Page 49 of Summer With You

“I’d really like that. It’s so good for the kids, for us. I also really hate using my parents’ place every time we come. It doesn’t feel right, and the kids break everything.” He nodded in agreement, driving up the steep driveway where Amber’s new black Expedition was already parked next to my parents’ black F-150.

Ryan and my father were big Ford nuts and only drove Ford vehicles. They were crazy about American muscles, whereas Ace and I preferred German-made vehicles.

Amber swung the front door open, her baby girl on her hip. “You’re finally here!” she exclaimed in excitement.

“I didn’t realize you guys were coming up so early,” I told her as I slid out of the passenger seat. “We had a slow morning. The kids were exhausted from school.”

“Well, lucky you.” I rolled my eyes at her sarcasm. “Come, let’s get you ready while the men finish setting up the last few things. Ace didn’t want you to lift a finger today.”

I blushed, glancing at Ace who was busy unloading our suitcases. I smiled at him. How did I get so lucky to call this amazing man mine?

“You arranged everything again, didn’t you?” He stopped what he was doing to look at me, navy eyes darkening with desire. I swallowed thickly. Every time he looked at me like that, he made my blood pound in my veins for him.

“I wanted you to have plenty of energy for tonight.” He grinned like a Cheshire cat and handed me the handle of my suitcase. “I’m kidding,” he teased, though I could tell he really wasn’t. “I want today to be perfect, just like it was the first time.”

Leaning up on my toes, I pecked his cheek. “You’re a good man, Ace.”

“Always for you, Princess.”

Two hours later, Amber had curled my hair and helped apply my makeup. I was sitting at the vanity in my room, reapplying my lipstick for the third time. “Stop refilling my wine! I hate reapplying!” I scolded Amber who handed me a topped-up glass of pink Moscato.

“We’re celebrating. Stop being a bore.” I rolled my eyes at her.

She was wearing an emerald dress that emphasized her green eyes and her bright red hair which had also been curled in loose waves. “Do you remember your vows?” she asked after taking a big sip from her glass, smudging her red lipstick.

“I’ve had them memorized for a few weeks now.” I brought the glass to my lips and took another sip of the pink heaven that had been settling my nerves for a while now. I was nervous. Though I had been with Ace for thirteen years now, I was still extremely nervous to renew our wedding vows.

“He’s ready for you.” My mother came in, followed by Summer and Maddi, who were in matching blue dresses.

“Help me into the dress?” I looked at her through my mirror.

I had chosen something simple compared to our wedding day, and instead of white, I had picked a very light blue dress, almost the exact shade of my eyes, as I knew it was his favorite color, and thanks to Summer, I now knew the reasoning behind it.

With a combination of silk, lace, sheer material, and diamonds, the dress was absolutely stunning. It flowed like liquid down my body and made me look ten years younger and didn’t show any of my humps and bumps. It made me feel pretty again.

Glancing at myself in the floor-length mirror, I smiled. He was going to love this, and he would love the matching lingerie set underneath even more.

Exiting the room, the kids raced ahead of us to throw fake petals on the steps leading down to the archway looking over the lake, their loud giggles making my heart skip a beat.

This was everything I had dreamed about, to show my kids what true love really looked like, that even through hard times, we would prevail, and that their daddy knew how to treat me. It would set standards for both of them so they never ended up in relationships like I’d been in with my ex, Aiden, and so they would never end up in relationships like his mom had been in.

Amber and my mother walked down the makeshift aisle first, and I followed slowly, trying to take it all in, from the smell of the freshly cut grass to the sound of a dove cooing not far away.

But once my gaze landed on him, it didn’t matter anymore because I couldn’t focus on anything other than him in a dashing black suit, his usually shaggy hair gelled back, and his beard tamed. I almost didn’t recognize him.

Somehow, he was even more handsome than he was thirteen years ago. The butterflies in my stomach took flight. Ace took my hands in his, smiling down at me, tears shining in his eyes. I blinked back my own, not wanting to ruin my make-up.

“You look stunning,” he whispered to me.

My father was our officiant, and he watched us before addressing the small crowd. “Celine and Ace, we take great pleasure in sharing today’s special occasion with you. You both thought the final step of your relationship was tying the knot, but in reality, that was only the beginning of a grand adventure.” He paused, looking us over.

Ace held my hands in his and watched me with pure adoration in his gaze.

“You’ve shared the joys, blessing, and of course, the challenges of married life for thirteen years so far. On this day, it’s your wish to reaffirm your commitment to working together to make your marriage grow and blossom in the years to come.”

I looked away from Ace to see our children’s reactions. Summer was watching us with big, wide eyes, and Charlie grinned, wringing his hands together in front of him.

“Celine, will you continue to have Ace as your husband and continue to live in this marriage?” My father asked as I turned my eyes back to my husband who still had yet to remove his eyes from me.

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