Flying a baby to Italy wasn't exactly an option for them, so they'll have to be on video chat, but evenfrom the other side of the world, I can feel their support and love.
I stand from the vanity, sweeping my hair over my shoulderand reachingfor Bel, laying my forehead against hers."Did you ever think this is where we'd end up?"
"Yes," she snort laughs. "I mean, minus the demons and the kidnappings, the almost deaths, the horrible injuries and the psychological torment, this isexactlywhere I knew we'd be. Walking into the future side by side with whoever was lucky enough to keep us."
When she laughs harder, I can't help but join her.
Fritz, my unofficial planner, pops his head in the door with a brilliant smile, "Hey you two, it's time. We'll be waiting."
Just as quickly as he appeared, he vanishes, the door closing behind him.
"Let's fucking do this," she tells me, handing me my almost empty glass. She grabs her own, gently tapping it against mine before webothdrink the last few drops of champagne in the flutes.
"Let's fucking do this," I repeat, taking a big breath in, anticipation flooding every inch of my body, thoughI'm not sure if it's all mine or partially Eamon's.
She takes my hand, tucking it into the crook of her arm, looking at me with teary eyes.
"Don't you start, Bels," I dab at myowneye, hoping to stop the waterworks long enough to get at least a few good pictures.
With a sniffle, she holds her head high, pulling me towards the door. As it swings open, an attendant hands me the cascading bouquet of florals and greenery, settling the waterfall of flowers into my free hand.
If there had been any sound before the doors opened, it stopped as soon as they did. The only thing I can hear is the crashing waves. The smell of salty sea air and roses fills my nose. I can barely feel my feet moving beneath me, captivated by my destination, my journey ahead.
The soft pink walkway glides along the stone, the wind picking up drifts of sand and blowing them across. We don't haveenough people for chairs to be necessary. Truthfully, I love it this way. The only people here are the ones we really want.
And there, waiting patiently for me, like always, stands the giant beast of a man I've fallen so deeply in love with. My heart swells as his eyes meet mine, his beautiful smile beaming as he stares at me. The green of his suit matches his eyes, the wonder shining in them rendering me thoughtless.
Bel pulls my arm, and only then do I realize I wascompletelyfrozen, lost in Eamon's gaze.
Are you gonna stare all day? Or are we gonna do this thing?
My lip quivers, overwhelming joy and humor filling my veins as he reminds me of the first time we met. Taking the steps toward him, every single one feels monumental. Over the last year or so, my whole life has been cut to pieces and rearranged, but every moment brought me closer to Eamon. It's all been worth it to be standing here in front of him, the wedding of my dreams with the person of my dreams.
Only a few steps away from him, Bel stops, silent tears streaming down her face as she takes the bouquet from me.
Eamon reaches his hand out for me, whispering to Bel, "Don't worry, I got her from here." When my hand lands in his warm palm, sparks of electricity zing through me,justlike every time. His touch ignites the deepest parts of my soul,the onesI thought died long ago. He pulls me up the two steps to the landing, the stunning arch showcasing the ocean behind it, the sun sinking and washing all of us in shades of gold and pink.
Fritz stands beneath the arch, and I genuinely can't believe he talked Eamon into letting him be our officiant. Bel stands beside Caspian, but I can't take my eyes off the man before me. This brave, relentless, incredible person ismine.
He winks at me, reaching for the necklace draped around my throat with his free hand, running his fingertips across itwith a blissful smile. While a pendant of the Northern Lights isn'texactlythe jewelry I dreamed of, it's even better than I ever could have imagined. This silly little necklace sat unopened for months because I wasn't brave enough to look and see it. Long before the captivity, he was trying to reach me in his own way, trying to give me some piece of himself that I wasn't ready to face.
He lifts his hand, brushing a tear from my cheek with his thumb, mouthingI love you.
I love you,I repeat.
Fritz takes a shaky breath, drawing both of our attention.
"Love is a wild thing, isn't it?" he asks, notreallywaiting for an answer before continuing the words he prepared. "It changes us, makes us into the best version of ourselves, even if we don't know how to become that person. Even when it's scary. Love is both the catapult that pushes us into free-fall and the parachute that catches us. It is the reason we are all here today. Your love for each other, even through all the bullshit-"
Are officiants supposed to swear?Eamon's voice chuckles in my head.
But he and I both know just how affected he is by Fritz's words. His emotions bubble up in my own chest, and I lose the battle against my tears as they start to flow freely.
"Through every trial life has thrown your way, from being literal natural-born enemies to also being your own worst enemies at times, you two have beaten the odds. Together. You're so lucky to have each other, and we arealllucky to have you both in our lives.
"Eamon, do you vow to honor, love and cherish Isla, through good times and bad, through sickn—nope, you're immune to that now. For richer or for poorer, for better or worse, until the earth ceases to exist and we all turn to dust?"
Eamon doesn'tevenhesitate, nearly getting the words out before Fritz finishes the question, "I do."
