Page 148 of Forever After All

But she had her eyes on the prize. Linc stood at the end of the aisle, piercing her with an intense stare.

Wow. That was her man. Forever. It didn’t seem real.

Mr. Chambers gave her a little squeeze as he handed her off to Linc. When she was in her soon-to-be husband’s hands, he pulled her in, brushing his lips gently over her ear.

“You’re so beautiful. Inside and out,” he whispered. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she whispered back. Those words held so much weight, but it wasn’t enough. She’d search the whole world over to find the words that accurately described how she felt about Linc.

She followed him to the center of the arbor and kept her focus on Linc as Brother Higgins led the ceremony. It was as short and sweet as Everly had promised, and Jess’s hands shook in Linc’s the entire time.

“I believe the couple has chosen to recite their own vows,” Brother Higgins said.

Linc brushed his thumbs over the backs of her hands. He paused a second before beginning. “I always knew it was you. It’ll always be you. I didn’t come from much, and I’m not much to write home about.”

He swallowed and looked down at their joined hands. “But you saw me. And you stayed.” His gaze lifted to her, and the glistening in his eyes had her biting her lip and inhaling a deep breath.

“You stayed. No one has ever stayed,” he whispered.

Everly would complain that the guests couldn’t hear their vows, but Jess didn’t care one bit. These words were for her ears only, and she wasn’t too keen on sharing.

Linc cleared his throat. “I promise to love you forever. I promise to help you when you’re hurting. I promise to put God first in our lives. I promise to protect you. And if I only do one thing well in this life, it’ll be loving you.”

Brother Higgins looked to Jess. “Jessica Patton, you have vows for your husband?”

She lifted her shoulders and chin as she looked up into Linc’s eyes. “Hey.”

He chuckled and whispered, “Hey.”

“You came with a warning. I’m glad I didn’t listen.”

Linc looked down at their hands again. He did need her, and she’d always be right beside him with a reminder that he was a good man. He’d shown her over and over again.

“You saw me too. When no one else took the time to figure out what was going on in my head, you did. And you helped me understand myself. You helped me understand everything. You showed me how the Lord can lift us up off our knees and put us on our feet again. I promise to love you with my whole heart for my whole life. I promise to stay by your side when things get tough. And I promise I’ll keep God first in our lives too.”

Linc looked up at her and mouthed the words, “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she whispered back.

With rings on their fingers and sniffles in the warm afternoon air, Brother Higgins lifted the Bible in his hand. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Linc took a step toward her and cradled her face in his hands. Slowly, he pressed an achingly soft kiss to her lips.

And the world shifted beneath her feet. She held onto his shirt at his sides and kissed him back as the guests cheered.

They were one now, made of hope and trust that wasn’t tainted by the past. There would be ups and downs, but they were headed for happier days.

Forever sounded like an adventure with Lincoln North by her side.

Bonus Epilogue

AVA

Ava rested a hand on Ron’s little knee in the carseat beside her. The bulky seat cradled him like a bowl, wrapping around his tiny body.

Jameson’s gaze caught hers in the rearview mirror, and he gave her one of those heart-melting winks. Every emotion was running high, but her gratefulness was overwhelming today.

“Well, buddy. This is home,” Jameson said.

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