Page 46 of The Risks of Reuniting (Love Connections #1)

It takes a few minutes to get everyone settled.

Holt asks our dads to be witnesses, and my dad finally realizes he's still wearing his chef's apron and hurries to tug it off.

That seems to make everyone realize that they're chilling here in T-shirts and shorts, with flip-flops and baseball caps, and there's a mad moment of doing their best to clean up, but I don't care one bit.

This is perfect. It's been easy, and they're all here, and the pictures will tell the story forever.

When Gavin and Alisha reappear, everyone takes their seats.

Mr. Snow – our officiant – stands in the gazebo and Holt and I join him, with Victor and Dad standing up with us.

Our moms are crying, Grandma Sue is beaming with her arm through Grandpa Tim's.

My aunts and uncles, my cousins and Allie, are all sitting on the edges of their seats with broad smiles and bright eyes.

I even manage a smile for cousin Kaden, who looks a little unsure about his seat on the back row. He's such a front row boy .

I feel a little bummed that Holt only has his parents here today, but he was very pragmatic about it when I expressed concern, telling me that's how life is when your dad's family is in Peru and your mom is an only child of deceased parents.

Now, though, he'll have more family than he may have wanted.

“Hello and welcome!" Mr. Snow calls out, and all falls silent.

"Chloe and Holt, welcome to your wedding!

I am thrilled to be here today. We are all excited for the life that you are creating together and for your marriage – which begins right now.

You have rediscovered each other, made the conscious decision of commitment, and today you step into the first day of the rest of your shared life. "

Tears spring to my eyes as Holt takes both of my hands and stares back at me. We did it. We took the worst detour ever, overcame so much, and we're finally here.

Mr. Snow continues, "To the guests – you are the most important people in Holt and Chloe's lives.

You are the ones who know them well, and you are an integral part of this ceremony, for the witnesses of a ceremony are just as important to the ceremony as the participants themselves.

Holt and Chloe love you and want to thank you for the support you've given over their .

. ." he clears his throat and chuckles, ". . . somewhat rocky road to this day."

The group chuckles and I feel a tear drop. Holt pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and I dab at the tears. He mouths I love you and I do the same.

"Chloe and Holt asked me to keep this simple and brief, and so I'll do that," Mr. Snow says.

"From this day forward,do the two of you promise to share your life, to love each other,to laugh, to build your dreams together while allowing each of you to grow your own dreams?

Will you promise to support each other in times of trouble, rejoice in times of happinessand to have faith in your journey? Chloe?"

Mr. Snow turns to me and I grin. "Yes, I do."

Mr. Snow looks to Holt. "And Holt?"

Holt's grin splits his handsome face. "Yes, yes, yes."

Mr. Snow and the guests all laugh. “Good.

And so we come to the rings. The final ritual in a wedding ceremony is to make your commitment tangible – your rings are the physical representation of the promises you have made to each other today.

They symbolize the sanctity of your marriage and are a constant reminder of your love. May I have the rings please?"

Holt pulls them both out of his pocket and I clap my hands and bite at my lips.

We picked out rings a little while ago, but couldn't wear them because this was a secret, and I've been so excited to have this claim resting on both of us.

Holt's ring is a plain gold band, and mine is a simple solitaire with a circlet of diamonds around it.

I knew it was the right one for me the moment I saw it, and it's as beautiful as I remember.

Holt gives them to Mr. Snow, and he holds them up for everyone to see as he says, "These rings are a circle of strength with no beginning or end, and with no point of weakness. May they be a constant reminder of the promises you have made today."

We exchange rings, my fingers shaking, and Holt laughing, and when Mr. Snow pronounces us "Mr. and Mrs. Holt and Chloe Alvarez" and tells us we can kiss, Holt dives for me without restraint.

He wraps me firmly in his arms and doesn't care that everyone is watching as he presses his lips to mine repeatedly, until I'm a mess of emotions and the cheers of the crowd break through the bubble surrounding us.

We turn to face them, Holt with a smile so big it'll crack his cheeks and me with cheeks as red as my mom's poppies, and Holt pulls our intertwined hands up into the air, letting out a cheer that has the birds flying from the trees.

The photographer stands off to the side, documenting everything with his own smile on his face.

I've never been so happy in my life. I'd thought about marrying Holt a million times, but the picture had changed after our breakup, and now as I stand here watching my family and Allie take to their feet and cheer for joy, I realize that the old picture never had been the right one.

This moment, this wedding, these two changed people – this was how it was supposed to happen all along.

THE END