I grab his arm to stop him. “Hey! Where do you think you’re going?”
He jerks his head to the empty chair next to his grandmother. “I’m going to go take my seat.”
I shake my head. “Don’t you think it’d be a little hard to be my best man from over there?”
He looks toward the altar, then back to me. “You want me to be your best man?”
I scoff. “As if there was any question.”
Brody waves me into him. “Bring it in, dude.”
I laugh as we hug in a totally manly way. Who cares if we hold each other a little too long? Nothing to see here, folks.
Move along...
I introduce myself to the minister and shake his hand before getting into the rightful position. I didn’t notice the speaker in the back until sound begins bursting out of it. I laugh as I recognize the notes to “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” except this time, it’s being sung by a woman with a soulful, almost bluesy voice.
Charlee’s dad steps outside, with my stunning bride on his arm. As they slowly make their way up the aisle, I couldn’t pry my gaze off of her if I tried. Her coffee-colored eyes are filling with tears and I’d be lying if I said mine weren’t doing the same. She looks so much like a fucking angel, it momentarily robs me of breath.
From this day forward, I get to begin and end each day with this woman in my arms. I get to love on her, and play with her, and let’s face it—antagonize her, because I can’t resist that fire that is so uniquely hers. I get to grow old with her, and hopefully in between, have a few babies with her. I couldn’t possib
ly be any happier than I am in this moment because I get to proudly call her my wife in front of anyone who will listen.
Mr. Harris places Charlee’s hand in mine when they reach the front and we take our positions in front of the minister.
The minister smiles. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re here today to celebrate Charlotte and Andrew. They decided to renew their vows in front of friends and family so you may witness their devotion to one another. Andrew, please take Charlotte’s hand and repeat after me.”
I hold up my hand. “I’d like to say my own vows, if that’s okay.”
“Me too,” Charlee adds.
The minister nods. “Please, go right ahead.”
I take both of Charlee’s hands into mine and squeeze. “Okay, I’m doing this on the fly, so bear with me.” I take a deep breath. “Charlotte Gianna Harris, meeting you is undeniably the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. Your brother may have tried preventing it from happening...” Our small audience chuckles at that. “...but Fate clearly had other plans. You are everything I never knew I wanted. And you’re everything I’ll ever need. I’m honored to be the man that gets to hold your hand for the next fifty or so years.”
Several sniffles sound in the background but my eyes remain locked on Charlee’s as she begins her vows.
“Andrew Oliver Summers, before I met you, I was perfectly happy being alone. If I never married, or had children, I was honestly okay with that.” She briefly turns to her mom. “Sorry, Ma.” More laughs from the audience. “But now...now that I know what it feels like to be loved by a man who accepts me for exactly who I am, who encourages me to be myself no matter what, I could never go back. I love sparring with you, and laughing with you, and...doing other things with you.” She winks. “Especially the other things. You are the greatest man I’ve ever known. You love with your whole heart, which I think may be even bigger than your giant body, as impossible as that sounds.” She places her hand on the left side of my chest. “I promise to care for that enormous heart of yours always and never take your love for granted.”
I wipe a stray tear off her cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you,” she mouths.
The minister clears his throat. “Do we have the rings?”
Shit. I didn’t think about that. “Uh...”
“I’ve gots them!” Nathan shouts.
Charlee laughs as he runs up to us and proudly presents her with a small black box. “Why thank you, handsome.”
Nate looks just as mesmerized by her as I am. My sister has to guide him back to his chair because he seems to have forgotten what he was doing.
The minister takes the box from Charlee. “These rings are a symbol of Andrew’s and Charlotte’s commitment to one another.” He hands me a thin gold band, almost identical to the one she had in Vegas, but obviously better quality. “Andrew, please place this ring on Charlotte’s finger and repeat after me. Charlotte, with this ring, I pledge to you all that I am and all that I will ever be as your husband.”
I slide the band over her knuckle. “Charlotte, with this ring, I pledge to you all that I am and all that I will ever be as your husband.”
He hands Charlee my band, which is also similar in style to my first one. “Charlotte, please place this ring on Andrew’s finger and repeat after me. Andrew, with this ring, I pledge to you all that I am and all that I will ever be as your wife.”