed, and made up—over and over again.

Because that’s who they were.

That’s what they did.

And it was perfectly imperfect.

Exactly like them.

The End.