Page 21 of Shadow

“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll be back in a jiffy to take your left hand and walk you down the aisle with your Daddy.”

I nod and he disappears.

“Well, this is it, baby girl.”

“Daddy, thank you for not trying to talk me out of this or telling me it’s too soon.”

He takes my right hand in his and pats it. “I learned a long time ago not to try and talk an Addington woman out of something once she’s made her mind up. Besides, we all knew this day would come.”

I gasp. “Seriously?”

“Oh baby girl, I’ve seen the way you used to look at that boy foryears. It was a look I recognized well. I saw every time I looked in the mirror and thought of your mother. I saw it on your mother’s face every time she looked at me. Weallknew, one day, you two would find your way together.”

What is there for me to say back to that?

My whole life, I wanted a love story like my grandparents, like what I envisioned my parents’ love story to have been. And now that Garrett has finally realized what was right here all along…I’ve found it.

Grandad opens the office door once more and smiles, offering me his arm as well. “Shall we?”

I nod and the three of us step out into the aisle of the barn. The minute Garrett comes into view I hear my soon to be husband gasp then clear this throat. When I lock eyes with him, I can see the swell of emotions all over his face.

My brother stands by his side and Fallon is waiting on the opposite side with an excited smile.

It’s a short walk before I’m standing in front of my groom and my dad and grandpa give me away. We say our vows, exchange rings and seal it all with a kiss. Our first kiss as husband and wife.

It feels like it passes by in a whirlwind but the ceremony is everything I ever dreamed of.

And a part of my heart feels peace in knowing my brother got to witness it.

We shared a small wedding cake, that Gran so sweetly baked, back at the house with our family. And dance our ‘first dance’ toMake You Feel My Loveby Adele in the middle of my grandparents living room.

Our ‘wedding day’ wraps up just in time for Kevin’s ‘come home soon’ cook out to begin.

The entire day is filled with love and laughter, right up until the very end, when my brother decides to give his famous ‘if I don’t make it home’ speech that leaves all of us in tears and me unable to sleep when my head finally hits the pillow that night.

Myhusbanddoes everything he can to try and ease my mind.

The only thing I know for certain is that whatever happens, I’ve got Garrett by my side to help me get through it.

ChapterTwelve

Garrett

Sunlight breaks through the curtains as I open my eyes to mywifecurled up at my side.

Lindsey’s long hair is splayed out in a mess over her pillow and she’s snoring oh so softly. The black tungsten band on my left hand contrasts against her creamy skin.

We were supposed to be taking the long weekend away to get to know each other better without everyone’s prying eyes. Instead, our weekend at Beckett’s cabin became our non traditional honeymoon, two weeksafterour impromptu wedding. I would have taken my new bride anywhere in the world for such an occasion but this would have to do for now.

It seemed we were pretty good at making do.

Beckett, with some last minute help from Kevin, saw to it that the cabin was completely stocked with anything we could possibly need so that we didn’t have to leave if we didn’t want to and we took full advantage of that luxury the first 24 hours. Yesterday we hiked around the state park and enjoyed some of the outdoor views before retreating back into the cabin to enjoy some more erotic views.

I was certainly going to have to pay to have Beckett’s cabin deep cleaned and sanitized after we leave because there wasn’t a surface in here that I think was untouched.

Between continuing to get intimately acquainted with my wife, we spent time talking. Catching up. Learning about each other and the people we’d become over the last decade or so. And with every word, every story, I fell deeper in love with the woman who held my heart for so long.

“Mmm, morning,” Lindsey’s voice cracked as she peeked open her eyes and looked at me.

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