A tear streaked from the corner of her eye. “I do.”
My throat felt like it was closing off as I slid the ring onto her finger.
Awe filled her breath, my hand so firm on hers as we both gazed at my mother’s ring and the matching band glinting between us like a beacon guiding us home in the middle of a devastating storm.
“The groom’s ring?” the judge asked.
Emery stood and lifted the lid of a jewelry box, extending it so Daisy could remove the ring tucked inside.
“Cash, do you accept this ring as a symbol of Daisy’s love and commitment to you?”
I stared at it for the longest moment before I lifted my hand.
“I do.” The two words felt the most momentous that had ever been spoken.
Daisy gasped the tiniest sound as she worked the ring onto my finger. The black band marking what was supposed to remain barren and bare.
Until her.
I could barely hear what the judge was uttering with the whooshing in my ears. With the clatter of chaos that thrummed and chimed.
“By the virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
And fuck.
I didn’t know what came over me.
How it was possible that I was cupping her face in both hands, my palms on her jaw as I tipped her stunning face up to me.
Gazing into those fathomless eyes.
An endless sky.
And I realized I had no restraint left.
There was nothing I could do but lean down and softly press my lips to hers.
We were frozen for one elongated beat.
While all those promises we just made tied us together.
Knitted and conformed and rearranged.
While every barrier I tried to keep resurrected was brought crashing to the ground.
And I stood on the brink of bliss.
Teetered on the edge.
Before I tumbled right into it.
Then I kissedmy wifelike I fucking meant it.
FORTY-FIVE
DAISY
I could barely hearthe shouts and cheers of my children and Cash’s family over the ringing in my ears. Over the buzz in my heart and the clatter in my spirit.
