This home is where Genevieve and I fell in love, and we knew this was the place we wanted to get married. When we got back from the hospital she didn’t seem surprised that I wanted to move the wedding up. In fact, she seemed just as ready as I was. If anything, this whole thing made us realize just how short and precious life really is. I’m ready to fill this house with a family and begin our lives as husband and wife.
When she walks out onto the back porch her smile lights up the whole night. She’s got her hair pulled to one side with flowers in it. Her dress is a simple slip that hugs her body and flows down to her bare feet. She steps onto the soft grass and clutches her bouquet of lilies in one hand and her dad’s arm in the other. I can only stare at her, at how utterly beautiful she is, as she gets closer.
Her dad approaches, and the minister begins to speak, but all I can concentrate on is how breathtaking she is. The moonlight shines on her pale skin, and I can still see her blush up at me. Her dad puts her hand in mine and I pull her close to me before I reach up and run my thumb along her cheek. I whisper to her how perfect she looks and how much I love her as the ceremony begins around us. I’m prompted to say words and I repeat what I’m supposed to. But all I can think is how lucky I am that I get to marry my best friend—the woman I love and want to spend every moment of every day with for the rest of our lives.
When Genevieve slides the wedding band on my finger it finally feels real. To have her mark on me, just like the one I have on her. I can’t help it when my hand goes to her belly and I say my vows. Because in this moment I promise it not only to her, but to our child as well, and I want our witnesses to see it.
“I will love you until my last breath and beyond. You will be my soulmate for all eternity. This I vow,” I say, and Genevieve begins to cry.
I wipe her tears away and pull her close as I press my lips to hers. They’re so soft and sweet, and nothing in my life has ever felt so perfect.
Cheers from the crowd erupt around us as I reach down and scoop her up in my arms. I hold her there as the minister announces us and I’m so proud I could practically float.
The rest of the night is a blur, but I try to hold on to every memory I can. We dance and eat cake, and we laugh all through the night. Our wedding is everything we dreamed it could be and so much more. I’ve given Genevieve all that she wanted and made her dreams come true. But this is only the beginning. Our days will begin again and this time there’s nothing standing in our way.
“I love you, wife,” I whisper in her ear as I pull her close.
“I love you, husband,” she says, resting her head on my chest as we sway to the music.
I’ll never get tired of hearing those words.
Epilogue
Genevieve
Four years later…
“Could we possibly have any more pink?” Barrett asks, and I look at him and put my hands on my hips. “You’re right, I don’t know why I ask stupid questions,” he mumbles, walking back into the kitchen to get more balloons.
“How do you do that?” Lynn asks as she stares in wonder.
I laugh and shake my head. “I don’t know what you mean.” I shrug, pretending to look innocent.
“He’s right, though. It looks like Miss Piggy planned this party,” Lynn says as she looks around.
Just then Gabi comes out wearing a gigantic pink ball gown covered in sparkles.
“That would be her,” I say, and Lynn and I laugh.
“You laugh, but you two have matching dresses in the living room,” she says, crossing her arms.
“Oh no,” Lynn cries, holding up her hands, but Gabi shakes her head.
“Oh yes. If this is what the princesses want, then this is what they get. They only turn four one time.”
“I think they’re cute,” Steph says as she walks outside wearing the same thing.
As if on cue, John, Neal, and Barrett all come out sporting pink coats and glitter ties.
“That’s just unfortunate,” Lynn mutters beside me, and I have to smother a laugh.
Of course Gabi and I both had twin girls on the same day. I ended up going into labor early and she was a week over. We couldn’t have planned it better if we tried, and we really did try. So our four girls are turning four all at once and it’s a surprise pink glitter bonanza. All the grandparents are keeping them occupied until they bring them over in an hour.