“My cousin is one of the best women out there. You know that, I know that. But what you don’t seem to know is that you are worthy of her love, every single bit of it.”
My brow furrows in confusion. “If this is a pep talk, it kinda sucks, man.”
Leo holds up a hand. “I didn’t say it was a pep talk. I asked to be the one to explain this to you, so shut up and listen.”
I cross my arms over my chest. Only my deep-rooted belief that Kat does, in fact, love me and wants to marry me, no matter what, keeps me from spiraling as I impatiently wait for Leo to tell me what the fuck is going on with my wedding day.
“Kat knew today was going to be a lot for you. And since today is just as muchfor youas it is for her, she and Aunt Claire made some last-minute adjustments.”
I hear a few more people enter the room and glance over to see it’s Claire and Dennis, my parents, Serena, Leo and Serena’s daughter Violet, and finally, our officiant. When no one else follows, and the door is closed behind them, the vice around my chest eases.
But the reason for that isn’t entirely clear until Leo continues.
“The ceremony is going to be only us. Just like last night. Family only. Everyone else is coming to party and celebrate after, but Kat wanted the ceremony to be more intimate and personal.” His face finally softens into a smile. “And what Kat wants, Kat gets.”
My mouth falls open as realization hits me. “She…the wedding…our guests? Wait. What?”
My mom is the one to answer, wrapping her arm around my waist. “Honey, that woman knows you better than anyone. And when she told us she wouldn’t be happy unless you were, and this is what would make you happy, well, if I didn’t know she was perfect for you already, I certainly would’ve after that.”
I look around at the people here. The brothers are noticeably missing, as are their partners. Then again, knowing what Kat planned for telling them about the baby, it makes sense.
A tiny part of me wants to be embarrassed that a change like this was needed because of my anxiety, but it’s overridden by the sheer sense of relief. I know I could make it through the ceremony in front of all our guests; my love for Kat makes me strong enough. But I also know I probably wouldn’t remember a second of it, with anxiety riding hard on me. The gift she’s given me means more than I can say.
“I feel like I should apologize,” I say quietly, my eyes darting to Dennis and Claire. But they’re both shaking their heads, warm expressions written all over their faces.
“No apology needed, son. This is perfect for all of us. And absolutely no one had any objection to coming for a party later.” Dennis’s deep voice is all the reassurance I need.
I nod slowly, a smile finally breaking free. “Then I guess it’s time to get married.”
The moments I spend standing up at the altar with just Betsy, our officiant, waiting for Kat to walk through the doors, feel agonizingly slow.
But when the doors open, and instead of the procession of her brothers with their partners, I see Sawyer holding Violet’s hand as they make their way down the aisle, the last of my nerves and impatience disappear. The little girl looks for her mom and dad, and then she’s dropping Sawyer’s hand and running to Serena’s outstretched arms as we all chuckle.
“Guess I’m no fun to walk down the aisle with,” Sawyer grumbles good-naturedly, coming to stand beside me.
The rest of the Donnelly boys follow, Beckett with Cam, then Max with Heidi, and finally Jude with Lily. Lily gives me a wink as she reaches the front, and I know this is it.
My eyes are glued to the entrance. The music changes, and then there she is.
The most beautiful bride in the whole fucking world.
I greedily take in her dress, registering only the way it hugs her body, the delicate lace across her chest and down her arms, and the soft brown curls of her hair framing her face under a white veil.
She’s stunning, and she’s mine.
As she gets closer, I see her hand trembling as it holds a bouquet of white and pink flowers, and I see the glisten of tears in her eyes. But she’s smiling, and I know my answering grin is growing impossibly wider the closer she gets.
It’s torture making myself wait for her to reach me. But I know this moment as she walks with her father down the aisle — when there was a time after his accident that the family didn’t know if he would survive — is so important to her.
Then she’s here, handing her bouquet to Lily and taking my hands in hers.
“Hi, husband,” she whispers.
“Hi, wife.”
“Not yet, you two,” Betsy chides gently. “But let’s get started.”
We both turn sheepish grins to the older woman and in unison say, “Sorry.”
