Page 46

JAMIE

SIX MONTHS LATER

The first time I married Blakely, I knew the wedding wasn’t for us. It was for the Pythons, Graham, and the news outlets stalking the edges of the building.

This time, it’s for me as much as it is her.

We chose everything together, the way we should have the first time. Avery supplied and arranged the flowers, the groomsmen’s suits were chosen on a day out with all of my cousins, and the bridesmaids, along with my ma, took a trip to Ottawa to shop for their dresses at a boutique Braxton recommended.

I spent hours with Blakely tasting cake flavours and touring venues. We planned the playlist song by song and begged and convinced Noah to perform a song at the reception. He was the one who convinced Brody Steele, Braxton’s sister’s fiancé and one of the biggest names in country music, to sing our first-dance song.

It was an exhaustive experience, but I wouldn’t change a thing if it meant that I could give her the best and last wedding she’ll ever have.

Standing at the altar as every important person in Blakely’s and my life walks toward me, I know that this is right. This life, this love, and the future I’ve always wanted for myself are aligned.

Oliver, Nova, and Avery are first, their family of soon-to-be four leading the pack down the aisle toward where I wait for my wife. My brother was here the first time, but not like this. His full support has come through, and with every day that passes, all three of them fall a little bit more for Blakely.

He releases his girls with quick kisses on their cheeks and shifts to stand beside me, a hand squeezing mine. I sniff past the emotion already swelling inside of me, and he blinks his away at the same time.

Dad catches my eye from the first row before he nods, keeping his grip on Mom’s hand unbreakable. Everything he spoke to me before I was here the first time still stands.

My wife and I have been floating these past few months, but there have still been times where I’ve had to think back to his advice a time or two. Loving a woman as headstrong as Blakely doesn’t come without some learning, and loving a man like me has pushed her in the same ways. But what we have together is and will always be worth every challenge.

Maddox and Braxton are next, and as expected, my cousin keeps a hand on her swelling belly like the proud dad he has always been. He was the first to find his happy ending, and when they had Liam, I knew he was always meant to be a father. Watching him have a second child, a girl this time, is incredible.

Adalyn and Cooper walk down the aisle like I’d expect they would a runway. The woman who’s seen the most incredible year of her life with not only the birth of their baby girl but also walking in one of the biggest fashion shows in the entire world clutches onto her husband with a beaming smile and a wiggle of her fingers in my direction.

Noah and Tinsley are a sight to see. They’ve always been that way, yet somehow, it’s like they grow closer and more attached by the day. Instead of linking arms like every other couple before them, Noah has his wrapped around her waist while she grips his front, leaning into him like she knows he could carry both of their weight if he needed to.

Their love story has so much still to be written. I feel that in my gut.

When the youngest members of my life come out with their arms reluctantly linked and fake enjoyment straining their features, everything feels complete. Amelia and Easton will have their story to tell soon, and I feel lucky that I’ll be able to witness it one day.

Finally, the music changes, and I turn my full focus to the end of the aisle. I’m nearly crawling out of my skin in anticipation of seeing her. My wife from the moment she stumbled into my house that night.

The full rows of guests stand. My eyes burn before she’s even turned the corner. I sniff and straighten my shoulders, my fingers sweaty where they’re clasped in front of me.

Nate appears first, grinning wide and bright as I catch his eyes and huff a wet laugh. He tips his chin in a soft nod, and it’s the only approval I need.

In a swishing white dress similar to the one she wore the first time we were in this position, Blakely finds my eyes and smiles. The ground shakes beneath my feet at that smile.

A veil drapes down her back and over the material of the dress that follows behind her. Lace sleeves, the same corseted top, and the same silk that I remember feeling beneath my fingertips are all in front of me, but it’s her brown-flecked green eyes that gleam with emotion that matter.

Slowly, she reaches me, and Nate places her hand in mine before taking his spot beside my brother. Blakely reaches for my other hand and releases a heavy breath, clutching onto me for support.

“You’re breathtaking, Bandit,” I whisper.

Her bottom lip wobbles. “So are you.”

It feels like déjà vu, but better. Real. Every word we speak and the vows we make. We’ve been here before, only this time, I’m so incredibly in love with her.

And when the officiant declares us Mr. and Mrs. Bateman for the final time, I make a show of kissing my wife like I wish I had the first.

She giggles against my lips as I take her in my arms and tip her back. Her leg kicks out as I cup her thigh and seal our mouths. Cheers and clapping follow, but I take my time right here, shoving every ounce of my love and pride into our kiss.

Only when she puts her leg down and gives a playful shove at my chest do I release her and guide her upward.

“I love the fuck out of you, Blakely Bateman,” I declare.

She leans against my chest and gazes up at me. “I love the fuck out of you, Jamie Bateman.”

“You feel smaller, Ma. Are you shrinking?”

She scoffs as I lead us through our dance. “That’s not what you should say to your mother on one of the most emotional days of my life.”

“When should I mention it, then?” I tease.

“Never. It’s not polite.”

“I just want to make sure you don’t suddenly shrink so small you’re a speck of dust that I won’t be able to see. What would I tell my future children when their grandma becomes dust?”

“I’m not that old, Jamieson!” she scolds.

Chuckling, I twirl her outward. Her dance skills are far better than mine, as they should be after a lifetime of ballet.

“Thank you for being here, Mom. And for everything you’ve done for me and Blakely.”

“I love her for you, sweetheart. And I love her for our family. Both of my daughters are incredible. We’re very lucky. ”

There’s a soft pat on my back, and I swing us around to find my dad dancing with Blakely a few steps away. He must have heard some of our conversation because he nods in agreement, swaying her in his arms.

My wife smiles shyly as I consider stealing her back already. It hasn’t even been the full length of the song being sung, but I’ve missed her since the second I gave her over to my dad.

“Life is changing so quickly,” I murmur, watching them sway away from us.

Mom leans her cheek on my chest and hugs me as we finish our dance. “And it’s nowhere near stopping, Jamie. You have to cherish every moment of what’s coming because each one will be here and gone in a flash. It feels like just yesterday I was hauling you and your brother to dance practices and bribing you with animal crackers so you didn’t climb onto the barre. You were both so, so little then. Now look at you. Oliver’s married and a soon-to-be father of two beautiful babies, and you’ve just made your soulmate your wife and are preparing to enter into a new life together. I feel like I only blinked, and everything changed.”

Tears sting my eyes and tighten my throat. “We couldn’t have had better parents.”

“We tried our best.”

“Why do you think we grew up to be so amazing? I mean, Oliver’s grumpy as hell, but I think I turned out pretty perfect.”

She laughs, pulling back to look up at me and palm my cheek for a moment. “It was only fitting that one of you took after your father and one took after me. I always teased your dad that Oliver would be his karma.”

“Are you finally admitting that I’m the better son?”

“Oh, don’t start. I’ll never choose favourites.”

“But if you did . . .” I drawl.

“Stop talking and just dance with your mom, Jamieson.”

With a smirk, I do exactly that.

BLAKELY

My father-in-law is an even worse dancer than I am. It’s honestly quite adorable, considering how intimidating he is. Flaws make him a bit less scary.

“Gracie’s right, you know? We did get very lucky with the women our sons chose to have in our lives forever,” he says.

I almost trip on my dress as his words register. “Thank you. That’s really nice of you to say.”

“I’m not in the business of being nice for no reason. I mean it. We’re happy to have you be a member of our family.”

“It’s an incredible family to be a part of. You’ve made me feel welcome, but also Nate, and that’s important to me.”

Tyler offers me a small but incredibly sincere smile. “You did well with him. He’ll be a good man one day.”

I roll my lips and look away, those statements hitting home. The confirmation from a man who raised two incredible men, one of whom is the best one I’ve ever met, is almost too much to handle.

“Coming from you, that means a lot,” I croak, trying to hide the crack in my voice.

“My father was a man I didn’t meet until I was a teenager. I raised myself on my own before and after that, and I wish I’d have had someone who cared about me as much as you care about your brother. He’ll remember everything you’ve done for him for the rest of his life. I admire how strong you are. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy, and I know that you’ve fought harder than you ever should have had to for the good you’ve found.”

There are no words that would do justice to my appreciation. But I hope that as I let go of my fears and hug him, he can tell how much what he’s said has meant to me.

I squeeze my eyes shut and trap the tears that try to escape and ruin my makeup as he adjusts his arms to hold me right back. It’s the second hug I’ve received from him, and it’s even more special than the first one.

“How come every time I find you hugging my wife, she’s crying, Dad?” Jamie asks, his voice soft.

He peels me out of his father’s arms and takes me into his instead. It feels like coming back home after a night spent lost in the woods. My head clears, and my heart races.

I smile at Tyler in a final show of thanks that he doesn’t hesitate to return before patting Jamie’s arm.

“Go dance with your wife, son.”

My husband nods firmly, and then they share an intense look that I glance away from, giving them as much space as I can.

A moment later, Jamie’s twirling me dramatically, a proud laugh escaping him. Several other couples join us on the dance floor, but it’s impossible to pay attention to a single one of them.

“Have you had a good wedding night, wife?” he asks once I’ve landed back in his hold.

I set my hands on his shoulder and waist and hum, undecided. “I’m not sure.”

“In that case, how can I make it better?”

“Will you let me feed you cake and splatter it on your face?”

“Is that a trick question? Obviously, you can rub my face with cake. But only if I can do the same to yours.”

“What about a compromise?” I ask, my chest flaming when his hand finds a new home low on my back.

His head dips, words kissing my cheek. “What do you have in mind?”

“When we get home, you can rub cake anywhere you want. ”

“Let’s skip the cake altogether, and I’ll make dessert out of you instead.”

A tingle rushes down my spine. “Wouldn’t that look bad? The bride and groom skipping out on their wedding reception?”

“Not if you were only gone a few minutes. Look at you, Blakely. My wife is a goddess.”

“So, you’re suggesting we sneak off and have a wedding quickie?”

He laughs lowly. “Yeah, I guess I am. What do you say, Mrs. Bateman?”

In the last eight months, Jamie has changed my life. There’s no more stress or fear. I wake up feeling cherished and excited and fall asleep settled, at peace. My life is exactly the way it was always meant to be.

This wedding was for more than the typical certificate and an exchange of rings. We already had both. Instead, we got married for nothing more than a reminder to ourselves that despite the reason behind our paperwork, what we have is real.

This is my forever guy. My greatest strength on my weakest day.

“I say lead the way.”