We exchange rings, and that’s it.
The ceremony is over.
Everleigh was only outside for a moment before she came back inside, and I’m curious what happened. Maybe he had a car running at the curb, and he ran out and made his escape. Maybe he thought I’d pick him, and he’d whisk me away to some destination.
But in the moment when I had to choose, everything suddenly became very clear.
He’s my past. I love him, but Ford is my future.
He’s the one I want.
I don’t see Ford ever throwing in the towel on us. He’s dependable, and he’s the type of man who’s going to continue to try with me. He’s going to continue to work on it. He’ll fight for me.
We both will.
And now it’s done.
Ms. Winston only stays long enough to witness the ceremony, and she leaves an envelope on the small table with gifts from our few guests.
I always thought I wanted a big wedding. It’s what I do, after all.
But this feels intimate. It feels perfect. I want our lives to be a reflection of this…except, you know, that wholegetting interrupted by my exthing that happened in the middle.
That’s it. I made my choice, and he needs to accept that. We already talked about this anyway. I’ve talked it to death, actually, and I keep arriving at the same conclusion.
So here I am, married.
I’m Mrs. Bradley now, technically—even if I keep Barker. I’m just…not the Mrs. Bradley I always assumed I’d be.
We share in our first meal as husband and wife. We cut our honey and fig cake. We toast with champagne and chase it with peppermint schnapps.
Ms. Winston is gone, but we’re carrying on all the traditions, which tells me that this all wasn’t just for her benefit. It was for us, too.
Ford is ever the gentleman as he feeds me a piece of cake, and I do the same in a ladylike manner. I’ve seen enough brides in tears because their new husbands thought it would be funny to smash cake in their faces.
Spoiler alert: it’s never funny.
We dance to a collection of songs I chose and put onto a playlist on my phone. Our first dance is to “Never Stop” by SafetySuit. I heard it once during a wedding, and it became the song I aspired to. As the singer talks about his heart racing, it feels like I’ve found that with Ford.
We dance until dusk gives way to night, and we say goodbye to the family members and friends who joined us here. The small staff I hired to help serve the food has finished cleaning and has left as well.
“It’s just us in here, Mrs. Bradley,” Ford says softly. He loops his arm around my waist and hauls me to him, and I giggle as I fall against his chest.
“What are you going to do about it?” I tease.
“Well, we have several options.”
“Lay them out for me,” I suggest.
“Option one, I take you in the same spot where I married you and make love to you.”
“Mm,” I murmur, closing my eyes as he nips a kiss to my neck.
“Option two, I take you upstairs to the owner’s suite and have my way with you.”
My eyes flip open. “I’m listening.”
“Option three, I bend you over the kitchen counter.”
