“My darling Heath, you are my greatest gift, my heart and my home. You have taught me the meaning of true happiness, and, above all, what it feels like to be truly loved and cherished. I promise to stand by your side through every high and every low, to love you unconditionally, and to always choose us, every single day of our lives. Today, I offer you not only my hand, but all of me—for all eternity.
The celebrant pauses, letting the vows settle over the crowd before continuing. “May I have the rings, please?”
The best man steps forward, placing the rings in the celebrant’s hand. She passes them to Heath, who wastes no time gently sliding the elegant band onto Skylar’s finger.
“With this ring, I give you my heart and my soul. I promise to stand by you, cherish you and honour you, for the rest of my days.”
Skylar repeats the gesture, her fingers trembling but her voice is steady and strong.
“With this ring, I give you my heart and my soul. I promise to stand by you, cherish you and honour you, for all of my days.”
The celebrant glances between them and beams. “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Heath, you may kiss your bride.”
“About bloody time!” And then without missing a beat, Heath pulls Skylar into his arms.
Gasps and cheers rise from the guests as he dips her low in a sweeping, romantic kiss that steals her breath and leaves her laughing against his lips.
When he lifts her back up, their foreheads rest together, and the crowd erupts in applause.
Beside me, Tina lets out a faint sniffle, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. I wrap an arm around her, and she immediately leans into my comfort.
When Skylar and Heath turn to face the crowd, their hands raised high between them like true victors, the guests rise to their feet, erupting in cheers that vibrate through the air.
The blissful couple begin their walk down the aisle, hand in hand, the bridal party trailing closely behind them. When Mila goes to walk past me, I shoot her a wink this time—and sure enough, that breathtaking smile graces her face once more.Yep! I’m definitely one lucky bastard!
The reception unfolds spectacularly inside a glass marquee that stretches across the outside terrace. We dine beneath a blanket of stars, and when I look up through the glass ceiling, I can’t help but smile atthe expansive night sky—so infinite and so magical.
Rows upon rows of long dining tables fill the marquee, with the bride and groom Seated right at the very heart of it all. Rather than a traditional bridal table set apart from the guests, they chose to sit among their closest family, keeping the celebration intimate and full of warmth.
I’m seated between Mila and her mother, the atmosphere light and pleasant as we chat respectfully amongst ourselves. But when Mila excuses herself to use the bathroom for the third time since she first sat down, a knot of concern begins to tighten in my chest. I’m not sure why, but something inside is telling me there’s something wrong.
My eyes drift towards the exit door, debating whether I should follow her to make sure she’s okay, but Tina’s warm hand on my forearm halts me before I can move.
“You okay, darling?” she asks softly, leaning in closer. “Because the way you’ve been staring at that door makes meworry those frown lines are going to become permanent on your forehead.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “Yeah, sorry—force of habit, I guess,” I reply, rubbing the back of my neck. “I was just going to check on Mila. She’s been in and out of the bathroom a few times, and I wanted to see if she was okay.”
“She probably just ate too much too fast and now has an upset stomach.” Tina smiles that familiar, motherly smile. “You know, Jason, I’m so glad she has you in her life. I can see how much you really care about her. To tell you the truth, I feel more at ease knowing both my girls have someone who will look after them. That’s all a mother could ever hope for.”
“Tina, I promise that I’ll always make sure your daughter feels safe and cared for. Her happiness means everything to me.”
Her smile widens, her expression softening with relief. “I can tell. I see it in the way you look at her, like she’s the most precious jewel in the world.” She lets out a sharp sigh. “To be honest, Jason, when I first found out you and Mila were dating, I wasn’t entirely on board. It had nothing to do with the age difference or the fact that you’re a single dad. I was more concerned that she might feel rushed to settle down because of where you are in life. She’s still in her prime, and I worried she might miss out on experiences. I wanted her to live fully, without regrets. But then I saw how happy she is with you, how she lights up whenever you’re around, and that’s when I knew—she already has everything she wants in life.”
She reaches for my hand and gives it a soft squeeze. “Knowing that you treat my daughter with the love, kindness, and respect she deserves, was all the proof I needed to see how perfect you are for my baby girl.”
I cover her hand with my other, offering a grateful smile. A wave of relief spreads over me, knowing I’ve not only earnedher blessing, but I’ve earned her trust as well. “Thank you, Tina. That means the world to me to hear you say that.”
She nods with a smile before sliding her hand free from mine. With a light tap on the back of my hand, she teases, “Now, go make sure Mila hasn’t fallen into the toilet and drowned.”
I bark out a laugh, but nod as I push back my chair and rise to my feet. “Good idea.
I’ll be right back.”
She gives me a quick nod before turning to the person beside her. I make my way towards the marquee exit and into the chateau to find the ladies’ restroom. I’m lost in my thoughts, still floating after that conversation with Mila’s mother that I don’t see the woman rounding the corner so fast. We collide instantly, her petite frame nearly rebounding off my larger one.
“Shit, are you okay?” I blurt, catching her by the shoulders to steady her.
The moment our eyes meet, my mouth curls into a full smile. No matter how many times I see her, the sight of her beautiful face still catches my breath.
