“Nota good plan. It’s gonna lead to imagining you naked, and then I’ll forgeteverything I want to say. You go,” Ash decided. “That way I’ll be used toeveryone looking at me.”
Declansqueezed his hand, then switched the microphone on.
“So,uh,” he began. “Some of you know why you’re here, and others are probably wondering,and first of all: we’re really grateful you came. It means a lot to have somany friends. This time last year, I could count all my friends on one finger.”
Now,it was Ash’s turn to squeeze Declan’s hand.
“Someof you also know this story, but I’m gonna tell it for everyone else. My greatuncle Marv left me this place when he died, and he put a condition in his willthat I had to be married. And like I said… I had one friend. And that friendstepped up to volunteer, and… honestly, in the beginning? It was fake. Weweren’t together, and I don’t think either of us ever thought we would be.”
Atiny ripple of surprise spread through the crowd.
Noone seemed angry, though.
“Ithink you know how the rest of the story goes. For me, Hope Springs let me just…breathe. And once I could breathe, I could worry about what else I wanted inlife. And what I wanted in life was… Ash. It’s always been Ash. I just couldn’tsee it before. So I want to thank every one of you for making this a placewhere I could do that.” Declan paused to take a breath, looking over at Ash andsmiling again.
“I’vespoken to a lot of you and from what you’ve told me, I figure Marv knew what hewas doing. I’d told him all about Ash right after I met him, and I think heknew. No one’s ever had a bad word to say about him, and while I’m sad I nevergot to know him well, I think I owe him a thank you. So, that’s reason one fortoday. To thank my great uncle and celebrate his life.”
“Tellthem about reason two,” Charlie demanded.
Ashchuckled. Charlie had been impatient about this day since they’d first floatedthe idea over dinner months ago.
“Reasontwo is that me and Ash never got a proper wedding, so… this is it. It’s notexactly traditional, but nothing about our relationship has been.”
Declanclipped the microphone back into its stand, turning to face Ash and taking bothof his hands.
“Youdidallthe talking,” Ash whispered.
Declanshrugged. “Figured it’d save you doing it,” he said. “Now’s your chance ifyou’ve got something else to say.”
Ashshook his head. “I just want to tell you how much I love you in front of allthese people.”
Declanglanced out at the crowd, grinning from ear to ear. “I think they heard. Youwant me to start?”
“No,I wanna start this time,” Ash said, taking a deep breath and letting it outslowly.
“WhenI met Declan, I was in tears, and he was kind to me. Looking back, I think thatwas the moment I fell in love with him.” Ash paused, trying to get his words inorder.
“Whichis probably a surprise to him, too. I told him once that he was the man Idreamed of before I met him, and that’s never been truer than it is now. I lovehim, but more than anything, I’mproudof him. I’m proud of the man he’sbecome, and I’m proud to call him my husband.”
Hepaused to look Declan in the eyes, smiling broadly at him.
“So,promises,” he started again. “I want to promise you, first and foremost, thatI’ll always love you. That you can always rely on me. That whatever happens tous, whatever the future brings, no matter what, I’ll be here. That if whatwe’ve already been through is only a small fraction of what life has in storefor us, I’ll still stand by your side and we’ll handle it, together.”
Declanbit his lip. “Can I kiss you now?” he asked.
“Youcan kiss me after,” Ash responded. This was an important moment, one theyhadn’t gotten before, and he was determined for it to be right.
Notright for anyone else, but right for them.
Declansighed dramatically, winked, and then took a breath to speak. “I knoweverything you just said is true, because it’s been true since more or less theday we met. You’ve been my best friend for as long as I really understood whatthat meant, no one’s ever come close to showing me the same love and supportyou have. It took me a long time to figure out that you were the one, but nowthat I know it, nothing’s ever going to change that.”
Declanpaused to squeeze Ash’s hands. “I’m not just proud to call you my husband. I’malso the luckiest man alive. Your patience, your kindness, and your willingnessto stand by me, even in the worst of times… those are the things I want topromise you, too. I want to promise you that I’ll always try to be a better manthan I am, because you deserve it. Even though I know you’ll put up with meexactly the way I am now.”
“You’reperfect,” Ash said. “I love you exactly the way you are.”
“Iknow,” Declan said. “That’s why I want to be better.”
“Kissalready, before we all die over how cute you two are,” Charlie called out.
