Chapter 15 #3
“You love when I’m nasty.” He loved riling her up and every other damned thing about her.
As they drove through the gates to the lighthouse where they’d met more than a year ago, his heart beat with excitement and anticipation and a tiny bit of fear that his big idea might not go over well with her.
“What’re we doing here? I saw Erin last night.”
“I have a little surprise for you.”
“What kind of surprise?”
“The kind you’re going to have to wait and see.”
She sat up straighter in her seat, but there was nothing to see—yet.
Alex pulled up to the spot he used to take when he was coming here to visit her and cut the engine. Then he turned to her, reaching for her hand.
“What’s going on?”
“You’re worried about something happening before our big day, right?”
She bit her lip and nodded.
“Today’s our big day. Right here where we first met, we’re going to get married. We’ll still have our wedding as planned, but that’ll be for everyone else. This, today, is for us. There’ll be nothing left to worry about once we’re legally and officially married.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she covered her mouth as a sob escaped from her lips.
One by one, the people he’d called earlier filed out of the lighthouse: Evan, his uncle Frank, Sydney and Erin, moving slowly on crutches.
Jenny saw them and began to cry harder.
“If you don’t want to do this, we don’t have to. I just thought—”
She launched herself across the truck and into his arms, kissing him repeatedly. “You are the best guy in the whole world to think of this.”
“So you like the idea?”
“I love the idea, except Paul isn’t here.”
“He’ll understand completely, and he’ll still be my best man at our official wedding.”
“When did you think of this?”
“This morning.”
“And you made it happen for today?”
“I can’t bear to see you worrying when there was something I could do to fix it short of enclosing myself in bubble wrap for the next two weeks.”
“I’m sorry to have been worried—”
Alex placed his finger over her lips. “You have every good reason to feel the way you do. Do you care that your parents aren’t here for this?”
“No. They’d understand, too. The only one I truly need is you.”
“And the only one I truly need is you. So what do you say we go out there and get married?”
“What about the rings?”
“I’ve got them with me.”
She seemed stunned that he’d thought of that. “And the license?” Her smile faded. “It’s dated for two weeks from now.”
“I took care of that, too.” He handed her the envelope from the town clerk. “It’s got today’s date.”
“Ethan!”
“Is all set.” He explained the arrangements he’d made with Jonah’s mom.
“Alex…” She wiped away more tears. “God, you’re amazing. Any time I’m annoyed with you for the rest of our lives, please remind me of what you did for me today, and all will be forgiven.”
Touched by her excitement, he said, “You got it, baby. Let’s go get married.” With her still in his arms, he got out of the truck to applause from their friends. Erin and Sydney hugged Jenny, and Sydney handed her the bouquet Alex had asked her to get. “Where do you want us, Frank?”
“Right here,” Frank said, gesturing to a spot to the left of the lighthouse with a breathtaking view of the water.
“I see that someone has mowed the lawn,” Jenny said sarcastically, making Alex laugh.
“And I see that Erin hasn’t planted any tomatoes this season. Bummer.”
“Such a bummer.”
He reached for her hand, put his ring into her palm and then rolled her hand over the ring, kissing the back of it.
“Jenny and Alex,” Frank said, “I’m honored to have been asked to preside over this incredible moment in your lives, and I love a good surprise. Well done, Alex.”
“Thanks, Your Honor.”
“This, right here,” Frank said, gesturing to the two of them.
“This is the epitome of love. What you’ve done for Jenny today, Alex, is something she’ll remember for the rest of her life.
And Jenny, you’ll someday have the opportunity to return the favor for your husband by easing his worries and his sorrows.
As long as the two of you can do that for each other, everything else you face will seem easy in comparison. ”
Jenny wiped tears from her eyes, while Alex was forced to do the same. The import of the moment swept down on him all of a sudden, leaving him humbled by the knowledge that from this day forward, Jenny would be his wife, his partner, his lover, the mother of his children, the center of his world.
What had begun right here in this yard with flying tomatoes and angry shouts had become the best thing to ever happen to him. Alex couldn’t wait to have the rest of his life with her.
Frank led them through the recitation of vows and the exchange of rings.
Alex noticed how Jenny’s hand trembled as she put the ring they’d bought months ago on his finger.
“It is my great honor to now pronounce you husband and wife. Alex, you may kiss your bride.”
He swept her up in his arms and kissed her with all the love and desire he felt for her. And she returned his kiss with equal ardor.
Only the sound of Frank clearing his throat and Evan laughing had them breaking apart.
Alex let her slide down the front of him until she was once again standing, but he suspected it would be quite some time before their feet touched the ground.