My heart melts at the sight of Lucky in his wedding attire in his grandmother’s lap.
When I turn toward the end of the wooden pier, my heart stops. I inhale at the beauty of it all. The circular gazebo, decorated with the same blue and pink floral arrangement, surrounded by an almost luminescent body of teal water. None of that compares to seeing Travis standing there in an exact replica of the outfit he dressed our son in.
Except Travis wears linen pants instead of shorts.
The smile on his face rivals the brightness of the sun. My heart sighs, knowing we’re safe right here, right now, with him.
I don’t walk, I float in his direction as if pulled by a magnet.
When the officiant asks who gives me away, Uncle Theo squeezes my hand. We share a look, him silently telling me that I have his blessing for this union, but he’ll never fully give me away.
“Thank you,” I whisper in his ear when he leans in, kissing my cheek.
Travis steps up, taking my hand in his, but not before running a thumb under my left eye, lightly wiping away a tear.
“You’re everything I never knew I wanted,” he says loud enough to cause a collective sigh among our guests.
It’s when I turn to look toward the guests that I notice the trophy that proudly sits by the gazebo wall.
“Seriously?” I laugh, gesturing toward the replica of Travis’ Drivers’ Championship trophy.
He shrugs, wearing a sly grin. “The team thought it should be here today.”
Yes, today I’m marrying a champion and that’s the least of the reasons why I love him with my entire heart.
The officiant welcomes our guests and explains that we’ve chosen to cite our own vows.
Travis goes first.
“Alyssia, a year ago I couldn’t have imagined that I’d be standing here today. I couldn’t have imagined how full my heart could feel or how capable I was of loving something outside of my own selfish desires. I love you from a place I never knew existed, but that reveals how tremendously shallow my life was before you.
“Racing used to be my sole motivation to get up each day. Now …” He pauses, glancing over to where his parents sit in the front row. Lucky squirms in his grandmother’s arms.
“You and our son are my reason for breathing. I promise to be your protector, the person you can always come to, day or night, when you’re afraid, lonely, or in need of comfort.
“I love you, Alyssia, and will until these ocean waters dry up and this land becomes desert, the sun stops rising every morning, and the planet stops spinning, and beyond that. My heart is yours.”
By some miracle I manage not to melt into a complete and utter puddle.
“Who helped you with that?”
Travis’ face splits into a smile and he rubs the back of his head. He juts his head over my shoulder. “My sister’s pretty good with words.”
I glance back to grin at Annalise. She blows us a kiss and a wink.
From then on, I can’t recall the words that come out of my mouth. I’m certain they were the vows that I spent weeks writing, but all I can think about as I recite them is how much I want to take Travis’ beautiful face between my hands and kiss him for forever.
He must feel the same, because as soon as the officiant allows us to place our rings on one another, Travis cups my face and pulls me in for the kiss that cements our union.
I sigh into his embrace, my heart finally accepting that this is real. I just married the man I will love forever.
The moment we part, Lucky has had enough of not being a part of the show. He lets out a loud squeal. Travis meets his mother halfway for the hand off. My new husband makes it a few steps before Lucky reaches out his hands for me.
I take him on to my hip, kissing his chubby cheeks over and over until he kicks his feet, giggling.
Then I kiss Travis again and again because I can’t get enough of either of my guys.
A minute later, Travis and I make our way to the cage that houses the white doves.
