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“Yeah. He recorded this for me.”

“You ready to do this?” Daisy asks, smiling at me, and I nod as a tear slips down my cheek. We were incredibly lucky to get so many people here on such quick notice. Michael, Charlotte, Moe, and the boys all dropped everything to jump on a plane with us and only twelve hours after our doctor’s appointment, we landed in Las Vegas. The girls rushed me off to get a wedding dress while the boys kidnapped Trey to do God knows what.

Looking down at my gorgeous vintage lace dress that we found tucked away in a corner of this old shop, I can’t help but wish Mama was here. I know she wouldn’t even know who we all were but I never thought I’d be going through this day without her. She’s supposed to be here – they both are.

“You’re up, ladies,” Michael says, and my head whips up. He winks and moves next to me, holding his arm out for me to slip mine through as Emma and Daisy start off down the aisle.

“You didn’t really think we’d let you do this yourself, did you?”

I shrug before taking his arm. “I guess I didn’t really think about it until now.”

He nods and pats my hand on his arm. “This may be a bit premature but welcome to the family, Addy. I couldn’t think of a better woman for my son, and I’m proud to call you my daughter.”

“Oh, God, Michael!” I exclaim, tears welling up in my eyes again. “You’re going to make me cry.”

He chuckles and turns toward the front of the church as the song starts again. “None of that now. We better get out there before Trey thinks you ran off.”

I quickly wipe my eyes and take a deep breath before nodding to him, and he smiles as we step out from behind the partition and turn toward the aisle. As soon as my eyes land on Trey waiting for me at the other end, I start giggling. I’m too happy to possibly hold it inside, and he looks like he knows exactly how I’m feeling as he fidgets at the front of the chapel.

He finally looks up just as Michael and I start the slow torturous walk down the aisle to him, and he beams at me, his grin lighting up the entire room. He stops moving, all his focus on me as I move toward him, my heart pounding in my chest, and my face feeling like it’s going to crack from smiling so much. A new round of tears sting my eyes, these so happy that I couldn’t possibly hold them inside even if I tried.

The justice of the peace steps forward, ready to unite us, and I’m so grateful that Trey was determined to give us a classy wedding instead of one of those Elvis ones that are so popular in this city. Clusters of white roses are draped over the end of each pew, and a pristine white aisle runner is laid under my feet. White cloth is draped across the ceiling, giving the space a more sophisticated quality.

When we finally reach the front, Michael hands me off to Trey, smiling at him. He wraps him up in a one-arm hug and whispers something in his ear. Smiling softly, Trey looks up at me and nods, his eyes a little glassy with his own joy. Michael slaps his back and pulls away, looking at him for a second as something passes between them, and Trey nods again before Michael releases him and takes his seat next to Charlotte. Trey takes my hands in his, and the justice of the peace smiles down at us, ready to begin.

“We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments, the joining of two hearts and to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite this couple in marriage,” he says, and I can’t even take my eyes off Trey long enough to look up at him in acknowledgment. He holds me captive with the intense love lighting up his eyes.

“Today, we have come together to witness the joining of these two lives. For them, out of the routine of ordinary life, the extraordinary has happened. They met each other, fell in love, and are finalizing it with their wedding. Trey and Addilyn have chosen to each write a letter to the other in lieu of traditional vows. Addilyn,” the justice of the peace says, and I reluctantly release Trey to grab the piece of paper Emma hands me before unfolding it.

“My love,” I start and peek up at his smiling face, “what on earth could I possibly say to convey how much you mean to me and how lucky I know I am to have you in my life? There aren’t words strong enough but I’ll do my best. For so long, I thought this was something to run from. Whenever I thought of my future, it was bleak, and I was alone. Then, you came into my life and snuck into my heart before I could even realize what was going on. You brightened every aspect of my life and made me dream of things that I had no right to dream about. I was drowning in you and my love for you, but it was the most amazing feeling, and I didn’t even care if it would kill me. But you didn’t let that happen. You fought for us and for me when I thought it was hopeless and you gave me back a future that I secretly craved for so long. And now I’m so incredibly happy that I get to share that future with you. You’re my best friend and the love of my life. Forever with you wouldn’t be enough but let’s start with that. I love you.”

Sniffles sound out around the room, and I wipe my eyes as Trey leans forward and plants a quick kiss on my lips amongst chuckles from his family.

“Trey,” the justice of the peace prompts, and Trey pulls a piece of paper out of his back pocket, clearing his throat as he unfolds it.

“My love,” he says and looks up at me with a wink. I giggle and shake my head as he looks back down. “I love you. The words are so frustratingly simple but what they mean to you and I are anything but. You like to tell me that I saved you but you’re wrong, sweetheart. For so long, I felt alone and like I didn’t really belong anywhere but it took falling in love with you for me to realize that I always belonged. Not only do I get a future with you but I also get to experience my family in a whole new way.”

I peek over at Charlotte and Michael, who are both crying as they hold hands in the front pew.

“And I get to build a new family with you, a family that I always wanted from the time I was a little boy in dirty clothes that thought no one loved him. I may not be able to find adequate words to describe the feeling that washes over me whenever you walk into a room or when you smile at me, but I can promise you that every day of my life will be devoted to showing you, with my actions, that you are everything good in this world. I love you. More than I’ll ever be able to say.”

More sniffles follow his words, and I’m right there with them, tears streaking down my face as I reach out for his hand again. He brings it to his lips and kisses me softly as a single tear falls onto my skin. The justice of the peace clears his throat, and we both look up at him.

“Trey Andrew Harrington, do you take Addilyn Jayne Burke to be your wife?”

“I do,” Trey says, his voice ringing out clear as he nods and smiles at me.

“Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only on to her?”

“I do.”

The justice of the peace turns to me. “Addilyn Jayne Burke, do you take Trey Andrew Harrington to be your husband?”

“I do,” I say, my voice wobbling with emotion.

“Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only on to him?”

“I do.”