Page 154 of Meant for Mayhem

“You look okay, too.”

His mouth curved. “Thank you, wife.”

“Anytime, husband.”

Logan cleared his throat, then stepped up between us. “Welcome everyone. Thank you for joining us today as we give witness to the love and commitment between Mikko and Shannon. Glad they decided to include us this time.”

I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t hold back my grin. “I thought you promised to stay on script.”

“Right, right.” Logan patted his pockets. “Well, I don’t have the script you gave me, so…”

Mikko glared at his friend, and Logan shook with silent laughter.

“For those who don’t know the full story, Mikko and Shannon’s first marriage was a little rushed, starting with a panic attack and a toddler who trusted Shannon more quickly than either of these two trusted themselves.”

A few quiet laughs moved through the audience.

“Some people might say that was a terrible foundation for a relationship, but I think leaning on each other was the most honest thing either of them had done in years. Even before they understood what they were doing, they chose each other. Mikko needed someone strong enough to stand beside him without treating him like he was broken. Shannon needed someone patient enough to love her without demanding she lower her guard first. And Leena… She needed them both.”

Mikko and I both looked at our daughter, smiling back at us.

“They didn’t fall in love because everything was easy,” Logan continued. “They fell in love in the middle of the hard parts. They built a family through long road trips, sleepless nights, press conferences, bedtime stories, and an alarming amount of pizza.”

Leena perked up. “Pizza?”

That earned another laugh.

Logan grinned at her. “Exactly.”

He looked back at us. “Mikko and Shannon, you already made one set of promises to each other. Today, you get to make the ones you mean.”

Mikko turned toward me, taking both of my hands in his, the amusement fading from his face.

“Shannon,” he said, his voice rough. “I promise to choose you on the easy days and the hard ones. In Denver, Linwood, or wherever life takes us, I will love you, take care of you, and make sure you never have to wonder if you belong with me.”

My eyes watered, but Mikko brushed at my cheek before it fell.

“And I promise to spoil you forever,” he added. “As many snacks as it takes.”

I laughed through the tears. “That’s a tempting offer.”

Logan turned toward me. “Shannon?”

I tightened my hands around Mikko’s.

“When you showed up at my door with a toddler and a marriage proposal, I should’ve had you arrested.” A few people laughed, but Mikko’s attention never left my face. “But even before I knew you, I knew how wonderful you were. How kind, and thoughtful, and good. I thought helping you would be temporary. I thought if I kept enough distance between us, I could walk away when the season ended and go back to being alone. Instead, you gave me a life better than I ever imagined.”

Mikko’s eyes shone.

“You never asked me to become softer or quieter or easier to love. You let me be sarcastic, and you let me be scared.” I glanced toward Leena, who was watching us from Helena’s lap. “And you trusted me with the most important part of you.”

“Mama,” Leena said again, and I laughed softly, pressing my lips together until I could continue.

“I promise to stand beside you, but also to let you stand beside me. I promise to talk when every instinct tells me to shut down. And I promise that wherever we go, whatever changes, you will always have me.”

Logan closed his binder. “Well, that was adorable.”

“Wrap it up, Parrish,” Mikko said.