Page 597 of The Winslow Brothers

He smiles at that. “But do you want to be a husband? That’s the real question here.”

I nod enthusiastically. “More than ready, Rev. More than ready.”

Rachel smiles and squeezes my hands with her own as the reverend starts into his monologue.

“All right, then. Welcome, everyone. We’re gathered here today to join Ty and Rachel in holy matrimony. They’ve asked you here because you’re a significant part of their past, present, and, most importantly, their future. As with all budding love, changes will come along with the bloom, and we ask that you all invest yourselves in the nurturing of those changes alongside Ty and Rachel. For the faith of the family and the love of another are thegreatest gifts a human can find on this earth, and from the looks of things, this is a group that has that in abundance.”

I’ll be damned if the reverend isn’t right. It took me a lot of growing up and meeting the right person to realize it, but there’s no greater enrichment in life than doing it with someone you love and cherish.

And now that we have Emily, I understand even more the special power two matched people have together. They can bring life and love to a whole other generation—if they’re just willing to put in the effort.

“Now, Ty and Rachel have chosen to exchange their own vows. I’m going to turn it over to them to share those with all of us.”

I nod to Rachel in encouragement as she turns at the waist to hand Lydia her bouquet and takes a sheet of paper and my ring from her in return. I can just barely see Rachel’s beautiful scrawl through the material, and my heart picks up its pace in anticipation.

“Ty. When I was considering where to start these vows, I did a good deal of thinking back on our relationship and all its milestones. I thought of our special times and heartfelt moments and the times of support I never could have dreamed of. And then, well, I thought of the beginning.” Lydia snickers behind Rachel, knowing exactly what the beginning entailed—panties and promises in the midst of a dark nightclub. “And I decided that wasn’t at all appropriate for a wedding ceremony and cut it out completely.”

The crowd laughs, and I smile, waggling my eyebrows until Rachel shakes her head at me.

“But we’re so much more than the games we had to play…” Rachel’s voice breaks a little, and at her show of emotion, I can’t help but lean forward and put my lips to hers. The whole crowd shrieks at the faux pas, but I don’t care. All I care about is my girl.

“Sorry,” she says through a teary laugh. “Postpartum hormones.”

I shake my head. “You’re perfect.”

She takes a deep breath, nods to assure herself of her confidence, and then starts again.

“But we’re so much more than the games we had to play,” she repeats, backtracking a little to get her momentum back. “And I wouldn’t change a single second of the life we’ve built together since. You’re fun and kind and patient, and for as much as I pretend to hate when your socks don’t make it into the hamper, I’ll pick them up for the rest of my life if it means Emily and I get to call you ours forever.”

I lick my lips against the tears stinging my nose, and Jude claps me on the shoulder from behind, openly bawling as Rachel slides my sleek black wedding band on to the base of my finger.

Rachel nods to the reverend, and he gestures an open hand to me to signal that it’s my turn. I pull my note cards and Rachel’s ring out of my suit jacket pocket—knowing I couldn’t trust Jude with jewelry—and hold them in front of me with one hand, rubbing my thumb against the back of Rachel’s hand with the other.

“Rachel. I’d first like to go off-script, just to tell you that I’ll do better with the socks from now on.”

Our guests laugh, and Rachel shakes her head, but I mean it. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some resentment build up over time by not pulling my weight. Rachel is it for me—the love of my life. The least I can do is pick up my stupid socks.

“I love you,” I say then, getting back to my note cards. “I fell in love that night at Orchid, and from there, I did everything in my power to keep you around. You’re brilliant and confident, and you challenge me every day to be worthy of you.”

Rachel sucks her lips into her mouth in an effort to hold back tears. I study her closely. She is a hundred and fifty percent the woman I deserve.

“You understand me in ways that no one ever has, and you laugh at my jokes when I really need someone to, even if they’re not funny.”

Rachel smiles, a small laugh breaking free, and I nod. “Yeah. Just like that.”

Our loved ones laugh too, and my mother once again shakes her head in the front row. Howard tucks her close to his side and under his arm, though, and some of her motherly embarrassment disappears.

I look back at Rachel and stay there, working my way to the end of my first note card. “You’re everything I didn’t know I needed when I was younger, and I know in my heart that the main reason for that is because you’re easy.”

Rachel’s eyebrows shoot to her hairline, and the reverend coughs on his own saliva. Jude steps forward and smacks me on the back of the head, and I panic as what I’ve just said hits me.

Easy? NO! Rachel isn’t easy!

I scramble while I shake my head, turning the note card to the back and shouting so loud the microphone squeals. “Going!Easygoing!”

Rachel chuckles and the audience laughs, but the loudest of everything I hear is the absolute cackle coming from Cleo at the end of the bridesmaid line. She’s bemused, the crazy kook.

“Sorry,” I whisper to Rachel again, pulling her in for yet another quick kiss to the lips. “I’m so sorry.”

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