Page 117 of Beau & Autumn

And here we all were thinking Gray would never get married again after the first nightmare. Hartley isn’t anything like his ex-wife, thank God.

A grin spreads across my face just as the music starts and we all look up to the back archway where Callan pulls up in the golf cart. “Way to go,” I whisper to Gray as we all form a long line and I straighten myself out. “Proud of you.”

He gives me a side eye. “Thanks, bro. But eyes on your bride.”

I take a few deep breaths. This is nothing at all like the first time. My heart races in a similar way though; my palms are a little clammy, but the fact it’s fucking official this time and we don’t have to pretend, makes me feel different. I feel… on top of the world. Like this was all part of some major plan.

My heart feels so full knowing that Autumn is mine. All the years we were friends when others came in and out of our lives; she was always there. We’ve seen each other through quite some episodes already. Heartbreak. Highs and lows. And now she's my wife… for the second time.

I feel tears already forming in my eyes, threatening to leak from the corners as I see her dad helping her out of the cart in the distance and everyone stands.

“Showtime.” Fletcher gives me a nudge in the side.

I take a few more deep breaths as I see our flower girls, Blake and Trinity, getting ready at the end of the red carpet, followed by the bridesmaids.

I look down the line at my brothers as Trinity and Blake both start the procession in time to the soft music. They’re wearing pretty pink dresses and holding a basket each, sprinkling rose petals as they walk. When I catch a glimpse of Gabe, he wipes a tear from the corner of his eye as he watches them. It’s so darned cute, I have to say. The one thing about weddings is it brings everyone together, and I love that.

“You two sure made pretty kids,” I comment to Gabe and Brook. Gabe smiles with pride as Brook gives his daughter a wink.

Autumn’s bridesmaids follow; Eden, Carrie and my sister. We didn’t do the traditional thing of the groomsmen walking the bridesmaids; we wanted the girls to have their moment to shine.

Finally, my eyes latch onto my wife. It’s not going to be long now, she isn’t going to be too far behind the bridesmaids. My Autumn Leaf. She’s more fucking glorious than any woman I’ve ever seen in my life. Watching her walk to the edge of the red carpet as she holds onto Chase’s arm, I flex my fingers and ball them up a few times to shake off the nerves. I mean, I’m not nervous about her. I’m not even nervous about us. But everyone is watching and I’m not one for a big audience.

We both deserve this special day with our family and friends, and I know how much it means to have her dad walk her down the aisle.

“And here comes my wife,” I hear Brook mutter as he watches Eden walk behind the girls. They’re all wearing a similar pink colored dress to Trin and Blake’s, but they’re all slightly different. Eden’s is a long silky gown with thin straps and a lower neckline. Carrie’s wears an off the shoulder number with a floaty little train at the back, and Georgia-Blue — I have to laugh to myself — hers is knee-length with a thick tutu underneath to puff out the silk so it looks kind of sixties.

She gives me a wink as she floats on by.

I can see my parents at the front, sitting next to Ruth and Autumn’s gran. Anton slides in on the end seat.

Callan slips his way in next to Celeste; they hold hands and smile over at me. Hartley sits next to Celeste, then Skye, Hudson and his dad, Huck, Owen and Daniel with his family.

Verne from the bakery and her husband Keith sit behind them, then I spot Aunt May and Uncle Mike on the same row. My eyes flick back to Autumn as her and Chase stand at the end of the long aisle. This is it. My beautiful girl and I are going to have our happily ever after.

We’ve decided for now we’ll keep living in my casita while we work on the major repairs for Autumn’s place; including re-tiling the roof. Then we’ll get our own place on the farm, possibly a modular home or something similar. Brook is going to help me look into something sustainable where we can add solar panels and make the place environmentally friendly. Autumn will rent her house out as wedding guest accommodation when all the repairs are done. And as for kids, neither of us think we will take the plunge in starting a family, not in the near future, anyway. We’re both happy as we are, the two of us. If things change in time, then so be it. But for now, we just want to enjoy each other.

Tears cloud my eyes as I watch Autumn and Chase walk slowly toward us. She looks absolutely gorgeous in her long, flowy, white gown. I almost have to hold myself upright as I watch her. Her eyes are on me the whole way; her smile is as bright as the sun. Her father steps forward and shakes my hand. “Look after her,” he says simply.

“I will,” I promise. “Always.”

He gives Autumn a kiss on the cheek and places her hands in mine. Then he takes a seat next to Ruth at the front. Even Ruth has a tissue up to her eyes as she dabs them, clearly overcome with emotion.

I can feel the energy buzzing between us as Autumn blinks up at me. It’s palpable. She takes my breath away. So much so, I feel my heart pulsating and my body humming. I place her hand on my heart before we start our proceedings. “You feel that?” I whisper.

She already has watery eyes, there’s no way either of us are going to last through the whole ceremony without crying. “I feel it, Beau.”

“I love you,” I mouth.

“I love you too,” she whispers back before the celebrant steps forward. Yes, we found Leonie again to perform the ceremony once more, but this time we’ve written our own vows and I know it’s going to be even more memorable than it was the first time.

“You ready, Wifey?” I hear Fletch chuckle next to me.

“I’m ready, husband.”

And so our wonderful journey continues.

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