Page 63 of The Road Back to Us

“Alright, let’s get you married... again.” She frowned as she tried to figure out the right words. “Or renewed? Are we renewing you?”

I laughed and shook my head as she grinned like a fool.

“It’s whatever you want to call it,” I answered. “But you'd better get your butt moving. I hear the music starting, and you know Ben gets impatient when he has to wait.”

She rolled her eyes and laughed as she rushed off, pulling her dress up slightly so the bottom didn’t drag on the floor.

I took a few minutes to collect myself, taking a few deep breaths until I looked up and saw Dean standing in the doorway, his arm extended for me. I walked to him and looped my arm through his, thankful that he had offered to give me away.

When I got married the first time, I had my entire family there to watch.

A pain zipped through me when I thought about all of the people I had lost over the years and how my family had changed so drastically. Not having my brother or parents there to celebrate us felt wrong, but then I looked at Ben, Kara, and Chloe and felt their presence in each of them. From the smiles on their faces to the tears of happiness in their eyes, I felt the love of a family who had been through a lot and still made it to the other side stronger than ever.

I grinned back at them as I made my way to the man who had never given up loving me, even when I wanted him to. I walked straight toward the family who had become the greatest treasures I ever had and the blessings I never knew I needed.

Fifty-Seven

Cole

The second I saw Lyric headed my way in her beautiful gown, every sound and everyone around me faded into the background as I stared at the most perfect woman walking toward me.

My smile was tight across my face as I heard one of the twins fuss, but I ignored it, knowing that my Mom had it taken care of. Life had demanded so much from me over the years that I was going to take this moment and live in it for as long as I could.

My dad guided Lyric down the aisle while Chloe walked in front of them, dropping pink rose petals on the white runner Lyric had picked out. Ben stood next to me as my best man, a role his father had once filled. Kara stood opposite us, wiping the corners of her eyes and looking so much like her mother that I knew we would never forget Melanie. She lived on in different ways in all three of the kids, and I prayed that it never changed. I wanted to make sure they always remembered how incredible their parents were in any way possible.

I knew this wasn’t an actual wedding and that it was more for us to renew our vows, but I felt the same excitement I had the day I married Lyric the first time. I loved the way she blushed and tried to avoid looking at anyone, but the second her eyes landed on mine, I knew nothing else mattered.

She smiled at me in a way that warmed my heart like nothing else could. I returned it and waited impatiently for my dad to finish walking her down the aisle. She stood beside me, looking up at me with a look that said she was right where she wanted to be.

I didn’t wait for the ceremony to get started as I reached in and wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her against my chest. My lips feathered over hers, reacting immediately when she parted her lips and teased mine with her tongue. It wasn’t just a promise of what was to come later, when we started our second honeymoon; it was a promise of spending the rest of our lives together.

****************