Page 108 of All of Me

“You doing okay, buddy?” I ask quietly.

“Yeah,” he says, nodding with enthusiasm. “You nervous, Dad?”

I crouch slightly, letting our heads align. “A little,” I admit, smiling. “But the good kind. Like when you’re about to open presents on Christmas.”

Barrett giggles, and the sound calms me. His hand brushes the edge of my suit jacket, and I’m reminded of how far we’ve come. This boy, my boy, is part of a family I never expected to have. In just moments, we’ll make it official. Callie and me. Barrett, Sara, Ruby. Us.

Vince leans in from my left, grinning. “Don’t cry yet, Klein. Save it for when you see her, or you’ll run out of tears before the vows.”

I huff out a laugh, shaking my head. “Not gonna happen. You, on the other hand, better keep it together. I don’t need your sniffles ruining the vibe.”

Luke leans in from the other side, whispering loudly enough for Vince and Will to hear. “If you faint, don’t worry, I’ll step in and take over. Callie deserves someone who can stand upright.”

Will snorts, and Vince elbows Luke. “You’re not her type, buddy.”

“Good thing I’m not fainting,” I mutter, though their teasing helps loosen the tension in my chest.

The music shifts, and the opening notes ofA Thousand Yearsby Christina Perri float through the air, soft and sweet. Everyone turns, their heads swiveling toward the house. My pulse quickens as the first of the procession steps out—Sara, clutching a small basket of petals in her tiny hands. She takes careful, deliberate steps, her little face scrunched in concentration as she tosses petals with more force than necessary, some of them landing on her own feet.

Beside her, Taylor carries Ruby, the baby’s chubby arms wrapped around her aunt’s neck. Ruby kicks her feet happily, babbling in a way that makes Taylor laugh softly as she adjusts her grip.

Sara reaches the front, looking up at me with a beaming, gap-toothed grin before plopping down beside my mom. Taylor follows, pressing a quick kiss to Ruby’s temple before handing her off to my mom. Ruby lets out a delighted squeal, her tiny hands clapping together as my mom settles her on her lap.

Barrett nudges me, his voice a stage whisper. “Dad, they did so good!”

“They did, bud,” I reply, my voice catching. “They were perfect.”

And then the music swells. The familiar lyrics weave into the moment, and time slows.

Heart beats fast, colors and promises…

I turn back toward the house, and then I see her.

Callie steps out, her arm looped through Edward’s, and the world shifts. It’s like everything fades, the noise around me blurring into the music. She’s radiant, her dress flowing around her like something out of a dream. The lace clings to her in all the right ways, delicate and intricate, catching the sunlight as if it were woven with magic. Her hair is pulled back, soft tendrils framing her face, and the smile she gives me—it’s like the sun just got brighter.

My chest tightens, my breath catching as an overwhelming rush of emotion surges through me. I feel the weight of everything that’s brought us here: the nights we stayed up talking about our fears, the laughter we shared over spilled juice boxes and bedtime chaos, the way she’s made me believe in a love I didn’t think was possible.

I have died every day waiting for you…

“Wow,” I whisper under my breath, unable to stop myself.

“Breathe, Klein,” Vince murmurs beside me, grinning. “You look like you’re about to keel over.”

I manage a laugh, but my focus never wavers from Callie. As she gets closer, her eyes lock on mine, and in that moment it’s just us. The world could fall away, and it wouldn’t matter. She’s all I see.

Edward’s expression is a mix of pride and emotion as he stops in front of me. His voice is rough as he places Callie’s hand in mine. “Take care of her,” he says simply.

“Always,” I promise, my voice steady despite the lump in my throat.

Callie looks up at me, her green eyes shining with unshed tears. “Hi,” she whispers, her voice trembling.

“Hello, beautiful,” I whisper back, my thumb brushing over her knuckles.

Her lips curve into a soft smile. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

The lyrics of the song swirl around us, filling the space with a kind of magic that feels bigger than anything I’ve ever known.

And all along, I believed I would find you…

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