No.
Ourhouse.
Ourhome.
I park and shut off the truck. The evening is silent without the engine's rumble. Holly stirs and sits up, stretching as a yawn escapes. “Are we home?”
My throat catches, at her simple yet monumental question. “Yes. We’re home.
This is the place we’re going to really start our life together.
It’s beautiful.
I hop out and round the truck to Holly’s door. She wraps her arms around my neck as I assist her down from the cab. “I’m so happy we’rehere. Also, my legs are asleep, so don’t let go of me yet or else I’m going to fall over.”
I chuckle and gently put her down. “Here, get on my back. I want to take you somewhere special, and if you can’t walk, you’ll have to get a piggyback ride.”
She laughs, and I’m grateful she doesn’t hesitate before hopping upward. I wrap my hands under her jean-clad thighs as her arms wrap around my shoulders. I hike her up a little higher before walking away from the truck and into the orchard.
Holly rests her head against mine. “Where are you taking me?”
“My favorite place misses my favorite person.”
She hums a happy note and goes silent as I carry her down the row of cherry trees. I stop a hundred yards into the orchard, at the spot where I can see the sun setting perfectly. Slowly, I drop Holly down, making sure she has her footing before letting her go all the way.
I turn and drop onto one knee, pulling out the ring as I go.
Holly’s ocean eyes sparkle, her hair golden from the sunset as she smiles. My heart races as the words I’ve been rehearsing for the past two weeks run through my mind. “Holly Kingston Rivera-Watson. I know our marriage started out in an unexpected way. We came from two different worlds, but somehow they collided and we’ve made it work. You bring light and joy into my life, and I always want to be by your side. I want to be next to you through all of life’s adventures. I love you with all of my heart. Will you join me on our next world-changing adventure? Will you marry me again?”
Holly bites her lip even as a tear escapes and runs down her cheek. She’s glowing, and I want to keep this picture of her in my mind, always. She takes a step closer to me and I reach out, grabbing her free hand.
“Yes. Yes, Mateo. I’ll marry you again. You’re what I didn’t know I needed. You brought laughter and joy back into my life. I don’t want to go a day without seeing you and your smiling face. I love you.”
Her eyes are filled with emotion that has me choking up.
I grasp her left hand and slip on the ring Reina helped me pick out.
It fits perfectly and matches Holly’s personality so well. The oval cut, with ornamental filigree, reminds me of Holly, personifying all things elegance and grace.
Holly smiles as she lifts her hand, letting the rays of the setting sun catch in the facets of the diamonds. It sparkles, and I can’t help but think of how it’s a perfect example of the sparkle and light Holly has brought into my life. I was happy before I married her, but now I know true joy.
I stand as Holly reaches out, fisting my shirt in her hand and pulling me toward her. I have no complaints as my lips meet hers, expressing my love and adoration for this beautiful woman I get to spend the rest of my life with. My heart swells as I brush my mouth against hers, her joy-filled laugh captured by my lips.
There are so many things I want to say, words of love and adoration running through my mind. I file them away for later, determined to fit them in my vows on Saturday. For now, I let my lips do the talking. Each brush a gentle reminder of my love, each caress a promise of many loving years together, and each breath a promise that I am hers, and she is mine.
Standing in my favorite orchard, next to our home, I kiss my wife.
Chapter 46
Epilogue: First Christmas
Holly
Strings of lights weave across the ceiling beams of the barn. Boughs of evergreen branches are woven around columns and beams throughout the room. The ever-present scent of pine in the air this time of year never ceases to remind me of Mateo, and I love Christmastime all the more for it.
The decorations remind me of our wedding reception in August. It's the one I’m going to count and celebrate every year because it was when we vowed to love each other, in front of friends, family and God. The ceremony was beautiful and the celebration afterward was even more fun.
This Christmas party is no less hopping than our reception was.
