Page 36 of Beyond our Forever

Despite the last few steps separating us, I still sensed him silently calling out to me that I was his everything.

My parents had finally decided to attend our wedding, and my father comforted me by patting my arm, just before putting my hand on the man who would shortly become my husband. Bruce smiled and those dimples that were my weakness appeared. God, the things he could do to me with just a tiny gesture.

“You look…” He started to reach out for me, but the officiant cleared his throat, breaking the spell. However, there are looks that say more than a thousand words, and his spoke loud and clear.

The ceremony began, but I was unable to focus on anything other than the man who stood proudly beside me. Bruce seemed to have been taken out of the wettest of my dreams. He was wearing light pants with a vest and a white shirt, and on his lapel he wore a boutonniere made with the same flowers as those in my bouquet.

I was definitely in love, I could barely take my eyes off him.

“Ladies and gentlemen may I present to you for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Leighton. You may kiss the bride,” the judge finally announced loudly, and the courtroom erupted in applause.

“Mine forever,” my new husband whispered before taking me by the waist.

I forgot that we weren’t alone, as he put his lips on mine, and the kiss changed from tender to intense. It wasn’t until Warren’s hand landed on Bruce’s back, giving him a few slaps, that we came back to reality.

“Easy, brother.” He grinned. “She’s all yours now, so share her with the world. There are people who want to congratulate you both.”

Reluctantly he let me go, only to find ourselves plunged into a sea of good-wishes and hugs, and even my mother shed a few tears, which she dramatically wiped away in a handkerchief my father handed her.

Furthermore, all the members of my new family were present. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. The B’ squad—the names of the seven siblings began with that letter—was there, the three eldest accompanied by their respective partners and children.

No one was missing.

The welcome to the family, although overwhelming, was very warm, the Leightons had even adopted Warren as one of them. He was joking with Brian and Byron, probably conspiring against Bruce.

All three were acting like big kids.

When we went out to the parking lot, we realized what they were laughing about, the trio of bastards. They had gone to the trouble of tying some cans to the back of Bruce’s truck and on the back glass, they wrote ‘JUST MARRIED’ in large white letters.

“I’ll be watching you like a hawk.” That was the congratulation Warren gave my husband, before addressing me. “Be happy, little sister, that’s all I want.”

He held me tight in his arms and I became the little girl who always took refuge in them. My brother and I, although separated by almost five years, had always been like two peas in a pod. Inseparable.

Going to Michigan meant I wouldn’t be seeing him as much, although he tried to cheer me up by warning that he might just turn up one day unannounced.

Warren took an envelope out of his jacket pocket and placed it in my hands.

“What is it?”

“Open it,” he told me.

“Warren.” Here came the tears again. “This wasn’t necessary.”

My brother had arranged for us to take a honeymoon trip to Napa Valley. According to the documents, we would be staying in a vineyard, and he had arranged a couple of tours, as well as a candlelit dinner.

“You deserve everything,” he concluded before hugging me again, causing me to cry with happiness in his arms.

Oh, my dear brother, how I would miss him.

“Alone at last,” Bruce murmured after closing the truck door.

“Not for long, lunch still awaits us,” I replied playfully.

A part-groan, part-growl came from him.

“It was your idea,” I reminded him. “I was more than happy just going down to city hall.”

“Can’t we run away?” he asked, his eyes glowing with the fire of what was to come.

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