I chuckle at her excitement as I help her slide off the horse, jumping off myself shortly after. Walking the horse over, I tie her off at the nearest tree branch and walk back over to Willow.
My arms come up around her shoulders before I pull her into my chest, my head resting on the top of her head. “You know what I love most about this?”
“Hm?” she asks, squeezing her hands on my forearms.
“That I get to share this dream with you. That you and I got to build this thing from the ground up. This is only the beginning.”
She turns and drapes her arms over my shoulders. God, I can’t take my eyes or hands off her. I want her with me all the time for the rest of my life. I’ve always wanted that, but now, I need that. Life without her is dull, almost as if I’m living in black and white. Now that I’m seeing color again, I never want to stop.
Her eyes twinkle, and a smile is stretched wide on her face, “I’m glad, too. It led me back to you, and for that, I am forever grateful. I love you, West.”I feel an urgency rise in me; I need to do this, and I need to do this now. “Marry me, today. Right now.”
Her head rears back as her eyes go wide. “What? You’re crazy, we can’t get married right now.”
I shrug, is this a little crazy, sure? You know what would be even crazier? Not doing it. My gut is screaming at me to do this. To make her my wife as soon as possible. “Twelve years without you has made me certifiably insane. I don’t care. I want you to be my wife more than I want my next breath.” I drop to one knee, “You are my life, and I want to start it, right now, with you. What do you say?”
She gapes at me like a fish. “It’s Sunday, who the hell is going to marry us on a Sunday?”
The idea comes to me so clearly, I know it’s the right thing. “Is that a yes, Sunshine?” I grab her hands and squeeze them both.
She blinks rapidly before a smile stretches out across her face. Suddenly, she’s sixteen, and I’m telling her I love her for the first time in the front seat of my truck while we’re parked on a back road. That’s what this smile reminds me of. I want to make a whole lifetime of memories with her smiling like this. “Yes. Always yes when it comes to you.”I pull her in my arms, and her legs wrap around my waist as her soft hands frame my face. She wastes no time bringing her lips to mine, and I get lost. Lost in the taste of her Chapstick, at her gasping for air when she pulls back. This girl is the air in my lungs, and the blood in my veins. She’s all I will ever need for a happy life.
“Let’s go get married.”
My old truck, the one that holds all our dearest memories, comes to a stop in front of Verns. I give Willow credit because I know she has a lot of questions. I know she’s confused. But I have a plan, and it includes our favorite old man.
When I open the door, I look at her, and her eyes are now bugging out of her head. I can’t tell if it’s the nerves or all the questions she has brewing up there creating internal pressure. Jury is out, but I take pity on her regardless.
“The man behind that door is really important to both of us. I thought we might ask him if he’d be willing to double as minister today.”
“My grandpa has done a lot in his life, but I'm pretty sure ministering isn’t one of them.” She quirks up a brow.
“Come on, babe. Your man has a plan, I promise.” I grab her hand and usher her out of the car.
We walk through the back door, and Vern is in his favorite spot, legs stretched out on his recliner and Sunday football on the TV.
“Vern!” I holler out, hoping he can hear me over the TV.
He turns his body around, a big smile stretching across his face when he sees us hand in hand in his kitchen. “Hey, kids!” He snaps the recliner leg down and stands up to meet us in the kitchen. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”Willow looks to me, and I look at her before glancing back to Vern. “Well, now that I've got our girl back, I don’t want to let her go. I want to get married. Today. And I’d like for you to marry us.”
His smile stretches further, “Well, I’ll be damned.” He pulls us both into a hug. “I hate to disappoint you, too, but I can’t marry you.”“Well, actually, you can. You can be an ordained minister in about fifteen minutes on the internet.” I hold up my phone and wave it back and forth. “Are you up for it?”“Don’t you guys want a big wedding. This is a long time coming, you know?”
We look to each other, considering the thought. It comes out so easy. “No. We can celebrate with everyone after, but I think this part needs to be just us.” Willow says.
“Well, alright then. Weston, can I talk to you for a second, just us two?” He looks over to Willow, silently dismissing her.
She rolls her eyes as she laughs. “Well, I'll go watch some football, I guess.”
Once she’s out of the room, his eyes meet mine. “Did you get her a ring yet?”
Blood leaves my face at an alarming rate because, no, I don’t have a ring.
“Don’t panic, son. I want to offer you my late wife’s ring. I know it’s nothing fancy like you all have these days, but…”I cut him off as tears fill my eyes, the gesture so impactful I can feel my heart swell. “Fancy isn’t what we’re going for. We’re going for forever, long-lasting and genuine, like something you all had. It would mean everything to give her that ring.”
“Alright, son,” he nods once, “I want you to know there is no one on earth better suited for her. You are exactly the kind of man I had hoped she would end up with. I’m proud to add you to our family, son.”
I feel tears stream down my face as he pulls me in for an embrace. I have a wonderful family, but this man is all Willow has had. The way heloves and protects her is a force to be reckoned with. To be welcomed into their small circle as family is a gift I will forever cherish.
He pulls back, patting my shoulder twice. “Well, let’s get you two hitched.”
