Page 131 of Promised Love

We visit the cemetery and place fresh flowers on my grandparents’ and Mom’s grave.

My heart clenches tight when Autumn whispers to my mother, and it’s so surreal when she kisses the headstone before turning to me with a teary smile on her face.

* * *

We return to Cherrywood the next day, after spending the night at a local hotel.

Laura is in the kitchen talking to Suzie when Autumn and I walk in to get our breakfast. Privacy is one thing I miss at this place. I’d love to make some breakfast for Autumn while she sits there and we talk about our day and life. Just some quiet alone moments.

“Oh good, you’re both here. We were just talking about you.” Laura excitedly ambles over to us. “Suzie has your breakfast warming in the oven.”

Surprise flashes across Autumn’s face at her mother’s unexpected arrival.

Laura leads us to Autumn’s office instead of the dining hall, and Autumn once again gives me a confused look until we find Jasper on the couch, looking down at his phone.

Something’s definitely going on.

“Hey, I thought you guys would never come.” Jasper kisses Autumn’s cheek and gives me a side hug before we all settle down.

Thankfully, Laura doesn’t keep us waiting for long. “We wanted to know how you two are celebrating this coming Sunday?”

“What’s this Sunday?” I ask before pushing a bite of omelet into my mouth.

“It’s the twenty-third.” Laura looks between us until it dawns on me.

Holy fuck. I turn to face a wide-eyed Autumn, her untouched breakfast on the table.

“It’s…our wedding day.” Her lips tremble.

“This is the first time you’re together. It’s almost like a first anniversary.” Laura’s smile is a mix of happy and sad.

My heart thunders at her comment. She doesn’t know that Autumn and I always emailed each other on this day. Sometimes just a simple Happy Anniversary, and sometimes laughing at the promise that bound us. I once even joked that this day would be perfect for getting a divorce.

“I forgot all about it,” Autumn mutters.

“Then it’s a good thing we didn’t.” Jasper glances between us. “You have enough time to decide how you want to spend the day. You can go out of town.”

“Or…you can also come over for dinner,” Laura adds and I smile at her thoughtful invitation, but the wheels are already turning in my head. I take Autumn’s hand in mine.

“This day has always been special. What do you say? Shall we make it more memorable? Would you like to get married once again?”

She nods and I can feel her escalating pulse around my hand. “We won’t have to remember two wedding anniversaries.”

I grin before bringing my lips closer to hers. “I don’t think there’s anything about you I can forget, wife.”

“Married? You want to renew your vows?” Laura gasps, holding her hands close to her chest.

We both nod.

* * *

I’m standing by the arbor, next to the entrance, exactly where Autumn and I signed our marriage certificate four years ago. But unlike that day, the inn is decorated with fresh flowers. There’s happy music playing in the background. On one side are my friends from Kings Security and my adopted family, the Teagers. On Autumn’s side are her grandparents, Mr. Big, Suzie, Chiara and her family, and some other locals from Cherrywood.

Once the music changes, my heart leaps into my throat and flutters. Fuck. I wasn’t so nervous even on the day of our real wedding. I slide my hand into the pocket of my jacket and hold the triquetra coin that the bartender gave me. But every anxiety evaporates when Autumn ambles toward me, her parents on either side of her.

Her white dress hugs all her curves until it flows out at the bottom. She looks like a mermaid.

Laura kisses Autumn’s cheeks, and then she takes me into a hug. “There was so much guilt buried in our hearts that we’d done something wrong to you two. But today, I’m so happy that you came into Autumn’s life. Welcome to the family, son.”

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