831 Marriage Lane (Cherry Falls)

Somehow that husband of mine pulled off getting our home built in time to bring our firstborn, Lucas, here. Not long after, our daughter Silva followed. I love that all our memories will take place in our forever home. Even today with the renewal of our vows on our fifth wedding anniversary.

“I just touched up your eye makeup,” my younger sister Maya says with a glare. It’s killing me how grownup she looks in her bridesmaid’s dress. Both she and Camila are adults now, with Camila about to graduate college and Maya starting in the fall.

It’s also killing me how much my own baby sister is reminding me of my husband right now. When it comes to this wedding, they’re both bridezillas, wanting everything to go off perfectly for me.

“It’s time. It's time!” Silva announces to us as she bounces up and down. Some of the petals in her basket fall out. I slip my arm through my dad’s.

“Lead the way,” I tell my son, Lucas. He takes his little sister’s hand and guides her out the back door. My sisters follow behind them.

“You picked good,” my dad says.

“I grew up knowing what love is. I see how you look at Mom. It was easy for me to pick a good one. I knew what to look for.” He kisses my cheek before he leads me out the back door.

I gasp when I step outside to see not only all of our friends and family but a wedding venue beyond anything I ever could have imagined. Our back yard has always been beautiful, but this is something else altogether. I feel as though I’m in a fairy tale. But to be honest, I’ve felt that way for the last five years. This man continues to surprise me at every turn.

My eyes lock with my husband’s at the end of the aisle. I might not remember everything about that night I first said I do, but I do think I knew what I was doing. Somewhere deep down inside, I knew this man was my soul mate.

Kenton thinking he had to trick me into marrying him before I found out who he was is laughable. I have no doubt if I’d already known his true identity and tried to avoid him that he would have never stopped until he won me over.

I watch as Lennon reaches out and grabs Kenton by the arm, keeping him planted at the front of the aisle as my dad takes me all the way down to him. He kisses me on the cheek before he takes his seat next to my mom.

“Was about to come get you.” Kenton pulls me right to him, kissing me before Willow can even get a word out. She’s officiating the ceremony. Ames clicks away, catching every second of the kiss with her camara.

“Daddy! Can Mommy even breathe?” Silva shouts, making everyone laugh.

“All Mommy needs is me. She’s fine.” Silva rolls her eyes before putting her hand on her hip. She’s been hanging out with her Auntie Glory a bit too much lately.

Our hands stay locked as Willow begins. “Do you, Gabriella Martinez, take Kenton Martinez to be your husband?” My heart gives a flutter and tears slip down my cheeks. It still gets me all these years later when someone says Kenton’s full name. He took my last name all those years ago. He leans down and kisses my cheeks, stopping the tears in their tracks.

“Say I do, love,” Kenton demands, making everyone laugh.

“I do,” I rush to say, having gotten lost in the moment. Only Kenton has ever been able to do that to me. Before I know it, we’re married once again. Only this time, everyone we love is a part of it. Everyone cheers as we make our way back down the aisle. When we get to the end, Kenton swoops me off my feet.

“The bar is open, and the reception starts now,” Kenton announces, nodding toward the giant white tent that is set up. I’m not sure you can even call the thing a tent actually. It’s gigantic and looks more like a building Kenton had dropped down in the yard for the wedding. He really went all out. That man is always making my dreams come true. Having a real wedding on my parents’ land is another thing he’s checked off the list. “Don’t wait for us.”

“Kenton!” I smack his chest as everyone else makes cat calls.

“What? You said you’d give me baby number three after this wedding madness. The wedding is over,” he reminds me as he carries me into the house and up the stairs to our bedroom. “Plus, you have a dress change.”

I snort a laugh. “I have a dress change?”

“Camila and Maya said brides have dress changes. I thought it was stupid, but I get it now.”