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“Yes sir,” I said with a smile.
“Now.” He held out his elbow for me, and I looped my arm through his.
He opened the curtain, showing our wedding out back, everyone sitting on haybales covered with flannel. At the end of the makeshift aisle, stood all the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, and Maya and Graham were reaching the end of the aisle where my future husband stood.
Dad slid the door open, and we stepped onto the patio. Everyone stood and turned to face us, but all I had eyes for was the man at the end of the aisle.
Fletcher wore a suit with a lilac tie and pocket square. His hands were folded in front of him, and his smile shook as I walked toward him.
Tears fell down my cheek as I realized that this was my person, and I was getting to spend forever by his side.
Suddenly, this aisle was too long. My dad was walking too slow.
I wanted forever to start right now.
Graham let out a yip when he saw me, making me and everyone around me laugh.
Then Fletcher started walking toward me.
Dad said, “Looks like you’re not the only eager one.”
Fletcher met us at the middle of the aisle and took my face in his hands, kissing me as I hugged him back.
When we pulled apart, Fletcher said, “Standing there seemed stupid when I wanted to kiss you so damn bad.”
I let out a laugh. “Dad wouldn’t let me run to you.”
From up front, Rhett called, “Too early, Fletch! But I’m sure that’s nothing new.”
Fletcher rolled his eyes at my brother, and I laughed.
“Are you ready?” Fletcher asked me.
I nodded.
“Good. Wait here.” He walked back to the front of the aisle, and then Dad and I resumed our walk toward my new life as Mrs. Madigan.
70
Fletcher
The preacher greeted everyone and spoke about marriage, but I had a hard time hearing any of it with Liv standing across from me. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, with her brown curls framing her face, dimples dotting her cheeks with her smile. And the way the afternoon sun caught her blue eyes, it was like the sun existed only to be reflected in her gaze.
Liv squeezed my hands, and I squeezed back. It was like I needed to feel her to know this was reality and not some fantasy I was dreaming.
But then I heard the word vows and knew I needed to focus on marrying this woman in front of me.
Liv glanced back at Della, and Della handed her a slip of paper. As Liv unfolded it, I saw her neat handwriting across the lines.
But instead of reading from it, she glanced to the front row where Maya and Graham sat with my Dad.
“Maya, sweetie, can you come up here?” Liv asked.
Maya nodded, standing up and bringing Graham to the altar. He tried to jump, and I moved to pull him away, but Liv bent down and scratched his ears.
Maya knelt beside him, taking him in her lap to sooth him, and Liv. My future wife. She sat down in her wedding dress on the wooden platform. My throat already feeling tight, I knelt beside Maya, a hand on her shoulder.
The preacher handed Liv a microphone, and she thanked him softly before turning to face my daughter and me. But then she only had eyes for Maya, and I had to sniff back tears.