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“I'm only telling you the truth.”
“That's not what I meant. Thank you for being here. Thank you for loving me enough to care as much as you do—even when I've disagreed with you, I know you were coming from the right place. I need you to know I understand that.”
“And I need you to understand I'm always going to care first and foremost about you. I see how happy you are today and I know this is the right thing. This is what you need. I'm just glad I get to be a part of it.”
He makes a move like he wants to give me a hug, but holds himself back. “I don't want to ruin you.”
“I don't think you could.” I wrap him in a tight hug, eyes closed, hoping to hold this moment for as long as possible. No anger, no resentment, no fear. Just the two of us together one last time before I become an official Torrio.
“Are you ready for this?” he asks and he lets me go.
“Very.” And I mean it. I mean it with all my heart, with every fiber of me. I'm ready to be Callum's wife. I want the world to know we belong to each other, that I'm by his side no matter what.
It's nearing seven o'clock, go time. I touch up my makeup once more before Tatum hurries into the room. “Everything’s ready. Are you good?”
I only hand over her bouquet. “Let's do this.” Dad takes my arm once we step into the hall outside Tatum's room, and with her leading away we walk through her wing to the exit closest to the backyard. It was either this or go through the kitchen, but that seemed like a bad idea with Sheryl finishing the wedding dinner we’ll eat after the ceremony.
At first, I stop short of stepping out into the night. “Whoa.” It's like something from a fairy tale. I knew Tatum worked miracles, but I didn't expect this. There are white fairy lights strung in the bushes and trees. A white runner starts at the door and leads to the arch, flanked on both sides by flickering pillar candles on stands. There are rose petals strewn the runner's length, leading to the spectacular floral arch and the dozens of lights and candles arranged around it. The sun is setting, the last streaks of pink and purple on the western horizon, and altogether the effect is breathtaking.
It’s all beautiful but there’s nothing more breathtaking than the sight of the man waiting for me under the arch. I've never seen him look as handsome as he does in his black tux with its cream rose to match the flowers in my bouquet. Romero stands behind him, and even he is smiling in a way I've never seen before. Like a genuine, happy smile. Yet another miracle.
It's Callum I can't take my eyes off of as Dad walks me down the makeshift aisle. This is it. Everything's been leading up to this very moment. It might feel inevitable now, but I can't pretend there weren't moments when I wondered if we'd ever reach this place. So many reasons why this moment might never have come—close calls, fights, lies. Maybe that's what makes this so sweet now, the sense of our happiness being earned. We both fought hard to get to this place.
I wonder if Callum is thinking the same thing as we approach slowly while the wedding march plays through a speaker hidden somewhere. I wonder if he's thinking back how far we've come. Either that, or he's reflecting on how he knew all along that this was where we would end up. That's the thing about him. He always knows exactly what he wants and stops at nothing until he gets it.
How lucky am I that it was me he decided he wanted? Dad says I look like a princess—I feel like one, too, practically floating over the rose petals under my feet. I almost want to look down to make sure I'm even touching the ground.
This is it. No going back now. Not that I want to. Not when I finally know exactly where I need to be, now and always.
My heart is practically pounding out of my chest once we reach the place where Callum waits expectantly. He and Dad exchange a handshake and a few murmured words I can't hear before Dad steps aside, taking my hand and placing it in Callum’s. He kisses my cheek, then takes a second to look at me one last time before he steps back.
“You look breathtaking,” Callum murmurs after I hand my bouquet to Tatum. “Thank you for being the most exquisite bride a man could ask for.”
I'm so overwhelmed, so completely floored by the amount of love coursing through me, that I can't respond. I'm not even sure I could put into words exactly how I feel right now. Maybe someday I will.
We have the rest of our lives for me to do it.
The judge says a few words that I can barely make out over my excitement, not to mention how hard I'm trying not to cry. I guess this would be emotional enough without all the pregnancy hormones wreaking havoc on me.
“I'm very happy to be here,” the judge begins, smiling at us both. “It's an honor to officiate the union of two people so clearly in love, so deeply committed to each other. After speaking with you both prior to the ceremony, it's clear you've had your challenges, like any couple, but that you've also grown stronger in your love and commitment through those challenges. That's what this is all about. Growing together.” He chuckles softly. “I don't normally make a speech like that—but I wanted to let you both know how glad I am to bear witness to your union, and that I hope the years to come are full of nothing but joy for you both.”
I’m humbled by his words until he slides an inquisitive look toward Tatum, who from the corner of my eye gives him a slight nod. Just like her, micromanaging things to the point where she told the judge to make a speech. I only love her more for it.
“Now that I've gotten that out of the way,” he continues with another chuckle, “I understand you would like to share vows you've written for each other.”
It’s the one part of the whole event Tatum left up to us. I was more than willing to go along with her ideas, but I had to shut down her well-meaning suggestions on what I should say.
“Bianca, ladies first.”
I turn to Callum, placing my hands in his. He's smiling at me, love radiating from his eyes, eyes which seem to stare into my soul. It's almost enough to make me forget what I had planned to say.
“You know something,” I begin, “until a few seconds ago, my hands were shaking. Not out of fear or anything like that. I've never been so sure of anything in my life as I am right here and now standing in front of you. I guess I'm just excited. And I'm not used to people looking at me the way they are now.” I look around, smiling at our small clutch of witnesses. “But you know what? You touched my hands, and the shaking stopped. Like it never happened. All of a sudden, I remembered I had nothing to be nervous about. Nothing to fear. You have given me everything I could ask for, as well as a few things I didn't even know I needed. You've taught me to be strong, and brave. You taught me to have faith in love. You've shown me I'm capable of so much more than I ever thought possible, and that I should never, ever settle for second best. I'm glad I didn't, or else I wouldn't have you now. Because you are the best, and even through our challenges, I have never doubted your love. All I can do now is hope to love you as well as you love me. I promise I'm going to spend the rest of my life trying my best to be the wife you deserve.”
I can't believe I got all of that out without shedding a tear. I didn't plan on starting off the way I did, but the general message was always going to be the same. Every time I’ve tried to run through it, I ended up bawling my eyes out.
He's staring at me, his eyes widening, before he finally releases a gentle laugh. “How am I supposed to follow that?” The rest of us laugh along with him, though I'm pretty sure I hear Tatum sniffling behind me. “Bianca, you honor me beyond words. With your love, your gentleness, your patience.”
We both have to chuckle at that one. “I won't pretend I've always made things easy, but for some reason, you're here. And I am never, not for a minute of my life, going to take that for granted. You are everything to me, and you have already made me the happiest man alive. I'm sure I don't deserve you, but I don't want you to ever doubt for a moment that I plan on spending every minute of the rest of my life earning you. And even then, when I take my final breath, it could never be enough. Thank you for helping me believe in love. I was in a dark place when we found each other, and you showed me the light.”
