EPILOGUE #2
Wow. There’s a bruise already forming on my chest from the impact of her words.
Marshall's affected too. His words are thick when he speaks. “Do you have the rings?”
Justice produces them from his pocket. He passes over the platinum bands Liberty and I chose together.
“Spencer,” Marshall says, “repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”
I slip the ring onto Liberty's finger, my hands are steady now with the finish line in sight. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
“My heart to yours.”
“My heart to yours,” I echo.
“For all the days of our lives.”
“For all the days of our lives.” I add my own words because I can't help it. “Through every season, every storm, every Christmas from now until forever.”
Liberty's slides the ring onto my finger, repeating the vows and adding her own ending. “You are my home, Spencer. You always will be.”
Marshall grins dramatically, folding his notes and putting them in his suit coat pocket. “By the power vested in me by the state of Vermont over the internet, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Spencer, for the love of God, kiss your bride before I get too emotional to finish this.”
“Copy that.”
I pull Liberty into my arms and lock our lips together as the fire roars beside us.
The crew cheers loud enough to rattle the roof off the inn.
This is where our future begins. I swear my heart is glowing as bright as the giant star on the Christmas tree.
When we finally break apart, she's laughing and crying and so beautiful I can barely stand it.
“Mrs. McCallister,” I murmur against her lips.
“Mr. McCallister.” She grins back. “How does it feel?”
“Amazing.”
The guitarist transitions into something fast, and suddenly we're surrounded in hugs, noisy congratulations, and backslaps.
Justice pulls me aside while the women cluster around Liberty. “Take care of her, man.”
“With my life.”
He’s watching his sister, more at ease than I’ve seen in a long time. “You're good for Lib. The best thing that could have happened.”
“Thanks for trusting me with her.”
“Thank Rosalie. She threatened to withhold sex if I interfered.” He's trying to joke, but his eyes are serious. “But she was right. Liberty needed to make this choice on her own. And she chose well.”
“Thanks, man. That means the world to me.”
“Time for food!” It’s Truck and he has Allison in his arms like she’s the bride and they’re heading to their own reception.
She swats him. “Put me down, you animal.”
I find my bride and kiss her neck while she’s talking to Rosalie.
“Wife, I need to feed you.”
They both giggle as I sweep Liberty off her feet.
The celebration flows into the adjoining dining room where tables are set with more candles, and flowers. Dinner is served family-style. We feast on turkey and roasted duck, winter vegetables, fresh rolls, and red velvet cake.
It’s simple. Exactly the way we wanted it. Liberty insisted she didn’t want to cut cake for fear of what I might do.
Little does she know I’ve got two giant slices being delivered to our room for later. With extra icing.
The wait staff keeps the food coming until everyone’s glassy-eyed and smiling. Marshall makes a toast that's equal parts sentimental and inappropriate, mentioning the condoms he left in the cave which we apparently used since the box had been torn open like an animal had gotten ahold of it.
“That would be me,” I admit, grinning.
I got a little rough with the box, the morning I made breakfast. So, I was a little amped up…
Liberty turns scarlet. I flip the boss off while everyone laughs.
Scout tells embarrassing stories from SEAL training that make Liberty giggle until she can barely breathe.
Truck caters to Allison, filling her water glass every time she takes a sip. Marianna and Evan laugh every time he does.
Beast demonstrates his knife-throwing skills with dinner rolls as the targets until Camille confiscates his weapon. “Jeeze, I can’t take you anywhere.”
He smiles broadly. “To bed. You can take me to bed.”
She smacks her hand over his mouth. “I’m sorry. He forgot his manners at home.”
As the evening deepens and the snow continues to fall, I find myself at the window with my bride tucked against my side, watching the wintery world beyond the glass.
“What are you thinking?” she asks, leaning her head on my shoulder.
“This is a far stretch from spending Christmas alone in my cabin.”
“No more peace and quiet.”
“This is way better,” I say, crashing our mouths together for a kiss I’ve been dying for.
When I wrap a tight arm around her waist, someone yells a crude remark about getting a room.
“Should we make our escape?” I murmur next to her ear, “Our room is waiting.”
The honeymoon suite is a massive room on the top floor with exposed beams, a fireplace, and a four-poster bed that looks like it was made for thoroughly enjoying my new wife.
Liberty looks up at me, her eyes reflecting firelight and joy so pure it makes my the center of my vision wavy. “Take me to bed, husband.”
“Yes, ma'am, Mrs. McCallister.”
I scoop her up, ignoring everyone and carry my bride toward the stairs.
Heat and the smell of cedar from the fireplace welcomes us.
The four-poster bed is draped in white linens. Champagne chills in a bucket. Rose petals are scattered across the floor.
We’re spoiled on decadent bedrooms now. We spent six months at the cave enjoying our favorite room while I set up the on-site training program for the teams.
After, I bought a gigantic ranch house for my girl, just down the road from Justice and Rosalie.
“This is so pretty,” she says, kissing the side of my cheek. “I love it.”
I set Liberty gently on her feet, and she reaches for me with absolute trust.
“I've got you,” I promise, the words as natural now as breathing. It’s my vow to her every time we make love.
“I know,” she whispers back, her fingers working the buttons of my shirt. “You always do. Now, show me what married life is going to be like.”
“I accept the mission,” I hoarsely reply as I find that soft spot below her ear that makes her shiver. Every single time.
“I ordered cake brought up here with extra icing,” I tell her hooking a thumb toward the table in the corner.
She laughs, pushing my shirt off my shoulders, attacking my belt buckle next. “Where are you going to put that icing?”
“Everywhere.”
“Oh my. Yes. I do love you, big man. You make me so happy.”
For the next two hours, I show my wife exactly how thoroughly I plan to cherish her, as snow falls silently outside and the fire crackles beside us.
While she’s in my arms, beneath me, I send up a silent prayer of gratitude.
For the chance to love.
For Marshall's meddling.
For a Christmas Eve that changed everything.
For Justice trusting me with his sister.
Absolutely for Liberty’s courage and strength.
Outside, church bells chime midnight, ushering in Christmas Day. Inside, wrapped around my wife, I'm already home.