Page 85 of I Do

Allie swallowed hard. This was it. When she and Tarryn had cemented their relationship, she’d mentally wiped the idea of ever marrying the woman of her dreams. Because there was no way she’d pressure Tarryn into something she was so adamantly opposed to. But the last years had shown her how people could change, and Tarryn’s proposal had cemented that.

They’d been in Silver Creek Park, admiring the placement of Tarryn’s emu. “I seem to have more permanency in my life,” Tarryn had said. “This emu in the park. A place in this town. You in my life. Will you marry me, Allie?”

Allie had turned to her, sure Tarryn hadn’t been serious, but the love and sincerity shining out of her eyes had convinced her it was real. That what she wanted with all her heart would happen.

And now it was happening. She was about to marry the love of her life in a ceremony that combined both of their wishes. Her person. She blinked away happy tears.

Sophie released her and squeezed her hand. “We’re on. This is it. You have ten seconds to change your mind.”

She huffed a laugh. “No way in hell.”

And then she walked slowly onto the stage, Sophie by her side. She didn’t see the crowd. She didn’t see her loved ones in front of the stage. She barely noticed George, beaming a welcome. She had eyes only for Tarryn, in the silver-grey pants and pink-tinged waistcoat, a bouquet of native flowers in her hands, Will by her side. There was only the love in Tarryn’s eyes that she knew was reflected in her own.

She reached George and placed her hand in the woman’s outstretched one at the same time as Tarryn did. George gave a reassuring squeeze.

“Friends, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Tarryn and Allison.” George drew them closer and placed Allie’s hand in Tarryn’s.

Allie could hardly breathe over the pounding of her heart. This was it. Soon they would be married. She couldn’t look away from Tarryn’s beautiful face, and as they recited their vows, Tarryn’s face shimmered through a veil of tears.

Finally, it came to the moment she was both dreading and anticipating. They hadn’t rehearsed this part, but Tarryn’s steadiness and certainty about the wedding reassured her.

“Now, say after me,” George said. “Do you, Allison, take this woman, Tarryn, to be your lawful wedded wife?”

“I do,” Allie said, and her smile stretched across her face as joy thundered in her heart.

The crowd cheered, just as they had the previous time.

George switched her gaze to Tarryn. This was it. The single moment when it would all become real.

Tarryn clutched Allie’s hand, her steady gaze on Allie’s face.

Any moment now, Tarryn would be her wife. She had no doubt about that. The pounding of her heart became a joyful, anticipatory rhythm.

“And do you, Tarryn, take this woman, Allison, to be your lawful wedded wife?”

Tarryn’s gaze on her face didn’t waver, nor did her grip on Allie’s hand. It was reassuring, but most of all it was steady and loving.

Tarryn raised her chin, and without taking her eyes from her beloved, she said clearly, “I do.”