Page 109 of In Good Company

“Oh, wow,” Dad mutters in awe from next to me. I pull mygaze from Cal just long enough to see what’s caught Dad’s attention.

Right next to Mom in the first row are two empty seats, each with a picture frame.

Luke and Logan.

Dad and I lean on each other to keep walking down the aisle.

My heart bursts at the sentiment. I never wanted to imagine my wedding day without the two of them. Now, I don’t have to. They’re right here with us.

I meet Cal’s eyes again and know that it was his idea to save the spots for them. Leave it to Cal to make me fall even deeper in love with him, even on our wedding day.

My heart beats faster with each step closer to Cal. He’s so close now I can make out the brilliant blue of his eyes.

Another step.

I can’t believe I finally get to marry this man.

He smiles, making my heart leap in my chest. God, I can’t wait to see that smile for the rest of my life.

Another step.

I’m close enough now that I can see the reason his eyes look so blue is because they’re glossed over with his unshed tears.

“Hi, baby,” he croaks, meeting us at the edge of the altar. His eyes roam over my body as he drinks me in. I love that after he snuck out this morning, we kept it on the traditional side and waited to see each other until right now.

Nothing will ever top this moment.

The love and reverence in his eyes as he looks at me.

The way he shakes my dad’s hand before my dad takes his seat next to Mom.

The way he grabs my hands and doesn’t listen to the officiant for a moment, allowing himself time to look me over from top to bottom.

“Ilove you,” he whispers, his back still to the officiant as he leans in and presses a kiss to my cheek through the veil.

“I love you too,” I whisper back, my hands shaking with excitement as he leads us both to the altar.

We stop in front of the officiant as the orchestra plays the last notes of the song.

The officiant clears his throat. “Friends and family, we’ve gathered here today to…”

I hear what the officiant says, but not everything registers. I’m too lost in looking into Cal’s eyes. Now that the day and moment is here, I’m just ready to officially be announced as his wife.

I stare at the man in front of me, tears pooling in my eyes at how much I love him. I didn’t know a love like we share even existed, and I don’t know what I did right in life for fate to align for us to meet not just once but twice, but I’m so happy it did.

I give him a smile before mouthing the words “I love you.”

He winks and squeezes my hands before mouthing the same thing back to me.

The ceremony is perfect. When Cal finally lifts my veil and presses his lips to mine as our first kiss as husband and wife, pure joy overtakes my entire body.

He cries.

I cry.

Both our families cry.

And I swear even some of our friends cry too.

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