Page 131 of Almost Always

The justice of the peace cleared her throat and smiled, which made Rafferty blush. She gestured for them to face each other and Daisy glanced at Roe and Wyatt who were serving as witnesses. Callahan stood with them, Boots beside him, splayed out on the floor.

The justice introduced herself as Evelyn and went into the legal jargon and process of what was happening. The whole time, Daisy smiled at Rafferty, who was furiously blinking back tears. She shook her head at his dramatics, but was also really touched that he got so emotional about marrying her.

“I was informed that you’ve prepared your own vows, so Ms. Heroux, if you would.”

She nodded and pushed her shoulders back. “The sixteen year old version of me that kissed you under the sparkling stars the night before she left would not believe that I’m standing here right now, seconds away from becoming your wife. It’s allshe wanted and now I get to do that for real. You always say I shouldn’t thank you, but I really should. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know where I’d be or what my life would be like. You gave me flowers, you showed me there’s more to life than being perfect and you found your way back to me. Today and forever, you and me, hotshot. Always.”

He sniffled and nodded, wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand. “Calling youHerowas never because you couldn’t say your surname, but because you saved me too. You were my hero even when we were kids and you continue to inspire me everyday. Loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done and it will continue to be the one thing I’m good at, even when I fail at everything else. You bring me the kind of joy I thought only my son could make me feel. You make me look forward to every single day and darlin’, marrying you? It’s what I’ve wanted for as long as I’ve known you. Today and forever, sweetheart. Always.”

Now she was crying, echoed by Monroe and Wyatt’s sniffling. Evelyn asked for the rings and they went through the process of repeating what she said as they slid the rings on. When the band bumped against Nonna’s engagement ring, everything felt complete.

“Daisy and Rafferty, you have made the declarations required by law and have made a solemn and binding contract with each other in the presence of your family and the registrar of marriages. And it gives me great pleasure to pronounce you married. Congratulations, you may kiss!”

She barely had a moment to catch herself before she was swept into his arms, tipped back and kissed like nobody was watching. She could hear cheering as she looped an arm around herhusband’sneck, pulling away briefly to catch her breath before going back in for more. After what felt like hours, he straightened up and broke the kiss, their foreheads resting together. Then a small body was crashing into their legs.

Laughing softly, she squatted so she could hug Cal, who pressed his teary face into her neck.

“Does this make you my mama?”

Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. “Is that what you want?”

“Yes.”

“Okay,” she whispered and he was hugging her again, which knocked the wind out of her. Rafferty had asked if she would want to adopt Callahan and got all the paperwork, but she hadn’t done anything beyond that.

Breathing out shakily she stood up and smiled at her best friend. “Proud of us, Roe.”

“For snagging the two hottest men in the world? Fu—heckyeah.”

Everyone, including Evelyn and her staff, laughed. They posed for photographs—once Monroe had touched up her makeup—and thanked everyone who had made the day a success.

Clinging to her best friend as Rafferty, Wyatt and Callahan walked ahead, Daisy whispered, “Twenty years.”

“Worth it, right?”

Glancing at her husband as he looked over at her, she smiled. “Absolutely.”

“So happy for you, Daze. You got everything you wanted.”

“So did you, Roe. I’m happy forus.”

They walked down the stairs into the main lobby, then her best friend released her, taking her bouquet, and latched onto her own husband. Callahan and Boots went ahead with them as Rafferty turned to her.

“You did good, hotshot.”

He grinned. “I request to be calledhusbandfrom now on.”

“Hotshot husband.”

“I can live with that, Darlin’ Daisy.”

She shook her head. “Absolutely not.”

“We’ll work on it.”

Wrapping her arms around his neck loosely, she smiled up at her husband.

“I love you.”

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