I grinned, not even caring if I looked like a fool.
"What?" He asked, dropping the bag on the ground, his big hand holding Leo steady.
"I love you." I pushed everything I was feeling at that moment into that declaration.
His eyebrows raised in surprise but he grinned, his gaze warming. "Love you too, Co."
He glanced down at his plate, his eyes narrowing. "Wait. Is this because you stole a piece of my waffle?"
I threw back my head and laughed.
Epilogue Two
Nick
I stood barefoot on the beach, the waters lapping quietly behind me as I shifted in place. Down the aisle, the late afternoon sun at her back, walked Collins. Her boho lace dress brushed the sand as she glided towards me, her gaze firmly fixed on mine.
The select audience of seven – Collins' sister, Emily, her Husband, Calvin, their two children and our three – were hushed as they watched her walk. The silence was a miracle occurrence considering all five of the children were under the age of ten.
"Mommy, you look beautiful!" Our second youngest, Christopher, yelled, shattering the awed silence.
So much for a miracle.
My beautiful wife, paused to send the kids a wink. Emily and Calvin whispered something at the children and they immediately dove for the bubbles, blowing them with gusto towards the aisle. The photographer shifted in the background, finger rapidly clicking to capture Collins, her hair tossed, her curls spiraling down her back as she laughed as a cloud of bubbles engulfed her.
The solo acoustic guitarist strummed his instrument, singing Noah Reid's version of Simply the Best as Collins resumed her walk. Emily and Calvin kept the assembled children as contained as possible as Collins reached me, slipping her hands into mine.
"You look beautiful, Tesoro."
She smiled, the happiness I felt reflected on her face. "Thanks. You look pretty amazing yourself, Husband."
The celebrant cleared his throat. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…"
Much like our first wedding I barely paid attention to the word coming from the man before me. All my attention was centered on my wife. I'd surprised her this morning with the idea and she'd passionately agreed to renew our vows.
"The bride and groom have decided to write their own vows. I now invite Nicholas to speak."
I cleared my throat, joy chocking me. "Collins, when we first entered into this marriage, we were little more than children. We swore to love and protect each other, naïve and unaware of the road we would need to travel. But here we are, together, in love." I looked over at our children, Leo wrinkling his nose at us, Bonny swishing her dress from side-to-side, and our youngest, Jesse, watching us with his solemn expression. None of these children were of my blood but all had my heart.
"We're parents now. And I couldn't ask for a better way to spend today that having our children witness this moment."
I looked back at her, falling in love again with her smile, her eyes, the radiant happiness shining from her soul. "You are my heart. You are my soul. And I will forever be grateful for every moment of this life we share together. I love you, Tesoro. Thank you for making my life beautiful."
She swiped a tear away as the children applauded behind us, Calvin, her brother-in-law, and Emily, her sister, gently shushed them, allowing space for Collins to speak.
"Nicholas, years ago I walked away because I thought you didn't love me. I forced our reunion because I was determined to fill my life with love. The love of a family – even if that family were only me and a baby." She brushed a hand over her cheek, wiping away tears. "I could have never predicted that moment would result in us finding our way back. I could never have predicted it would take so long to fall pregnant, or predicted the joy our beautiful children have brought to our life every day." She drew in a shaky breath, her lips wobbling. "You are my heart. You own my soul. Every day I am grateful for your demands, for our life, for this incredible journey we've been on together. Every day I choose you and this life we live together. Thank you for loving me."
The children clapped, their exuberance turning to sounds of dismay as I drew their mother close, pressing hot kisses to her mouth.
"Ew!" I heard our oldest, Leo, protest. "They're kissing. Again!"
"My mommy and daddy do the same," Leo's cousin Josie informed him.
"But they do it all the time." Jesse complained, his little boy voice sounding very put out.
"Mommy says kissing is what people who are in love do," our little Bonny explained.
I drew back, brushing a thumb over Collins' precious cheek. She gazed up at me, love written in every line on her beautiful face.
Yeah, this is exactly what people in love do.
And for the rest of my life I'd be thanking god, Santa, or perhaps whichever lawyer had drafted that little clause in the contract that was responsible for bring my wife back to me, for this moment.
"I love you, Wife."
She smiled, "I love you too, Husband. Thanks for being the best arranged marriage I've ever had."
***
