Page 76 of A New Era

I’m glad Dad is walking her up the aisle. I want her at complete ease and from the smile on her face, she’s feeling it for herself. She doesn’t break eye contact with me and I’m sure I don’t even blink.

In time I’ll wish I had looked around and watched how everyone is reacting to her, but it won’t be a regret because I no longer fight myself. I can’t take my eyes off of her. And the closer she gets, nothing and no one around us matters. I don’t see any of it.

She and Dad stop before me, and I step closer and take her hand from Dad’s. The lace covering her hands reaches up to her elbows and her dress clinging to her body is just as pretty as the day I saw her trying it on over at the house.

“You ready?” I ask just for her to hear.

“Are you?” she retorts.

I pull her against me and slam my lips onto hers, much to the hollers and cheers from the guests.

“Does that answer your question?”

“It sure does.”

The pastor from town clears his throat and we take our places. In front of my brothers and our families, well her mom, and my family, we say our vows, and as just like the night I took the patch, I soak in the seriousness of the moment.

“Do you, Leo, take this woman to be your wife?”

“Fuck yeah,” I mouth to her making her smile grow, then louder, “I do.”

“And do you Holly, take this man, to be your husband?”

She doesn’t hesitate. “I do. Yes.”

“Then I…”

The rest I barely hear, her gaze has me captured and I can hardly refrain from cutting her off and kissing her now.

The second he mentions for me to kiss my bride, I step closer and kiss her. She winds her arms around my neck and leans up on her tiptoes, everyone going wild.

“We did it,” she beams.

“Fuck yeah, we did. No regrets?” I ask.

“No, just hope… for the future.”

“We once agreed hope was dangerous.”

“What’s life without a little danger?”

I laugh. Throwing my arm around my wife, we walk down the aisle to brothers slapping me on the back and the old ladies reaching out to hold Holly’s hand. The day is made perfect when she doesn’t withdraw her touch. She takes everyone’s hand and when it comes to having our photos done, she doesn’t shy away from being the centre of attention. Her mother on the other hand does all she can to be out of the picture. She’s clearly not comfortable here or around us. Like her daughter, she’s taking everything in without having anyone notice her. I accept every congratulations all the while keeping my eye on my wife. When it comes time for the guys to step up for photos, Mom is a dab hand in keeping everyone in control.

She makes sure to get one of me, Luca, and Dad. Me and JJ as my best man. Numerous photos of numerous groups of us and then one of all of us wearing a patch.

Brothers scatter once Mom dismisses us and then Holly and the girls take their turn, and then the kids. Mom will be in her element today, capturing it all with her camera.

She buzzes around clicking the camera when we cut the cake, the speeches are given, and when she asks about the first dance, I offer Holly a secret smile. She returns it. That was just for us and always will be. After what feels like an eternity, I’m done. I nab Holly as she passes by the table I’m sitting at and ignore the hollering as I scoop her into my arms and whisk her away.

“I’m sorry I can’t take you on honeymoon.”

“Hey, all I need is you,” she promises, and I love her all the more for it.

“How about I give you me right now?” I smoothly ask.

She knows exactly what I’m referring to and her smile turns to a hot smirk.

“What are you waiting for?”

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