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“You know I’m kidding. But not about the wedding. Let’s just do it. Christmas is next week, how about you give me that as my present? Marry me.”
“You’re serious? You don’t want the white dress, first dance, flowers shindig?” I want to make sure she’s truly sure because it sounds rather perfect to me.
And I don’t have to wait any longer to call her my wife. To live every single day as her person. To give her babies … because fuck, it sounds strange, but I can’t wait to see her belly carrying our children.
“I only want you. I want the people we love the most standing in a small circle around us, plus there is something so romantic about Christmas. Give me a brightly lit tree over roses and peonies any day.” She waves a hand as we pull into a halfmoon driveway in front of an all-white farmhouse.
The home is surrounded by forest, except for the back, which I can see slopes down into a perfect view of the river valley below.
“Holy hell,” I breathe, and Cassandra’s attention swings to the passenger window.
“See? We just decided on a one week planned Christmas wedding in front of our forever home. It couldn’t be more kismet.” She leans across the dash and kisses me chastely.
“You haven’t even been inside yet.” I press my forehead to hers.
“It’s all about thefeeling, baby, remember?” She smirks.
Yeah, I think I get it now. I think I got it a long time ago. Probably from the day I first laid eyes on her as a teenager.
34
CASSANDRA
In the end, we decided not to do the wedding at the restaurant.
Patrick said he didn’t want to do it in a place he worked at so long and that holds so many other memories. He wants to make new ones, ones that are just ours.
That’s where Wilson comes in. He suggested, during a lunch to gawk over my new engagement ring, that we get married at the playhouse. Immediately, I knew it was the perfect venue. And to no one’s surprise, my semi-employer slash the man quickly becoming my best friend outside of the Ashton family, wants to plan the entire thing.
When I told Patrick in excited tones the minute I got back to the guesthouse from lunch, he knew it was meant to be as well. A Christmas Eve wedding, small and intimate, at the playhouse where I rediscovered my love for acting, even if no one is watching. Especially when no one is watching.
Wilson set to work with some help from the Ashton clan, and in seven days’ time, we were all gathered in the wings of the main stage, waiting for the quartet he called to start playing a no-lyric version of “Yours Alone” by Wade Bowen. Wilson wrangled up some old set decoration from a production ofThe Sound of Music, and the whole stage is dressed like a mountain town in the Alps, complete with fake snow. Patrick and I slept in the same bed last night, saw each other at the breakfast table this morning, and shirked any real tradition for a wedding day aside from exchanging vows.
This is the happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life.
Alana is checking the sparkling opal clip holding the front pieces of my hair back, while I see Liam and Evan razz Patrick from the other side of the stage. He’s chosen blue jeans and a chunky knit sweater in an oat color, and I am wearing a white sweater dress with simple brown boots. The whole thing feels like a cozy winter wonderland, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
The marriage certificate we got three days prior is rolled up in Nonna’s back pocket, since we asked her to get ordained and marry us. The rest of the Ashtons are here, along with Warren, August, Wilson, and his new employee Gabrielle. She’s not only new-ish in town, but she’ll be working closely with us at the theater. Plus, I think Wilson wrangled her into helping him this week. That alone deserves some free drinks on us.
Yaren sent a bottle of expensive champagne and sale papers for my LA house as a gift, while my mother promised she’d spring for our honeymoon when we decide to go on one. It didn’t surprise me that she wouldn’t want to attend, but it’s the only semi-sour note of the day. Once upon a time, I don’t think I imagined I’d have a wedding where neither of my parents would be in attendance.
But I push it out of my head as the music starts because there can only be happiness today. The family moves to the front of the stage, leaving Patrick and me alone in opposite wings as they all take their places to watch the ceremony.
He walks to the center first, joining Nonna and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Then my feet move, my eyes only seeing him as I hold my small bouquet of red poppies in steady hands.
There are no nerves. No sweaty extremities. No doubts or fears. The only thing I feel in my heart and head is deep contentment and love.
When I finally join him center stage, Wilson takes my bouquet so I can hold Patrick’s hands, which squeeze mine.
Nonna gives both of us a loving look, takes a deep breath, and then begins.
“Love is an eternal bond, one that shouldn’t be broken by struggle or dark times, or even death. I’ve seen it, the power and magic love can bring to a life. And having witnessed how much Patrick and Cassandra have overcome together in such a short amount of time, I have no doubt that this love, this marriage, will be one that can withstand the test of anything.”
Already her words are bringing a tear to my eye.
“You’ve both decided to gather in front of your closest family and friends to commit your lives to one another, and while I know we’re all thrilled, I’m sure everyone is relieved the rush to the altar is over from a planning sense.”
This has every one of us laughing, and I can’t help but get stuck on how happy Patrick looks at this moment.
