Jon starts up again.
“I’m not quite sure how to follow that, so let’s go straight to the vows and the rings.”
We go through the traditional vows and exchange of rings. I originally liked the idea of us writing our own vows, but when I saw how much she was stressing over it, we agreed to drop that idea.
As I place the ring on her finger and she puts one on mine, I can’t help but feel like the luckiest man on earth. I get to call this woman my wife and be by her side until I take my last breath.
“... I now pronounce you husband and wife. As much as it kills me to say, you may kiss your bride.”
Grabbing her face in my hands, I kiss her once, then twice. I look at her and smile.
“Wife.” She gives me that smile that makes my world stop.
“Husband.”
I kiss her again before we head back down the aisle. We did it. We’re married. We’re married and soon we’ll have a daughter. Feeling the coin in my pocket, I know Mom is with me today.
We walk over to the reception area after taking the obligatory pictures.
Kierstie stops walking and halts me by pulling on my hand.
“What is it, gorgeous?” She moves my hand to her stomach.
“Feel her.” I put both my hands on her stomach and stand as still as I can. I stand and wait as patiently as I can. Fuck knows I would’ve waited forever for this. Then I feel it, just a light tap.
“That’s her! That’s our girl. She wanted to be part of our day.”
I can’t help but kiss my wife who’s given me everything.
Kierstie
Dinner and cake is over. Samson and Saxon make a toast and have Mads say a few words with them. I’m surprised they kept to the basics. I think Mads might have had a hand in that, maybe Grant too.
Music starts to play and Shane looks over at me as he stands up and holds out his hand.
“Will my wife dance with me?”
“I’ll dance with you anytime.” He leads me to the dance floor and as we start to sway, I listen to the words of the song he chose as our first song.
“...you stole my heart and changed it… Took all of my plans and rearranged them… I finally know what amazing grace is.”
I move my head back and look him in the eyes. “Where did you find this song? I love it.”
“I heard it when I went for a drive after our first big argument. I realized in that moment that I wanted all my future—the good, the great, the hard and the ugly, all of it—I wanted you to be in it. I realized in that moment while listening to this song that I wanted to grow old with you.”
“That’s a good thing since you’re stuck with me. You not only wear my ring, but you have my whole heart and soul. I don’t think I could love you more.”
He touches his forehead to mine.
“You have mine, gorgeous. I’d do anything for you.” He kisses me and we finish dancing to the song. I’m about to walk back to our table when Shane stops me.
“You’ve got one more dance you gotta do, love.”
The song starts playing and I look around till I see Pa walking toward me. “My girl” by the Temptations plays but it’s slowed down.
Pa and I meet in the middle of the dance floor.
“I couldn’t not dance with my girl on her wedding day.”
