Chapter 45
“Beck, quit bein’ such a stubborn mule. The bride and groom hafta’ kiss.”
Beckett makes a face. “Gross.”
“Oh, my goodness, look at you two!” My mama has a ginormous smile on her face. “What are you up to?”
I twirl in my pretty white sundress. “Beck and I are gettin’ married out by the pond today! Clayton’s gonna be our minister and everything! I gave him a dollar from my tooth fairy money.”
She puts her hands on her hips. “Is that so?”
I nod, grabbing my best friend’s hand. “Yup. Right, Beckett?”
He smiles. “Yep. Presley’s gonna be my wife.”
Mama’s lips do that funny twitching thing. “Well, that’s lovely. Presley, may I say you make a stunning bride? And Beckett, honey, you are the most handsome seven-year-old I’ve ever seen.”
Beck smiles. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Mama,” I say at the same time.
She claps her hands together. “Well, I don’t want to keep you from the weddin’. Just make sure you’re back in time for supper, okay?”
“Okay,” we both agree.
I grab Beck’s hand. “Let’s go. Clay’s probably already there waitin’ for us.”
“Okay, but I’m still not doin’ the gross kissin’ thing.”
I stick my tongue out at him. “Fine. We can hug. Deal?”
He shakes my hand like grown-ups do sometimes. “Deal.”
I blink a few times as the memory fades, glancing at my reflection in the full-length mirror. Today, I may be wearing a different dress, but the groom and the location are the same as they were over twenty years ago. It’s been eight months since the shooting. That was one of the scariest days of my life, but thankfully, everything worked out in the end. Not wanting to be apart for another minute, I moved in with Beck the day he got home from the hospital. A week later, even though I had technically already proposed, he dropped to one knee, held out the same ring he used when we were first engaged, and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. A month after that, we broke ground on our new home. And just last month, we welcomed our first guests to the Hope Springs Equestrian Center for Healing. We’ve been insanely busy, but it’s rewarding work, and we’ve done it together, so I have zero complaints.
I look out the window of our bedroom and see the guests taking their seats in the white folding chairs we had set out off to the side of the dock. I don’t know if I’ll ever tire of waking up to this view every morning.
“Honey, they’re ready for you. Your daddy’s downstairs waiting to escort you outside.”
I meet my mom’s eyes in the mirror. “Thank you, Mama. I’ll be right down.”
“You look beautiful, Presley.” She dabs at the tears forming at the corner of her eyes. “More importantly, you look happy.”
“Thank you. I can’t imagine feeling any happier than I am right now.” I smile. “I take that back. Once I finally become his wife, that’ll be even better.”
She smiles. “It’s been a long time coming, honey. Your father and I are so proud of both of you.”
Now I’m dabbing at my eyes. “Okay, okay, get on out of here before I start cryin’ and ruin my makeup.”
She laughs. “I’ll see you out there, sweetheart.”
When I get downstairs, my father is waiting inside the French doors that lead to our back deck. Beck and I wanted a simple ceremony, so we decided to forgo the tuxedos. The men in our wedding party are all wearing nice jeans, boots, and plaid pearl-snap western shirts. I’m wearing a sleeveless cream-colored dress, its layered chiffon falling to my ankles, and a pair of matching ballet flats. The top of my hair is pinned with a magnolia at the crown of my head, but the majority of my long waves are cascading down my back. An acoustic guitar melody begins as my father and I step outside and begin our slow march down the makeshift aisle.
My smile gets impossibly wide when I get my first glimpse of my groom, waiting for me under the wooden pergola he and Clayton made last week. It’s positioned right at the entrance to the dock, our pond serving as the perfect backdrop. Beck’s wearing a matching grin, his eyes never leaving mine during my approach. God, I can’t believe this day is finally here. As much as I tried denying it throughout the years, I never stopped dreaming of marrying him, wanting to recite vows and trade rings in front of the people we love most.
“Who gives this woman to be wedded to this man?” our minister asks when we reach the altar.
“Her mother and I do.” My father shakes Beck’s hand before placing my palm into my soon-to-be-husband’s.
“You may be seated,” Clayton tells our guests. Yes, my brother’s performing this ceremony, too, but this one will be legal thanks to the internet, unlike last time.
Beckett’s eyes sparkle in the sunlight when we turn toward each other. I love you, he mouths.
“I love you too,” I whisper back.
“Y’all ready for this?” Clayton asks us with a wink.
Beck and I both fight a laugh as we nod in reply.
Clay clears his throat. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Presley Anne James and Beckett Ryder Armstrong. Now, as everyone in this town knows, it took these idiots long enough to get here, but they’re here now, so I guess we can’t give them any more grief about it. Don’t worry though, because as soon as they say their I do’s, you can start askin’ when they’ll be making babies, ‘cause you know y’all are thinking it.”
The audience laughs while Beck and I shake our heads at my brother’s ridiculousness. I should’ve probably expected this when I asked how he felt about getting ordained online.
“Anyway... since they’re only paying me a dollar to do this”—he fake coughs into his fist—“cheap asses”—another fake cough—“I told them they had to write their own vows, so we should probably move on to that part, right? Beckett, you wanna kick it off?”
More laughter from the guests and more head shaking from Beck and me.
“Why did we ask him to do this again?” Beck whispers to me.
“I heard that!” my brother says.
Beck’s eyes cut to Clay. “You were meant to. May I get on with my vows now?”
Clayton motions to me. “Oh, sure, buddy. Go right ahead.”
“Thanks for the permission,” Beck says dryly. He takes my hand and places a soft kiss on my knuckles. “Pres, as your brother so kindly reminded us, it’s taken us a long time to get here. We may have had some detours along the way, but in the end, we found our way back to each other, and for that, I couldn’t be more grateful. I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t love you. I’ve said this before, but you’re the one person on earth who makes me feel whole. You’re my best friend, my confidant, my lover, and the future mother of my children. There’s no one else I want by my side through the good times and the bad. We may not be kids anymore, but we still have a lot of adventure ahead of us, and I vow to be with you every step of the way. Loving you, making you laugh, and holding you when you cry. You’re it for me, darlin’.” He gives my hand a little squeeze to indicate the end of his speech.
“For the life of me, I can’t remember what I had planned to say, so I guess I’ll just have to wing it.”
Beck winks and gives my hand an encouraging squeeze.
“Beckett, I knew from the moment we met, you would change my life. We already have so many wonderful memories together, but in a way, our journey is just beginning. We’ve had some hard times in our lives, together and separately, but one thing I’ve learned is while we both have incredible inner strength, we’re stronger together. There’s nothing we can’t accomplish as a team. I fell in love with you before either one of us knew what that meant. When I gave you my heart all those years ago, I knew no one else could ever take your place. You’re it for me, too. I promise that I’ll never take you for granted. I’ll never stop showing you how much I love you. I’m honored to be the woman standing by your side for the next fifty or so years.” I take a deep breath. “Um... I guess that’s it.”
Beck’s lips quirk.
“I’m not crying;you’re crying!” Clayton mutters, rubbing his eyes. “I got some damn dirt in my eye.”
Beck and I both look up at my brother and laugh.
“Maybe we should move onto the part about the rings?” I suggest.
Clay waves us off. “Yeah... sure. Do that. Where are the goddamn rings?”
My mom stands up, handing a simple platinum band to each of us. “Clayton Daniel James, language!”
Snickers erupt through the crowd while I place the ring on Beck’s finger.
“Sorry, Ma.” Clayton waits until Beck slides my band over my finger before speaking again. “Okay, we’ve got the vows and the rings. Now, I just need to ask, Beck, do you take Presley as your wife? To honor and cherish and all that jazz?”
Beck smiles at me. “I do.”
“And Pres, do you take Beckett as your husband? To honor, cherish, blah, blah, blah?”
I chuckle. “I do.”
My brother straightens his spine. “Well, then by the power vested in me, the great State of Georgia, and the online Universal Church of Love, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Clay points at Beck. “But keep your tongue out of it. Nobody needs to see that.”
Beckett places his hands on my jaw and pulls me in for a deep kiss, much to my brother’s dismay if the gagging sounds are any indication. Beck retreats when the catcalls begin and gives me a soft peck on the lips before pulling away completely.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong!”
Beckett takes my hand as we make our way down the aisle together, our guests’ applause following us into the house. The moment the double doors are closed behind us, he backs me against the wall.
“We’re married.” I sigh softly when he places trailing kisses along my neck.
“We are. How long do you suppose we have to make nice with these people before we can kick them out and get to the consummation part?”
I laugh. “We could probably sneak upstairs after the cake. They should be well into their inebriation by then, and they’ll have no clue we’re off having all the dirty fun.”
“I knew there was a reason I married you, you minx.” My husband smiles when I whack him on the shoulder. “I love you, Pres. I’m going to do my damnedest to make you the happiest woman alive.”
I trace the edges of his jaw with my finger. “You already have, Beck.”
With one last kiss, we make our way back to the guests to celebrate the beginning of the rest of our lives.