Tanner is just on the other side of that door. He’s standing there waiting for me, just like he said.
Dad stands next to me offering his arm when the music changes. “Are you ready, honey?” He looks over at me, a loving look on his face. “You make a beautiful bride.”
Now the tears, which seem to be ever-present today, start to fall. My dad has never been forthcoming with his words. He’s an older gentleman and always seemed to behave as such, so his announcement has me overcome with emotions.
All I can do is nod as Everly, Mel, and Millie take their places. The wedding planner motions to the ushers to pull the doors open on cue with the quartet playing—yes, my mother got us a real-life string quartet for our big day. With her assistant coordinating the bridesmaids, the wedding planner stops in front of dad and me, fluffing up my skirt and checking my veil. When she steps to the side the photographer snaps away catching my dad and I smiling at one another.
It’s showtime.
Through the sound system, I can hear Pastor Smith asking our guests to rise, the sound of Canon in D filtering through the chapel. Dad leans over giving me a quick kiss on the cheek before he leads me down the aisle.
People fill the seats on both sides of the aisle, all of them staring right at me, but I only have eyes for Tanner. He’s standing at the bottom of the steps leading up to the floral arch looking stunning in a tailored suit. I can tell the moment he sees me, and every minute of separation has been worth it. His eyes go wide, and I see his chest rise as he sucks in a large breath, a look of complete adoration on his face. With a large hand, he swipes at his cheeks, and I realize he’s crying. My strong, tough, playful, mischievous fiancé is crying as I walk down the aisle to be his wife.
This is the best moment of my life.
It isn’t until he takes my hand in his that I notice we’ve made the walk down the entire aisle but I don’t remember any of it. Everything faded into the background the moment our eyes locked.
His hands are warm and rough when he brings our joined hands to his lips. “Sweetheart,” he whispers, swallowing hard before continuing. “You are everything.” His voice breaks at the end and he squeezes my hand in his.
Pastor Smith starts the ceremony, going through everything he mentioned in the rehearsal, and before I know it, it’s time to exchange our vows. “Tanner, repeat after me.”
We exchange vows, the same words uttered by generations: to love, honor, and cherish. Everything I’ve always wanted.
We had a rough time getting here but there’s no one else who I would rather tie my life to. To partner with.
Our eyes are locked together and filled with tears as we repeat our vows.
The bands we chose for each other are simple and elegant. I can’t stop the tears from pooling when he slides the ring home on my finger. His eyes shine with joy as the pastor says, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Tanner positively beams at me, his eyes glassy with unshed tears. He wraps his strong arms around my waist as my hands reach for him. True to Tanner form, he dips me backward while knocking the breath from my lungs with his passion.
My heart is filled with so much love asmy husbandpulls back, his smile spreading wide across his face. “I love you,Wife.”He sets me upright and we both laugh, giddy with excitement. Our guests clap and cheers, Mel whistling loudly behind us.
“For the first time,” the pastor’s voice booms behind us, “I introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Williams.” Tanner holds our clasped hands up for all to see before he guides us down the aisle.
The road to this point was a challenge, but today has been absolutely perfect.
Epilogue
Five Years Later
Tanner
Kate holds our son in her arms in the gentle waves of the Pacific. Next to her, my nephew Elijah clutches Mel’s finger as he tentatively tests the waters, not daring to let go of his mother's hand. Holden has his eagle eyes on Everly who has one hand caressing her pregnant belly, the other grasping the hand of their daughter, Sophia.
A family vacation has been in the works for several years and Holden was hell-bent on making sure it happened. My thought is that Everly wanted this to happen, and he would do anything to make her happy. He arranged to fly everyone to his California home for two weeks this summer. He even got his younger brother, Seth, who lives here to come to visit.
“Beer?” Gabe reaches into the cooler next to him, ice sloshing as he fishes one out and offers it to me. Both of us have our eyes trained on our wives and sons ready to jump in at a moment’s notice.
It’s been five years since I made Kate my wife and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.
My parents walk hand in hand along the shore, the sun bouncing off my dad’s bald head. Mom tried to convince him to wear a hat but he refused. I have a feeling there’s going to be a discussion on how red his head is at dinner.
Shortly after finishing the project at Hammer and Stein, Gabe and I decided to open our own construction business, with his brother Noah being the financial brains behind the operation. Gabe still works at the firehouse but takes fewer shifts so he can help with the business.
Now that I’m working for myself, there’s no added pressure to work for a promotion. I’m already the owner. I get to do the work I love and enjoy without a man dressed in a tailored suit and shiny shoes coming in to yell at me.
When Kate and I found out we were pregnant, we chose to move out of the city and back to my hometown. With my new construction business stationed there anyway it made more sense. Chicago holds a special place in our hearts, but we wanted to raise our children away from the bustling city, and closer family.
