Graham’s entire body shakes and trembles as he struggles to keep it together, and suddenly it feels like an impossible feat for both of us.
The minister nods to Graham, and he quickly wipes down his tears.
“Missy”—he swallows hard as if it were taking all his strength to do this—“you have always been my favorite person to torment.” The room lights up with a laugh and so do I. “And, now, I’m going to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. There’s not a day that will go by without me expressing my heartfelt love to you. I’ve been all over the world looking for something—what, I wasn’t quite sure. I thought New York might finally hold the answer, and yet it wasn’t until I came back to Gingerbread, back toyou, that I found it. What I needed most was right here at home all along. I’m thankful that we finally made our way to one another.” He takes up both my hands, and my entire body relaxes for the first time since I set foot in this church. “Mistletoe, I promise to love and honor you all the days of our lives. I’m going to cherish you, cherish each moment we get to spend together as husband and wife. Life is an adventure, and I’m glad you chose to have this adventure with me.”
The minister ushers the ceremony along. We light the unity candle and join hands once again. He says a little prayer over the two of us, so beautiful my eyes sting with tears once again.
He nods to Graham. “You may now kiss your bride.”
I can’t help but smile as Graham leans in and lands a precious kiss right over my lips and lingers.
The minster clears his throat, and the crowd breaks out into applause and laughter.
“Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time ever, let me introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Graham Holiday!”
The crowd goes wild, and Noel breaks free from Savanah’s hold and leaps and barks with glee, right along with everyone else. Graham takes me by the hand, and we race down the aisle with Noel racing by our side.
We hit the foyer, and Graham leads us out through the open doors where the sunshine warms our backs.
Graham takes up both my hands and sheds a smile as wide as the sea. “We did it, Sprig.”
“We did indeed. You ready for what comes next?”
“As long as you’re by my side, I think we’ve got it all.”
We share another kiss as the bodies stream from the church to offer their congratulations.
Graham is right.
As long as we’re together, we really do have it all.
Mrs. Graham Holiday, I marvel to myself. With Graham in my life, as my husband, every day will feel like Christmas.
