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Lydia nodded and slipped a hand around the crook of her arm. “Lead the way.”

Zann caught Yasmine’s eye as they passed where she was setting up the drone. “All good?”

“Absolutely,” Yasmine assured her. “If you trip, I’m gonna get it in HD, so pay attention to where you’re going.”

“I will pay good money for a copy of that,” Kit told Yasmine.

“And I will totally take your money,” Yasmine replied with a wink and a laugh.

“Traitors,” Zann muttered playfully as she and Lydia started down the stairs.

“I believe that’s what friends are for, darling,” Lydia teased.

Kit cackled. “Hell yeah, it is.”

Zann rolled her eyes, but knew better than to respond and really get them going. She scanned the ceremony site as they assembled in their given order behind the small assembly of seated guests, and smiled when she saw Imani kneeling beside Aspen’s mom’s chair at the head of the aisle.

If everyone stuck to the “five long Mississippis” like they’d been instructed, she’d be in the perfect position to get every couple as they came down the aisle.

Still smiling, Zann turned her attention back to Aspen, who was bouncing lightly in place at the head of the line. “Hey, Asp!”

“Yeah?” Aspen asked, eyes wide as she whirled around.

“You ready to get married?”

Aspen grinned. “Hell yeah, I am.”

“Then let’s get this show on the road,” Michelle said, and laughed when everyone cheered. She turned and lifted her arm over her head and swung her hand in a circling motion, and when the string quartet began playing the Nora Kile piece Aspen had chosen to walk to, she grinned over her shoulder at them all and said, “See you down there.”

“Do you, Aspen, take Eve to be your partner in life? To love and cherish, through all of life’s ups and downs, so long as you both shall live?”

Lydia bit her lip at the emotion that choked Aspen’s voice as she answered, “I do,” and glanced to where Zann stood behind her. It wasn’t the first time she’d caught herself looking at Zann during the ceremony, but it was the first time she’d been caught, and her stomach fluttered as she watched Zann’s lips bow with a tender smile when their eyes locked.

She was so caught up in the affection that shone in Zann’s expression that she completely missed Eve’s big “I do” moment. She huffed a quiet laugh at herself when Alder stepped forward to hand Michelle the brides’ rings—because it would be insane to trust a six-year-old with rings on a beach—blocking her line of sight to Zann and snapping her from the spell she’d fallen under.

God, I really am a smitten kitten.

She took a deep breath and refocused her attention on the brides as Michelle said, “A ring has no beginning or end. Its path is endless, and a perfect symbol of your endless love and respect for each other. By placing these rings on each other’s fingers, you are promising not just to love each other, but to honor each other, to be compassionate, patient, and understanding as you build your future together.” She smiled at the brides. “Who would like to go first?”

“I will,” Eve said, holding out her hand for Aspen’s ring.

Lydia wished she could see Eve’s face to really share in her joy, but there was something special about seeing the absolute devotion that shone in Aspen’s eyes as Eve held a plain titanium band in front of her ring finger.

“Aspen,” Eve began, her voice thick with emotion. “My love. My protector. You are my absolute favorite person in the whole world, and today I feel so blessed to choose you to be my forever plus-one.” Lydia chuckled and wiped at her eyes as Eve began sliding Aspen’s ring into place. “With this ring, I vow to you that, from this day forward, you will never walk alone. I promise to love, cherish, and honor you, for all the days of my life.”

Aspen’s smile was absolutely blinding as Eve finished. Lydia’s eyes widened as she watched Aspen tilt forward as if to kiss Eve before remembering that it wasn’t time yet and stopping herself with a sheepish smile and a whispered, “I love you.”

“Soon, Aspen, I promise,” Michelle said, amusement clear in her tone as she held Eve’s ring out to Aspen. “Just one more step.”

Aspen nodded as she took the ring, and her shoulders lifted and fell with a deep breath as she took Eve’s hand to hover the band over that oh-so-important finger. “Eve, you are, without a doubt, the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You are my best friend. My safe harbor. And, to steal a line from the most incredible person I know,” she said, smirking ever so slightly as she winked at Eve, “I feel so beyond blessed to be able to stand with you here today and choose you to be my forever plus-one.” Lydia laughed with everyone when Aspen inclined her head and added, “I actually did write that in my vows, but you beat me to it.”

Another ripple of laughter rolled through the crowd when, behind Aspen, Alder nodded vigorously in confirmation.

Eve must have said something Michelle’s mic didn’t catch, because Aspen chuckled and nodded before shifting back to the task at hand.

“With this ring,” she said, her voice solemn and strong, “I pledge my heart and my soul to you. I can’t imagine my life without you at the center of it, so please take this ring as a constant reminder of my love, my devotion, and my commitment to you and this wonderful life we’ve only just begun creating together,” she finished as she slid Eve’s ring home and held it there, as if sealing her vow into the precious metal with the pressure of her touch.

“And now,” Michelle said as she stepped forward, “with the power vested in me by the state of California, I am so very honored to be able to pronounce you partners for life.” She smiled at Aspen and Eve as she motioned for them to come together. “No need to hold back anymore, Aspen. You may now kiss your wife.”