People stopped and watched, but they didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. The world could’ve crumbled around us, and it wouldn’t have mattered. The only thing that mattered was Howell and his faithful brown eyes promising me a future I’d stopped believing in.
“And I’ll move here,” I said. The decision crystalized with a certainty that surprised even me. “To the US, to wherever youare.” I felt light, buoyant, as if the weight of years had been lifted from my shoulders. Was it reckless? Maybe. Did I care? Not one bit.
“Yeah?” Relief washed over Howell’s face, mingling with his tears.
“For you, for us, I’d cross oceans.”
He rose, and we hugged and kissed, and we cried and kissed some more. We were a spectacle, two grown men clinging to each other in Sea-Tac Airport, but it didn’t matter. Not when every whispered promise and gentle touch spoke of a love that had blindsided me, a love that was worth every risk.
“Oh, sweetheart”—Howell pressed his forehead to mine—“I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Believe it,” I whispered back, reeling from the intensity of our connection. I tasted the salt of our tears as they continued their silent descent, marking the trail of emotions we’d unleashed.
“Let’s not waste any time.” Howell pulled back slightly, his gaze steady and strong. “I’m going to marry you as soon as possible. We’ll get started on your visa the moment we’ve said our vows.”
A laugh bubbled up through the tightness in my chest, more from joy than disbelief. “After that proposal? You already know my answer.” I leaned in and stole another quick kiss, a promise of all the ones to come. “Yes, let’s do it. Let’s start our forever.”
“Then it’s settled,” he said, his grin infectious. “We’re doing this. And, Onno?” Howell’s voice dropped to a husky whisper. “Once you’re here for good, I’ll make sure you never doubt how much you mean to me—not for a second.”
EPILOGUE
HOWELL
Six Months Later
As it turned out, marrying right away was not the smartest course of action. A fiancé visa was easier and quicker to obtain than a spouse visa. That meant Onno had to return home since he couldn’t apply for one from within the US. Saying goodbye was still hard, but we had a goal now, something to look forward to, and that eased the pain. A little.
We filed the paperwork—endless forms of questions—and the waiting game began. I let my parents and sister know what was happening, and they were over the moon happy for me, not wasting a single word on the fact that Onno was a man. They assured me they very much looked forward to meeting him.
After four weeks, I couldn’t stand it anymore, and I booked a flight to Amsterdam to visit him for a week. I met his mom, who was the sweetest ever and immediately accepted me, although she was sad that her other son would also be moving abroad. So I told her she could visit as often as she wanted. I also got to know Onno’s friends. Seeing him through their eyes only made me fall in love with him more.
Once that week was over, I had to return to Forestville, where I spent time with Joost and Brianna and got to know them better. Another month passed, and I flew back to Amsterdam. Apparently, four weeks was the maximum time I could stand to be separated from Onno, even when FaceTiming daily. I needed him like I needed oxygen, and he felt the same way.
While grocery shopping, we ran into Gerard, who I recognized from pictures Onno had shown me. Even if I hadn’t, the way Onno tensed would’ve clued me in. So I kissed him passionately until Gerard got the hint and disappeared, and Onno looked at me with stars in his eyes.
It took four months to get the letter that his fiancé visa had been approved, which meant he could book his ticket, and we could get married. Finally.
He flew in with his mom and two of his best friends, Froukje—whose name I horribly mangled every time I attempted to pronounce it—and her husband, Steven. Froukje would be his maid of honor and Joost his best man. On my side, Bubbles—who would be my best man—and Justin flew in from Tampa, and my sister, Carrie, would be my maid of honor. It was unconventional as fuck, and I loved it because it completely fit us.
Onno was waiting for me outside the bakery like he had every time I’d picked him up for a date, except now he was dressed in a blue pinstriped suit, a white dress shirt, and a baby-blue bow tie that made his eyes sparkle. My eyes filled with tears. My man, my best friend, my unexpected miracle.
“Hi.” He flashed me that shy smile.
“Hey, sweetheart.” I pressed a soft kiss on his lips. “You look amazing. So gorgeous.”
“So do you.” He patted my biceps, where the fabric of my jacket stretched tightly. “You’d better not flex too hard.”
Smiling at our inside joke, I kissed him again. Surrounded by our family and friends, we walked to the church hand in hand. Growing up, Onno had always gone to church, and while he didn’t anymore, he’d explained it would mean a lot to his mom if we got married in a church. I didn’t consider myself religious, but I had no objections if that made her—and thus him—happy.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him as we stood facing each other to say our vows.
“Howell, you may go first,” the officiant said.
I’d written it down, but I didn’t need my notes, the words etched in my heart. “Onno, I think I fell in love with you the moment I met you…when you sent us both flying into the Skykomish River.” Laughter rose, and he grinned. “I fell, but so did my heart. Three weeks was enough to know I loved you, but a lifetime won’t be enough to show you how much.”
My niece Sara, our ring bearer, beamed a smile as she held up the little pillow with our rings. I took Onno’s and slipped it on his finger.
“I promise I will always love you, cherish you, and honor you, support you in every way I can, and do all within my might to keep you safe and happy.”
His eyes filled with tears, and I had to fight the urge to kiss them away.
He took a deep breath. “Howell, you were my compass when I felt lost, my buoy when I thought I was drowning, and my shelter when it was storming. You helped me find myself, and for that alone, I will always be grateful. I fell for you so quickly, so easily, and so deeply. In the words of Ruth from the Old Testament, ‘Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.’”
He took my ring and carefully put it on my finger. “I promise I will love you and never leave your side, that I will take care ofyou the best I can in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, until the day I die.”
We both turned to the officiant, who gave us a nod. “By the power vested in me by the state of Washington, I declare you husbands. You may kiss.”
I didn’t need to be told twice, and I took my time kissing my husband. Then I leaned my forehead against his. “I love you, sweetheart. Our forever starts now.”
