Page 95 of The Gingerbread Bakery
‘And Logan,’ he continued, turning toward the groom, ‘this town, and your family and your friends have always wanted the best for you, and we know that the best is Jeanie.’
‘Damn right she is,’ Logan said, eliciting a laugh from the audience.
‘Love is a funny thing,’ the mayor went on. ‘It's not always big or loud or over the top. Most of the time, it’s quiet and unassuming. It’s a shared cup of coffee on a rainy day or reading side by side together every night. It’s finding the person who gets you. The person who will have your back through it all.
‘Yourperson,’ he added with a smile. ‘And since we all know that you found that in each other, let’s move on to the vows and get this party started.’
A few guests whooped at that suggestion.
Jeanie let out a teary laugh and reached behind her to grab the folded-up piece of paper Annie was handing her. She opened it and cleared her throat.
‘Logan,’ she started with a slight tremble in her voice. ‘I never expected to find you. I never expected to find a home here, alifehere, but I’m so glad I did. I promise to love you until we’re both old and gray and I'll keep on loving you even after that. I promise to love your family like my own. I promise to never limit the number of chickens you can have.’
Logan laughed between his tears at that one and so did Mac.Thatwas love. Unlimited chickens.
‘I can’t promise I’ll keep our house tidy, but I will always help you make it a home. I love you and I promise to be your partner from now until forever.’
The entire bridal party was wiping their tears now and Mac didn’t know how poor Logan would make it through his own vows. Jeanie was a tough act to follow.
‘Jeanie,’ he started and then stopped to clear his throat. ‘Jeanie…’ Another pause. Mac knew speaking in front of the entire town was the last thing Logan wanted to do.
Jeanie leaned forward and whispered something in his ear and Logan laughed. ‘You can do it,’ she said, pecking him on the cheek.
‘Jeanie,’ he started again. ‘I tried not to like you.’
Mac shook his head.Dear God, that's a rough start.But Jeanie was smiling. So maybe not too rough.
‘I tried not to like you, but it was impossible because I actually like everything about you. I like how kind you are and how brave. I like how you move through the world looking for what brings you joy.
‘I never lived my life like that. But you bring me joy every day and I promise to try to do the same for you. I promise to love you with my whole heart. Forever.’
Annie caught Mac’s eye from the other side of the altar. What he wouldn’t give to make the same sort of promises to her.
Mayor Kelly was wiping his eyes behind his glasses. ‘That was beautiful, you two. Just beautiful. I’m so proud of you both,’ he said as everyone composed themselves.
‘Now down to the business of it. Jeanie, do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?’
Jeanie's smile was so big Mac could feel it in his own heart. ‘I do,’ she said, proudly.
‘And Logan, do you take this woman?—’
‘I do,’ he blurted before Pete could finish his line.
‘Very good, very good,’ the mayor said with a chuckle. ‘The rings?’
Noah passed Logan the ring and he was quick to put it on Jeanie’s finger, completely skipping the part where he was supposed to say something, but at this point the man was just ready to be married.
Jeanie beamed, tears sliding down on her face as she put Logan’s ring on his finger. ‘With this ring, I thee wed,’ she said following the script and Logan turned even redder than he already was.
‘Me too,’ he said, and the audience laughed some more.
Mac thought there was so much love in this room he’d never felt anything like it, and it was all for them, all for these two people that they all loved so much.
And maybe for the first time since he’d been back, since the first time Annie told him how much she loved this town, he finally got it. He finally understood how special this place was and how lucky he was to be here.
He wiped his eyes. Christ, now he was crying, too.
‘You may kiss the bride,’ Mayor Kelly announced through his laughter.
