Page 50 of It's Your Love: Rebel & Holly

“Who gives this woman?” Prophet asks.

“Her grandmother and I,” Paul responds, placing her hand in mine. I tighten my grip and get an answering squeeze.

“Us too!” Mina exclaims, causing me to chuckle.

“Before we get started, Rebel has something to say,” Prophet announces.

Turning to look down at Mina and Ruby, I say, “Today, I’m marrying your mother and that’ll make her my wife. What I want to know, and this is very important, so you need to pay attention, okay?” At their nods, I continue, “Can I adopt you two and give y’all my last name?”

“Yes,” Ruby says, without hesitation. “Will we be… will we be legal then?”

At that, laughter rings out, which makes her look at her mother. “Did I say something wrong, Mama?”

Holly leans down and whispers, “No, sweetie, you didn’t. Mina? What about you?”

“Will you be my daddy forever then?” Mina asks me.

“Absolutely, Mina.”

“Then I say yes, too. Can we go sit with Grammy now and watch, Mama?” Mina questions.

“Yes, girls.”

With that, Paul takes both the girls’ hands and they go to sit by Esther and Samuel, who is also sitting on the front row while we turn to face Prophet, still holding hands.

“You both chose to write your own vows, so Holly, ladies first,” Prophet says.

She turns to me and grasps my other hand. “Rebel, the day we met, I wasn’t expecting it at all. Never in my wildest dreams, especially in the situation I was in then, did I anticipate that talking to you in the grocery store would lead to us being here right now. I’m not sure exactly when I fell in love with you, but for the first time in my life, outside of my grandparents, I feltsafe and secure. You knew from the start that I had two little girls and was a package deal, yet you didn’t run. In fact, you jumped in with both feet, despite my crazy work schedule and made it to where I didn’t really remember a time you weren’t there for me or the girls. I love you with every fiber of my being and will be proud to be your wife and ol’ lady as long as I have breath in my body.”

I can feel the wet in my eyes, an emotion that isn’t exactly foreign, but it’s been so long, I’m not sure what to do with it if I’m being completely honest with myself. I can feel myself shaking a little bit, but it has nothing to do with the cold and everything to do with the commitment I’m currently making.

“Rebel?” Prophet asks.

Clearing my throat, I lean in and kiss her forehead, hearing Ash say, “Hey, we’re not at that part yet!”

“Holly, the day I heard a little girl’s giggles in the produce section of the grocery store, I was hooked. Seeing you there as the three of you tried to figure out what you were buying, I had no choice but to come closer so I could be a part of what you had. You’ve taken me as I am, a biker, a businessman, a little rough around the edges. Yet, you accept me as I am, flaws and all. Not only that, but you’ve embraced a world you knew nothing about, except for what you’ve read in those romance books you like.” She grins at me as a blush stains her face. “There are so many qualities about you that I love, from your work ethic, to how you love your girls, to the way you treat everyone with kindness and grace. You’re my end game, Holly. You, Mina, Ruby, and whatever children we’re blessed with down the road. You’re my forever and I’ll love you for the rest of eternity and beyond.”

I’m lost in her eyes as Prophet goes through us exchanging rings and I know Holly is as well, since we’re both answering without tearing our gazes from each other. Finally,finallyI hear him say, “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

As our lips touch, our first kiss as man and wife, I can hear my brothers cheering and stomping their feet. When we finally pull back from one another, I wipe the tear that escaped when I was reciting my vows to her.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Jonah Sherman, also known as Rebel and Holly,” Prophet announces.

Mina and Ruby come running toward us and I pull them into our family hug. A content feeling overwhelms me when I stare at my family.

My family.

Mine.

I’ll protect them with everything I have.

Every fucking thing.

“Let’s get a few pictures out here then get inside,” Ash suggests. “It’s cold and I know the bride and groom don’t want to get to the sickness part of the marriage vows.”

Snickers erupt from my brothers but Jacki, one of our club girls who does photos from time to time for club events, quickly gets us in position and before I know it, Holly and I are in the side-by-side, the girls on our laps as Paul drives us to their house where we’ll have our reception.

The party is a lot different than my brothers are used to, but with plentiful food and flowing alcohol, everyone is relaxed and having a good time.

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