Forty-three
Ethan
My breath hitches.
“Wow,” Marcus says from his place at the front as the officiant.
Wow is right. She looks like an ethereal fairy, a vision I’m thankful to see walking toward me. My palms are suddenly slick with sweat.
And now, here she is, taking each step down the aisle, her gaze fixed on mine, coming home to become my wife again.
I’m vibrating with the urge to reach her, to close the distance between us.
So, without a second thought, I break protocol and speed walk toward her.
Her eyes widen comically, and then a huge, goofy smile, one I know and love, splits her face.
I hear the collective “Aw’s” and “So sweet” from the crowd, accompanied by a wave of happy laughter, but I’m not paying attention to any of that. My heart is set on one thing: reaching my Sunshine and claiming her as mine once more.
“What are you doing?” my bride whispers, her voice a little breathless with laughter as I get closer.
I glance at her father, walking proudly beside her. His shoulders are shaking, just like hers, with pure amusement.
“I’m sorry,” I start to say, a sheepish grin starting, but he waves me off with a knowing smile.
“She’s all yours—again.” He places Lily’s hand in mine, a silent blessing, before leaning in to kiss his daughter’s cheek.
“Dad,” she hisses.
Still chuckling, he joins his wife in the front row on the bride’s side, leaving us there, hand in hand, connected.
I look down at Lily, her hand warm and firm in mine, and say, “Shall we?”
She nods, a soft sigh escaping her lips, and starts to open her mouth to say something, probably a witty retort. But I can’t wait. I tuck my arms underneath her legs, scooping her up effortlessly. She lets out a surprised gasp, her arms, bouquet and all, looping around my neck. “Oh, my God, Ethan!”
“Hang on, Sunshine,” I murmur, holding her close, inhaling her scent, and feeling the comforting weight of her in my arms. I begin to walk us down the remaining length of the aisle to Marcus.
“You look stunning, by the way,” I whisper, glancing at her.
She bites her lower lip, her eyes shining, and says, “You look so handsome.”
When we finally make it to the front, Jake and Marcus are beaming, while Maddy, Sam, and Ebony have tears glistening in their eyes.
Reluctantly, I set Lily on her bare feet. Still, I keep her steady, my arm wrapped protectively around her waist as we face Marcus.
He clears his throat, a fond smile playing on his lips. “Friends, family, we’ve gathered today to witness the reunion of Lilliana Iris Hartley and Ethan James Hartley. A marriage—”
“Can we skip this part and get to the vows?” I blurt out, unable to contain my impatience.
Marcus gives me a pointed look and turns to Lily. “Lily, do you want to skip right to the vows?”
She laughs and nods enthusiastically.
Marcus turns to the crowd, spreading his hands out in mock exasperation. “It looks like these two are impatient and wish to skip to the vows!”
The crowd hollers and claps in agreement.
Marcus looks over to Ollie. “Hey, little man. Can you come bring the rings?”
Ollie does so, his small face serious. He stands diligently between Lily and me, holding up the pillow, carefully balancing it so the rings don’t slide off, even though they’re tied securely with satin string.
I bend down and reach for the rings. When I have them in my hands, I give Ollie a heartfelt hug. “Thank you, Ollie.”
He bobs his head, a smile gracing his face, and then resumes his post near Jake.
I rise to my feet and take Lily’s hand and place the ring over her thin, delicate fingers, my own trembling slightly.
“Lily, my Sunshine,” I croak, tears forming in my eyes, but I press on, needing her to hear this, needing her to understand the depth of my feelings.
“I still remember the ridiculous grin on my face the night I got back home after our first date.” I smile through my tears, pausing to compose myself before adding, “And nothing has changed.”
Her first tears fall. I brush them away with my thumb, but my hand lingers, caressing her soft skin.
“That’s how your nickname came to be. Do you know why I call you sunshine?
” I ask, my voice steadier now. Not waiting for her to reply, needing to pour out every drop of my heart, I add, “Because every time you step into a room, it doesn’t only brighten the space; it chases away the shadows.
Your energy is a ball of pure life, bringing warmth and hope to everything and to everyone.
Lily, you brought me back to life. I swear my love for you has only gotten stronger, deeper than I ever thought possible.
I loved you then, I love you now, and I will love you forever.
You are the only person I will ever love, want, and need. ”
Tears fall freely down my face, and I can hear sniffles from all around us, but my eyes stay locked on my beautiful bride, my world.
“I don’t know if I can top that,” Lily says through a watery chuckle, her eyes shining with a love that mirrors mine.
She pauses for a brief moment to compose herself, her eyes locked onto mine, as she extends her hands to slide the ring onto my finger.
Lily
“Life began the moment we met. I knew then that what we built couldn’t be any better.
And when you first kissed me, the world went quiet, as if you and I were the only ones who existed at that moment.
I saw flashes of what our life was going to be.
We were going to grow old together.” I hold back a sob, knowing what our future holds for us now.
Ethan’s lower lip quivers as he takes a deep breath. It’s clear how much effort he’s putting into holding back his emotions. I’ve never held him responsible for our past or the divorce; that’s not where my heart lies. My only wish is for him to know that now is all that matters.
“All my nights were going to be filled with so much love and a family of our own. You showed me how much you adored me whenever you held me, kissed me, and took care of me, even on my lowest days.”
My heart races as Ethan gently wipes away my tears. I grasp his wrists, pouring every ounce of my remaining strength into that grip, and gaze into the depths of his striking blue eyes.
“Ethan, you’ve become the man I always believed you could be.
Not a superhero, not a fictional character, but a real man with a heart and a soul.
You’ve shown me what it means to live again.
When everything started to crumble around me, you loved me fiercely and took care of me without complaint.
You never gave up. You didn’t hesitate. You stepped up like I knew you would. ”
I take another pause.
“You are a man who stands behind his word and promises to love me until my…my last breath.”
And now we’re both crying hard.
“I love you,” he whispers through his tears.
“And I love you. Always, until I’m gone and into the next life,” I promise.
Without waiting for Marcus to say kiss the bride, Ethan cradles my face in his hands and places his lips on mine.
As my mouth parts, he kisses me deeply, igniting a whirlwind of emotion inside me.
This kiss is so passionate that it makes my head spin and my knees weak.
And in this moment, nothing else matters. Only us.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife! Again!” Marcus booms, pulling us out of our blissful reverie.
We burst into laughter, lips still brushing against each other.
“Oops,” Ethan says, slipping his arms under my legs with an easy confidence. In one smooth motion, he lifts me off the ground to face our cheering crowd.
He gazes down at me, his eyes filled with an overwhelming love. “My first choice. My second chance. My forever. Let’s celebrate, baby.”
Ethan
The reception hall shimmers with a soft, inviting glow, a perfect setting for our second chance. Round tables, draped in crisp white tablecloths, are adorned with elegant candle centerpieces, roses and lilies nestled around them.
As the last plates are cleared, the DJ leans into the microphone. “Alright, everyone! It’s time for the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Let’s clear the floor for our bride and groom’s second and final dance for the evening!”
Just as the crowd begins to part, a blur of movement catches my eye. Sam zips through the crowd. She stops short in front of us, a pair of familiar heels dangling from her hand. “She’ll need these,” she says with a wink before she dissolves back into the crowd.
Kneeling gently before Lily, I slip each heel onto her feet. Standing up, I extend my hand to her. “Ready, my Sunshine?”
She stares at me with a dreamy tenderness. “More than ready,” she replies, intertwining her fingers with mine as I lead her toward the dance floor.
Bryan Adams’ “When You Love Someone” drifts through the speakers. Lily’s silver eyes glisten, reflecting the lights like sunlight dancing on the ocean.
She throws her arms around my neck, pulling me close. I bury my face in her neck, my arms finding their way around her waist, holding her securely as we begin to sway, lost in the music and each other.
“This is our forever, Sunshine,” I murmur against her skin, pressing a tender kiss to her neck.
“And we got it right this time,” she whispers back.
As the next verse begins, I sing along, just for her. She squeezes me tighter, a silent plea that feels like she is begging me to never let go.
Never, baby.
“Thank you for giving me a second chance, Lily,” I add.
She tilts her head back slightly, her gaze locking with mine. “Thank you for coming back to me.”
I spin her around, a graceful, effortless turn. When she returns to my arms, I lean in and whisper, “You’re where I’m meant to be. Always.”