Chapter 9
Kannen
“Marry you?” I brush a strand of hair away from her face, trying to accept that this is not a dream. “Are you serious?”
“More serious than I’ve ever been in my life.”
She wants to marry me. Stormy, the woman I’ve loved for so long. The impossible becomes possible. “You can’t take it back.”
“I won’t.” She grips my hand. “Marry me.”
I bring her hand to my lips and kiss it. “I will marry you, my sweet Stormy. I’ll be your husband and the father of our children. And I’ll spend my days and nights loving on you.”
I cup her face and kiss her, my heart so full it can’t hold any more happiness. “When do you want to have the ceremony?”
“Tonight,” she says, then grins. “Tonight, tomorrow, the next day, the weekend. It doesn’t matter. As long as you make me yours.”
“Mine is what you’ve always been.”
“I mean legally.”
“I know what you meant. How about as soon as we can get the license?”
She frowns. “There’s what? At least a three day waiting period until we can have the ceremony?”
“Whatever the waiting period is, it’ll go by fast. We’ll be busy moving your things into the ranch house.”
“You’re right. And I’ll need to find someone to take over my lease.”
I link my arms around her waist. There were so many times I’d look up at the stars in the sky and offer up a wish about Stormy. They varied from me whispering let her do well on the test to make her parents stop fighting to let her someday love me, please.
“I need to tell my family. My sisters and my mom,” she says. “It won’t matter much to my dad.” Her voice trails into silence.
“We can tell your mom together,” I offer. Her mom swings between being happy with her new single life to being angry and bitter.
Stormy shakes her head. “I’ll tell her and my sisters tomorrow. We’re all going to breakfast together.”
“Do you need to go to your place for the night, then?”
“Isn’t my home with you?”
I let out a breath. “I was hoping you’d think that way. Do you want to stop and grab some of your clothes?”
“I do.”
It doesn’t take long for her to throw some necessities in a suitcase. I stash the case in my truck and then we head to the ranch.
After we get there, she takes a deep breath before getting out of the truck. Then she throws her arms wide, looks up at the night sky and says, “I’m home!”
The scent of freshly cut grass surrounds us. Night birds are chirping sweetly, and crickets are loudly making their presence known.
I watch Stormy twirling around and I get choked up. I can picture her by my side as the years roll on. I imagine her laughing with me as we decorate the Christmas tree. I see us having kids and celebrating all their milestones.
She suddenly stops and comes to stand before me. “Everyone’s gonna think the wedding is sudden and we’re crazy but I don’t care.” She laughs. “God, this feels so good!”
“Come here and let me welcome you properly to your home,” I say, hooking my fingertips in the edge of her jean pockets to pull her close.
She loops her arms around my neck. “You’ve already been welcoming tonight.”
I kiss her. “This is a special kind of welcome.”
She glances at my crotch. “You’re ready to go again?”
“Not that kind of welcome.” I take her hand and lead her into the house. “Give me a second to get it. I know where it’s at but there are boxes in the way.” I didn’t unpack all my things when I first bought the home because I wasn’t sure where all the leaks in the roof were.
She moves a throw blanket and sits on the couch watching me while I search.
“Found it.” I carry the shoebox to the couch, and hand it to her.
Then I sit on the floor beside her legs.
She takes the lid off. “What? There are…”
“Dozens of engagement rings. Every time I saw one you might like, I bought it.”
The lid falls from her hand to the floor.
I reach into the box for the first ring I purchased. “I was eighteen when I bought this one with the graduation money I got. It’s not a very big diamond.” I set it on the floor beside me. “This next one I had a little more money so I—”
“Stop,” she whispers.
“You’re crying? I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She presses her hand over her heart. “Your love is bigger than anything I’ve ever known.”
I blink away moisture in my own eyes. “I’ve had it for years. It was bound to grow.”
“What am I going to do with you?”
“Just love me. That’s all I want.”
“I will.” Her lips tremble. “I swear to you, Kannen. I’ll love you so fiercely.”
“Then…pick a ring.” I grin at her.
She points to the first one I bought. “That one.”
I open the box, take the ring out and slip it onto her finger. Then I get on my knees. “I know you asked, but it’s a question I’ve always wanted to ask you so I’m going to. Will you marry me?”
“Yes, I will.”
I help her stand. “Come to bed. I want to hold you all night.”
“And that’s it?” she asks with a smirk.
I sweep her into my arms. “It’s up for negotiation.”
“Mmm…sounds like you’re a cowboy with a plan.”
I am. I plan to love this with everything I’ve got.
It’s been eight days with Stormy by my side when I wake up every morning. I’m surely the world’s happiest man. All those years of dreaming and hoping and now here I am.
I’m standing under an old oak tree, the same tree Stormy used to lean her back against in high school, waiting for her to make an appearance. One end of a string of outdoor lights are fastened to that tree while the other stretches across to a second oak tree.
Flower petals cover the grass where her sisters created an aisle between dozens of ladderback chairs draped with white gauzy fabric. At the end of each of the rows of chairs are tall metal buckets brimming with wildflowers.
A wooden sign with an arrow pointing toward the altar reads this way to a happily ever after followed by my name linked with Stormy’s.
Miss Ethel’s grandson, Bobby John, strums on his guitar, playing a soft love song that drifts among the guests who are gathered. It’s not a big gathering but that’s how we wanted it. A celebration with our family and friends. The people we love.
Beside me, stand my best men, Flint and Jude.
From seats on the front row my adoptive parents smile at me. Though the suddenness of the wedding surprised them, they were instantly supportive, the way they have been my whole life.
Sitting near them are Gavin and Frances Richford. They treat me just like I’m one of their sons.
Then Bobby John starts playing and singing, This One Love, a song he wrote just for Stormy and me about a love that doesn’t give up.
And there she is at the end of the aisle wearing a short white western dress and white cowgirl boots.
As she takes her first step toward me, memories of her through the years flash through my mind. She was worth waiting for and always will be. My Stormy. My one love.