I realize my voice has grown louder and gruffer, which is why she's soothing me.
"Did you tell anyone that we were engaged?"
"Just my mom, via text."
"Shit, I meant to go talk to her and ask her for her blessing."
"You don't have to do that."
"I want to do right by you, baby girl."
She puts her head on my shoulder and kisses my jaw. I realize it's all prickly since I didn't shave this morning, but she doesn't seem to mind. I don't know what I did to deserve this woman, but I give thanks to God and the Universe.
We watch the snow fall through the suite's window in companionable silence. Before I fall asleep, she nudges me.
"You need to get help for that PTSD, Jacob. Promise me."
"I promise you, baby girl."
"Good. Now make love to me. I want you something fierce."
"As you wish, my love."
Chapter 11
Marci
It's crazy to have a wedding day in the midst of a storm and with a pregnant woman having contractions. Jacob and I left Hope Peak to visit my friend Sasha at her home in the mountains at Hunter's Peak. Sasha's first baby is due any minute, but her water hasn't broken, and the contractions are too far apart. She made me promise I'd get married today, either way.
There are only a handful of us, so we brought everything that was in the backyard for the wedding into the house. Sasha's husband's friend, Fletcher, ordained himself through the internet to marry us, and now we're minutes away from starting the ceremony.
We decided the ceremony would happen in the living room, with my maid of honor, Sasha, sitting down on her husband Brody's favorite recliner. She's a little flushed but seems happy to see everything is coming along smoothly. My mom and I stand at the back of the house, waiting for the music to start.
"Are you sure he's the one, baby?"
"Yes, Mama. He's the perfect man for me."
"I love you, sweetheart. May your marriage be blessed."
"Thank you. Oh, it's starting, let's go."
We do the symbolic march toward the living room, hand in hand. When we get to where Jacob is standing, my mother puts my hands in his, whispering something to him I can't quite catch. He gives her a somber nod and squeezes my hands gently.
I smile up at him, and our eyes meet. I see my future right there in front of me. Blessed, indeed.
Fletcher starts the ceremony, and I swear I try to concentrate on his words as hard as I can, but all I'm focused on is the man I'm about to marry.
My Santa Daddy has worked hard all this past year in therapy, and we've seen the improvements in his moods and demeanor. I'm so proud of him. When it's time to say our vows, he squeezes my hands again, and I come back down from the clouds.
His words are candid and heartfelt, and I have to read mine because I started crying in the middle of his and can't remember a word I was supposed to say. When I'm halfway through the vows, I get my bearings again and finish without needing the card.
We're pronounced husband and wife, and that first kiss sweeps me off my feet like his kisses usually do. I once again lose all sense of time and space while he kisses me and dips me down for the audience.
Before I know it, we're eating and toasting with cider, because he knows I prefer it to champagne.
Sitting side by side with him never gets old, because he makes sure his arm and thigh are glued to me. The heat his body gives soothes me. He leans down to whisper something in my ear.
"You haven't eaten anything, baby girl."
