“I love you, Hadley,” he whispers in my ear as music starts playing. Tears well in my eyes as a slideshow starts. There are images of us when we were babies and growing up and finally of us together, even when he was seventeen. I wrap my arms around him, leaning into his shoulder.
“I love this.”
“Me too, but it’s not over.”
The music changes into Canon in D as the words “Will You Marry Me?” appear on the screen. I gasp and cover my mouth as the tears flow. I turn in his arms and nod feverishly, words escaping me in this very important moment.
Ryan sighs. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!”
“Phew, I was getting a little worried.” Only he would make light of an important moment like this. “So, I was thinking we’d get married tonight.”
“What?” I deadpan.
He moves a few steps to the right to show me what’s going on behind him. My parents, his mom, Alex, Cole and Hayden, Dylan and her daughter, Carrie, and a few of our friends are all standing at home plate.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Ryan shrugs. “Well, from the looks of it, we’re getting married tonight.”
“Right here?”
“Is there a better place?”
I shake my head. “No there isn’t, but how? We don’t have a marriage license.”
Ryan runs his hand through his hair. “Minor technicality that Carrie was able to fix for us. I assure you, if we get married right now, it’ll be legal.”
“So, what are we waiting for?” As soon as I say those words, music queues up again and Ryan takes my hand in his arm and walks us to home plate. Our friends and family move aside and a minister appears ready to make us official.
In only a few short minutes, with traditional vows exchanged, Ryan and I are husband and wife, and while this may be the most nontraditional wedding in the history of nontraditional weddings, the fact that it’s mine makes it the most perfect.
Ask me nine years ago, when I was sitting on my bed listening to my best friend, Dylan, go on and on about the concert tickets she won, if I thought I’d meet my wife that night, the answer would be a resounding no. I owe so much to Dylan – even if she refuses to acknowledge her part in my life when it comes to Hadley – that I’ll never be able to repay her. Yes, some of the best and also most troubling times in my life are because of Hadley, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Nothing can compare to what I’m feeling now that I’ve heard the minister tell me that I may now kiss my bride.
The moment our lips connect, I know I made the right decision by surprising her with this wedding. Getting everyone here was a challenge, especially Dylan, who was adamant that I’m making a mistake. Thing is, it’s my mistake to make. I didn’t tell her that her daughter, Emma, was a mistake or that she needed to marry that sorry excuse for a father. I supported her and expect the same in return. Cole and Alex were the easy part. Alex was beyond excited and swore she wouldn’t say anything. Cole told me he was happy that everything was working out the way it should be. The fact that he thought Hadley and I belonged together makes me appreciate him even more as a friend.
Rebuilding our lives together these past months has been perfect and exciting. Hadley will be finishing out the tour she cancelled when she showed up in my office and as much as I don’t want her to leave, it’s better that she’s doing it when I’m back to work. We’re taking a month off after the season ends and going far away to some tropical island where cell phones don’t work. We haven’t decided yet where that is, and I’ve threatened that we’ll end up at the airport and looking at the reader board, still trying to decide. I don’t care where, as long as she’s with me.
“I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Stone,” the minister says to the happy delights of our family. I can even hear Dylan clapping behind me. Someday, I know she’ll get over her hate for Hadley.
I cup Hadley’s face and watch as tears pool. “You’re my wife… finally,” I add the last part with jest and earn a smile from her.
“I can’t believe you did all of this without me knowing.”
I look around and see the many shining faces of our family. “Everyone knew, except you. I didn’t want to plan anything and I wanted it to be special, something we can tell our kids when they’re older. I want us to be as spontaneous as our careers allow.”
“I like that a lot, Ryan. I love you so much.”
I shake my head. “Not nearly as much as I love you, and speaking of spontaneity, I have another surprise for you.”
Hadley’s eyes light up. “What is it?”
I glower at her. “A surprise, Hadley,” I say, shaking my head. I take her by the hand and lead her into the dugout. Everyone will meet us later after I do this one last thing.
As soon as we’re out of the stadium, I stop and spin her around.