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It’s hard to believe that only three weeks ago, I was standing downstairs in my kitchen with a gun to my head — sure that I was going to die. When I heard that shot, I squeezed my eyes shut and waited. Waited for the pain or the light or something. But, none of that happened. I had a brief moment of panic where I thought Ryan had shot Nix, but I opened my eyes and found him staring back at me. It’s then that I realized that Ryan was no longer standing behind me.

Storm had snuck in through the back door without a single one of us noticing and he was able to get a clean shot. He kept his promise and he saved my life and the lives of my babies. I owe him everything.

“Are we ready to go?” Daddy asks from the doorway.

I turn and nod at him, beaming. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

“We’ll see you down there,” Addy says, kissing my cheek before she and Daisy hustle downstairs to walk down the aisle.

“You’re absolutely stunning, sweetheart,” Mama says and kisses my other cheek.

“Thank you, Mama.”

“I love you, baby girl.”

“I love you, too.”

She nods and files out of the room, leaving me alone with Daddy.

“Shall we?” He holds his arm out to me and I link my arm with his. We start off down the stairs. “I’m so proud of you, Emma. You are far stronger than I ever gave you credit for.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”

We walk into the kitchen and I peek out the window, gasping when I see how beautifully Daisy and Addy put everything together. The sun is just beginning to set over the line of trees behind the house, orange, red, and purple streaking across the sky. Lanterns and strings of pearls hang from the canopy created by the oak trees, casting soft, warm light around the yard. A white aisle runner is laying on the ground between rows of white wooden folding chairs that lead to an arch overflowing with pink and white roses and calla lilies.

Can’t Help Falling in Love by Ingrid Michaelson drifts through the backyard. Daddy and I stand at the door waiting for our turn. Addy and Trey go first, walking down the aisle before taking their places. Daisy and Tucker quickly follow and I take a deep breath. When they reach their spots, Daddy gives my arm a squeeze and we begin walking. Butterflies dance in my stomach as everyone’s eyes turn to me, but there is only one person I see.

My handsome man is standing under the arch of flowers, decked out in a black tuxedo that looks incredible on him. I thought he was sexy in jeans and a t-shirt but he’s downright sinful right now. He lifts his head, a smile stretching across my face as I lock eyes with Nix. His blue eyes shimmer with so much happiness and love that I feel it all the way to my toes. It’s like I’m floating down the aisle as a complete sense of euphoria fills me.

We finally reach him and he holds his hand out to me with a look that practically has me melting into a puddle of goo.

“Who gives this woman to this man?” the preacher asks.

“Her mother and I do,” Daddy answers, placing my hand in Nix’s upturned palm.

His fingers curl around mine and he guides me up under the arch with him. I hand my bouquet to Addy and when we reach the preacher, we turn toward each other and hold hands. The preacher begins talking and I lose myself in Nix’s eyes.

Sometimes, I can’t figure out how I ended up here. It feels like just yesterday that I was living that nightmare with Ryan. Then one morning, I woke up and everything had changed. For a year, I muddled through my life, faking it, and then I met Nix and he lit a spark within me. He brought me back to life. I left Ryan and somehow found this incredible man who never pushed me and who showed me what it meant to be truly loved by another person.

I’m lucky, I know this, but it’s not just the fact that I got away. That alone made me lucky. So many don’t get away, they pay the ultimate price for falling in love with the wrong person. Yet, I got more than that. Not only did I get away but my nightmare is officially over. Ryan will never come for me again. He will never hurt me and he will never hurt my babies. And I get this amazing guy for the rest of my life.

I am infinitely blessed.

“Emma and Nix wanted to prepare their own vows and they will exchange them now,” the preacher says, snapping me out of my daze.

Nix grins down at me and I briefly wonder if you could bottle the power of his smile and use it as an antidepressant.

It’s sure doing a number on me right now.

“Emma, I’ve always considered myself to be just a regular guy and I was happy in my life until the day I met you. You showed me how much better things could be by just being around you, and I knew in an instant that I would do whatever it took to make you mine. I was living a monochrome life and it was nice, comfortable. But the moment you stepped into my shop, vibrant color exploded into my world and I could never be without it, without you. You are, without a doubt, the strongest, most incredible person I’ve ever known. Your beauty, inside and out, lights up entire rooms. There aren’t strong enough words to describe what you do to me. You render me speechless, your love knocks the wind out of me. I promise to you that I will work every day to be the man and husband that you deserve. I can’t promise that it will always be perfect because we are both pretty realistic people and know that’s not true, but I can promise you that no one will ever love you more than I do. I’m so incredibly lucky that you said yes to me. I love you.”

His vows take my breath away and I have tears rolling down my face as I absorb his sweet words. He smiles at me and it’s like sunshine for my soul.

“Emma,” the preacher prompts and I clear my throat to begin.

“Nix, for a long time I was pretty pissed off at life. I didn’t understand why I had to go through the things I had suffered through. It didn’t seem fair. Then, I got to thinking the other night and I wondered what would have happened if I never met Ryan. It didn’t take me long to realize that I probably would have never met you. So, in spite of the pain and suffering, I’m glad for it now because it led me to you. And I would do it a hundred more times if you were waiting for me at the end. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for all that you have done for me but I can promise you that I will never run from you. You are my partner and we will weather whatever storm comes our way, together. I love you with every piece of me and I’m so lucky that I get to call you mine and the father of my children. I love you.”

Nix coughs, covering up a stray tear or two, and chuckles ring out around us. He quickly recovers as the preacher hands Nix my wedding band.