Page 130 of Other Side Of Never
His beautiful hands.Large and calloused, capable of building us a home and holding me together when I fell apart.
I spoke my vows in front of everyone we knew and loved with certainty, surer of this than I’d ever been of anything in my life.
But I wasn’t nearly ready for his.
Holding my left hand in his, he pushed the wedding band to my first knuckle, then raised his eyes to mine.
The rest of the world disappeared.
“I built you a house, but you gave me a home.
I offered my protection, but you gave me a safe place to heal.
I gave you my pain, you turned it into laughter.
I give you my heart, my calm, my strength, and my son.In exchange, I’ll revel in your chaos, hold you when you cry, worship your body, and thank God every single day for the peace you bring to my life.
I promise to always choose us.
And I’ll guard your heart with my life.”
With that, he slid the ring onto my finger and smiled down into my glossy eyes.
Without waiting for any kind of declaration from the pastor, he placed those big hands on my waist, pulled me close, then bent me over his arm and laid a kiss on me the likes of which that little church had never seen.
And would probably never see again.
When he finally let me up for air to the sound of our friends and family laughing and clapping in celebration, he led me over to the antique side table to sign the documents that legally bound us.I signed with a flourish then passed the pen to him to scrawl his signature across the bottom of the page.
Standing, he cupped my face in his hands.“I promised you a wedding gift.”
I shook my head.“I don’t need anything else.”
“You might want this one,” he smirked.“Do you remember a few weeks back I went home to tie up some legal issues?”
I nodded.
Looking over my shoulder, he gave a nod and turned me around so my back pressed against his chest.
Isaiah walked over with his Aunt Morrigan.When they reached the table, Morrigan released Isaiah’s hand.“Go get her, buddy.”
I smiled as he handed me an envelope with a crayon drawing of our funny, little blended family on the front, all seven of us with Max and Wren up in the corner.
I laughed.He was still figuring out where everybody fit in the grand scheme of things.“It’s beautiful, Iceman.We’ll get it framed and hang it in the front hall.”
Dipping my knees, I moved to hug him but he backed out of the way.
Dancing from one foot to the other, the bowtie of his tiny tux peeking out of his pants pocket, he insisted, “There’s more!Inside!You have to open it!”
As I slipped my fingers under the flap and pulled out the papers inside, my laughter faded away.I scanned the page, then went back to the top and ensured it was exactly what I thought it was.
Turning to my husband, I covered my mouth with my hand.“Kian, are you sure?”
Snaking his hand around the back of my neck, he pulled me in and tipped my head back to meet his gaze.Speaking low, only for me, he explained, “You sign this, and you have the same rights and responsibilities to Isaiah as I do.No one will ever be able to take him from you, and if something happens to me, no one will ever be able to take you from him.”
My eyes filled.“Are you sure?”
He smiled.“Positive.”
