“I’m sorry. I didn’t think you would come,” I told her, honestly.
My mother cupped my cheek. I lowered so she could press a kiss to it. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” She pulled back. “Savannah needs to speak with you first,” she whispered.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Micah move to our mother’s side and help her walk toward the direction of the pavilion.
I turned back to Savannah.
“I called her earlier today and told her we were doing this,” she confessed. “I wanted her blessing, and I knew she would’ve wanted to be here.” Her voice was almost apologetic.
I cupped her face and brought our lips to touch. “Thank you.”
Those were the only two words I could manage. Between Savannah’s beauty in the white dress and my mother’s presence, I was overwhelmed.
We were young, eighteen years old, and had a few months before we would even graduate high school. My parents, mostly Joel and Savannah’s grandmother, had repeatedly told us that we were too young to have the feelings we had, but I knew better.
“Come on,” I said, taking Savannah by the hand to get this started.
At six in the evening, the sun was still high in the air with Tucker Bridge in the distance behind us. It was the perfect backdrop to say our vows.
“Wait.” Savannah tugged on my hand, not moving.
“What is it?”
Her eyes dropped to the ground, and she glanced around, looking at everything but me.
“Babe.” I lifted her chin for her to look me in the eye. “What’s wrong?”
She bit her bottom lip before asking, “Are you sure we should do this?”
“You don’t want to marry me?” It hurt even to ask.
“I do,” she quickly said. “It’s just that…” She sighed. “There are so many people who disagree, who would freak out if they knew what’re about to do.”
“They can jump off of Tucker Bridge for all I care.”
She tugged at my hand, which was still tightly wound around hers. “Ace, don’t say that. One of those people is your dad. He’s going to flip when he finds out we got married.”
“I’ll handle my father. He won’t say shit to you.”
She shook her head. “I’m not afraid of him. I just…” She stopped. “Are we making the right decision?” She looked at me as if she were looking through to my soul, seeking out my most profound truth.
“Baby, nothing has ever felt more right in my life,” I assured. “Not even when I got my acceptance letter to the Academy.” And I’d wanted to be an Air Force pilot since I was six years old. Even that dream took a backseat to making Savannah my wife.
“That’s just it,” she protested. “How is this going to work? You off at the Academy and me at school back East? And then there’s medical school if I make it in.”
“You’ll get in. And we will figure it all out together. As long as it’s you and me.” I squeezed her hand. “Forever.”
“Forever,” she whispered. A small smile touched her lips, and I let out a sigh. “Okay.”
“Jesus, baby. You’re going to give me grey hairs. Scaring me like that.”
She laughed, and I held firmly to her hand as I walked her to the gazebo where my mother, Micah, and the pastor of my mother’s church stood.
“I think we’re ready,” my mother said, looking from Savannah and me to the pastor.
Micah stood behind me while our mother remained seated. Pastor Jacobs stood at the center of the pavilion with the Gaines River behind him. Savannah and I stood before him.
“We are gathered here today,” started Pastor Jacobs.
