Page 99 of My Song for You
Soft laughter rippled through the audience. I bent down and hugged her. “You’re the most beautiful flower girl I know.”
She grinned.
Kristen stepped up to the gazebo, and Emma lifted her arms above her head. “Up.”
“Go see Daddy,” Kristen said, pointing to Craig, who was in the front row. Emma joined him, and he hoisted her onto his lap.
Next was Hailey. She stepped out the back door, and a quick glance at Nolan told me he wouldn’t be noticing any other woman, including Callie, for the rest of the day. I wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of the year he and Hailey were planning fortheirwedding.
Hailey’s dress, with two thin straps at the shoulders, ended above her knees and was a darker shade of green than Kristen’s outfit. Black lace accented the body-skimming dress, and Hailey’s long brown hair lay loose around her shoulders. It was easy to understand why Nolan was mesmerized.
Logan was with her and was carrying the ring-bearer’s pillow Mom had sewn for the wedding. Hailey spoke to him, he nodded, and they walked hand in hand down the makeshift aisle. Hailey’s gaze was locked on Nolan the entire time.
Whispering came from behind me. Aaron and Kirk were no doubt betting on when Hailey and Nolan would be getting hitched. I was sure there would be no complaints from Mason if it was sooner rather than later…assuming Nolan went for the stripper bachelor party I had vetoed when Mason had suggested it for me. I had a feeling Nolan would veto the idea too. No other woman would do for him, like no other woman could outshine Callie for me—but try explaining that to Mason.
Logan stepped up to the gazebo, and I hugged him. “You did great,” I said, signing it at the same time. I wasn’t the only one who had been learning sign language. My bandmates had also been learning it while we toured.
“You rock,” Mason signed to Logan.
Logan grinned and signed the same thing back to him. My heart warmed at how supportive the guys in the band were of me being a father. I didn’t know what I would have done without them.
Logan joined my mother and Sharon in the front row. Mom helped him onto his seat between the two women.
Callie appeared in the doorway…and I became suddenly weak in the knees—in a good way. Hailey was beautiful, but nothing compared to the goddess standing at the kitchen door with my father. Her copper hair, shining in the late afternoon sun, like flames in a campfire, flowed in loose waves over her shoulders and down her back. Lace covered her sleeveless white dress, which skimmed the gorgeous curves I’d been craving while touring. The skirt gently flared below the hips and formed a short train behind her.
Her gaze caught mine and I imagined her inhaling sharply. Although I could tell she wanted to race down the aisle and jump into my arms, she walked slowly toward me. My lungs paused, forgetting to suck in air, but who required air anyway? Touching, holding, kissing Callie was so much more important.
After what felt like way too long, Callie stepped up to me. “Hey,” she said, her voice soft. How I kept from pulling her head to mine and devouring her with kisses was beyond me. I hadn’t seen her for two months, when she and Logan had joined the band for a few days on the road. Other than that, we had talked daily via Skype. But Skype was nothing like having the real flesh-and-blood woman in your arms. Every inch of me had ached to have her back there again while we were away.
“Hi,” I said, finding my voice.
Callie handed her flowers to Hailey and I took her hands in mine. They were even softer than I’d remembered.
“Jared Leigh and Callie Talbert, we’re gathered here today in front of friends and family to celebrate the joining of your lives. In both good times and in bad, you’ll stand by each other, stronger together in body and soul.” Richard continued talking, but his words were a blur, my attention solely on Callie.
Nolan handed him the wedding rings.
“Jared and Callie have written their own vows.” He passed me Callie’s ring.
I slipped it onto her finger and gazed into her beautiful blue eyes, shiny with love. “Callie Louisa Talbert, until you stepped back into my life, I had no idea what love really meant. I loved my family, but I had never loved with the level of passion that I feel for you. You’re my everything. My sun on a rainy day. The warmth in my soul. The inspiration behind every breath I take. I couldn’t imagine spending a day without you by my side. And while I know it’s not always easy with the distance often between us, you’re constantly in my thoughts and in my heart. You’re the one who keeps me grounded and keeps me real and helps me be the man I strive to be. You’re the one I want to grow old with. Do you take me to be your husband?” I slid the ring into place.
She smiled. “I do.” Her gaze dropped to my lips for a heartbeat, and I had to battle the urge to kiss her. She took the other ring and slipped it onto the end of my finger. “Jared Michael Leigh, we’ve been friends for as long as I can remember. First I loved you as a friend, and then I fell in love with you. My love for you has grown brighter with each passing day as I’ve watched you become the amazing, talented man that you are. You’ve encouraged me to follow my dreams like you followed your own. You helped me believe in myself like I believe in you. I see the love you have for your music and for your bandmates and for your family, and it makes me love you so much more. There’s no one else I could imagine growing old with. Do you take me as your wife?” She slipped the ring fully onto my finger.
“You better believe I do!” I said with a grin.
“By the power vested in me,” Richard announced, “I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. I cupped Callie’s cheek and stroked my thumb against the face I’d missed so much. Yes, Skype had nothing on this.
I kissed her, the gentle touching of lips that conveyed everything I felt in that simple gesture. Everyone cheered. My bandmates patted me on the back, and Nolan gave me a wry grin. At least he had been able to make love to Hailey last night; I still had to wait a few more hours before Callie was all mine.
I threaded my fingers with hers—and decided to screw the waiting. I had no intention of it being that long before I snuck a few stolen moments with my wife.
And God, did it feel fucking great thinking of her that way. She was my wife, my lover, my best friend, the mother of my son. We had experienced both the highs and the lows, and I wasn’t naive to believe that we’d seen the end of them. Touring posed challenges that people with regular jobs never faced, but I was confident we would make it. If things became too much, for the sake of my son and my marriage, I would gladly walk away from the band if I had to. Because as much as I loved the music, I loved Callie and Logan that much more.
As soon as the last person had offered congratulations, I led Callie to the tree house. She grinned, the playful woman that I loved so much making it clear she was all for my plan. She slipped off her shoes, bunched up the hem of her dress, and climbed the ladder. I followed right behind, helping her up.
Once inside and away from prying eyes, my mouth was on hers again. This time there were no gentle kisses. No promises of what was to come. There was just this moment, this connection, this love.
