Page 98 of Jonny’s Redemption

So, Zack didn’t follow in Nixon, Weston, Jameson, Holden, Alec, and Chasin’s footsteps and join the Navy. He forged his own way—my baby brother the Marine.

“You’re right.”

“With that in mind, I think it’s time we gave Holly a brother or sister.”

I was happy he thought that, though I wouldn’t be telling him until after Zack’s party we were already adding to our family.

Bobby Spencer

“I promise to always respect you. I promise to listen to you when you speak and when you don’t. I promise to be faithful and stand by your side. I promise to love you through the hard times. I promise to laugh with you.” Jonny paused and dropped his forehead to mine. “I promise, swear it from the bottom of my soul, I promise to make every moment worth it. Through the good and bad I will never forget you are my everything.”

“I now—”

“Wait,” I interrupted the justice of the peace.

Incidentally, Micha Murphy had also married Evie and Chasin, and Holden and Charleigh at this very spot weeks before. We should’ve asked for a group rate—three weddings in three months.

“I’m not ready,” I whispered.

Jonny’s forehead lifted and he gazed down at me, his beautiful blue eyes that had captured my heart so long ago were full of concern.

That wouldn’t do, not ever, but especially not on our wedding day.

“I need a moment,” I explained, “I’m not done memorizing yet. I want to remember everything.”

I closed my eyes and felt the warm fall sun kiss my bare shoulders, the scent of gardenias for my bouquet filled the air, I could hear Ayden, my godson, Evie and Chasin’s newborn, fussing. Happiness floated all around me—like a physical touch it caressed my skin, filled my heart, nourished my soul.

We did it.

We crawled through the muck, the pain, the quagmire of the past and came out stronger. Clean and free.

Once I had everything committed to memory, I opened my eyes and looked into the most beautiful ocean blue orbs. Eyes I’d fallen in love with the first time I looked into them. Jonny had tried to hide, but from the start, my soul had recognized his.

“I always knew,” I told Jonny. “I had done all the work I could do, I had learned to love myself, I had learned to be strong. All I was waiting for was you to show me what it felt like to be loved. Thank you.”

Jonny didn’t wait for Micha’s permission to kiss his bride, he didn’t wait for us to be pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Spencer. My husband dipped his chin and took my mouth in a toe-curling kiss that I didn’t have to pause to remember—from the second our lips touched it was tattooed on my soul.

Jonny Spencer

Jonny felt a hand on his shoulder and his gaze moved from his wife dancing with Chasin to his mother.

“Having fun?” he asked.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“Not today, Ma.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and for the first time in years, he didn’t feel skin and bones. “I just want you to have fun.”

“How can I not when my son is beside himself with happiness.”

It was good she noticed.

Though these days Anita Spencer noticed a lot now that she was no longer drinking. She’d only come back to Kent County twice since she finished rehab. The first time was to sort her belongings, the second was to watch her son get married. She was happily living in New York. He didn’t see her often but Anita spoke to Bobby almost daily.

His mother felt she had a lot to make up for and she hadn’t delayed in making amends.

“Bobby said you were leaving for Dewey Beach tonight.”

Their honeymoon. A week at the beach with no interruptions.