Tears fell freely from my eyes as I placed my hand over Emmit’s. Closing my eyes, I shook my head. Everything I had wanted to say to him slipped from my mind. I barely said, “Emmit,” as I walked to him and he held me. “How am I going to top that?” I asked into his chest. My body shook as he laughed and held me tighter to him.
Pulling back, Emmit wiped my tears from my face. “Just tell me you love me and you’re forever mine, Addie. That’s all I’ve ever needed to hear.”
I lifted my hand and wiped across my nose in the most unladylike fashion as I captured his eyes with mine. “I love you so much, and I’ve been yours since the first time you smiled at me. I gave you my heart back then, and you’ve held it ever since. I will forever be yours.”
Emmit placed his finger on my chin and lifted my mouth to his. He was about to kiss it when the pastor talked.
“Oh, we aren’t at that part yet.”
The naughty smile that spread across Emmit’s face caused me to giggle. “Hurry it up, pastor. I want to kiss my wife.”
I didn’t hear a word that was spoken from that point on. The only thing I for sure heard was the pastor saying, “You may now kiss your bride.”
Emmit pulled my body to his as he kissed me like I’d never been kissed before. Something beautiful and amazing was shared between our bodies and I never wanted to leave that moment. It was exactly how I felt this morning when we were connected as one.
When our lips finally broke, Emmit whispered, “You’re mine.”
With a smile, I bit into my lower lip and slowly released it as I softly spoke. “Yours forever.”
I COULDN’T BELIEVE HOW INCREDIBLY happy I was as I sat in a chair and watched Adaline dance with my brother. The night had been more amazing than I could have ever dreamed of.
Adaline was mine. Mrs. Emmit Lewis.
Smiling, I shook my head and looked around. We had moved the party into the bar, and I loved that the other guests were helping us celebrate our marriage. I silently prayed that I would always be able to make Adaline smile like she was right now.
“She certainly looks beautiful.”
I lifted my eyes to see my sister standing next to me. Motioning for her to sit, I took another drink of my beer as I nodded my head and said, “She most certainly is.”
Ashley bumped me with her arm as she asked, “Does it feel different? Being married?”
As I glanced back out to the dance floor, I let the moments of today run through my mind. “I feel complete. That’s the only way I know how to explain it.”
Ashley sighed next to me as she wrapped her arm around mine. “I hope I meet a guy like you someday, Emmit.”
I shook my head and laughed. “No one will ever be good enough for you. I pity the fool who breaks your heart.”
Laughter shook Ashley’s body. “I’m afraid that’s already happened.”
Pulling back, I looked at my sister. “What? Who? When did this happen? I’ll kill the little fucker.”
Ashley hit my chest lightly and shook her head. “Stop it. It was awhile back and doesn’t matter anymore. After these last few weeks of being able to spend time with you and Adaline, I see what real love is. The way you look at Adaline when she walks into a room; it’s as if she lit the entire room up. You can almost feel your love for her.”
Ashley looked into my eyes and smiled weakly. “I want that, Emmit.”
I placed my hand on the back of her neck and pulled her closer to me. With a gently kiss on her forehead, I said, “Wait for it, Ashley. I promise you it will come when you least expect it to.”
“How will I know?”
Smiling, I lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “Trust me, you’ll know.”
Ashley settled more into my side as she lifted her feet onto the chair. “Mom said y’all are leaving tomorrow.”
“Yeah, with everything that happened and the idea of Stephanie lurking around, I think it’s best if we go somewhere else.”
“Let me know when you get there okay? You don't have to tell me where you are, just that you arrived safely.”
“I promise I will, Ashley.”