Page 72 of Let Me

“Hi,” he says.

“Hi.”I return to fixing my bowtie.

He releases a sigh and says, “I couldn’t believe it when I first heard you were getting married.Then your mother started dress shopping and I knew it had to be real, but even standing here right now, I don’t believe it.”

I don’t respond.I turn to face him, watching him slide his hands into the black slacks he’s wearing.He looks down at the floor as if he can’t face me, and he probably can’t after firing me and continuously going on rants about my life choices.

He says, “I want you to know that I’m proud of you, Judah.I don’t know much about Autumn except for what your mother told me, but she must be one heck of a woman.”

“She is.”

“Listen—I realize some of the things I said to you were just said in a wrong way, but at the end of the day, I only want what’s best for you.I knew the road you were traveling wasn’t for the best.”

“I get that, and I understand that now even when I didn’t then.I get it.”

“So, you know I didn’t mean to fire you.”

I grin and say, “I’m glad you did.It was that and almost losing the woman I love that gave me a wake-up call.”

“Then you don’t mind me being here for your big day?”

“I don’t mind at all, Dad.”

He lets out a rough chuckle then walks over to embrace me.“I love you, son.”

“I love you, too, Dad.”

“Alright.Now, let’s get this bowtie fixed.I can’t have my only child walking down the aisle with a crooked tie.”

“Thanks, Dad.I appreciate it.”

“The bride and groom have their own vows they would like to share at this time, and we’ll let the bride go first.”

My eyes are glued to Autumn’s when the minister says that because I wasn’t aware she had vows for me.Judging by that beautiful smile on her face, she didn’t tell me intentionally.

She takes my hands into hers, and then she looks up at me with those captivating brown eyes of hers and says, “Judah, when I used to sit around sometimes and think about a man I wanted to be with for the rest of my life, I thought of you, and I didn’t even know you.”

The crowd releases a soft, “Aw,” but that doesn’t distract Autumn.She keeps going, saying, “That’s why I fought so hard for us, foryou, because I knew you were my one—myonlyone.I know there’s no other man for me.I want you to know—”

Her voice cracks and nearly destroys me while I stand here watching tears stream down her face.

“I want you to know that I love you no matter what.The good times, the bad times…all of that.I’ll love you through everything because that’s what real love is.It’s true.Unchanging.It’s my heart inside of yours.”

She smiles.Tears steadily fall.

I lean close to her ear and whisper, “You expect me to say my vows after that?”

She laughs through her tears.

I say, “For years, I didn’t think I deserved this.Happiness.I didn’t think I deserved you, but here you are.Standing here right now before our family and friends, I can truly say I don’t know where I’d be without you in my life.I love you more than words, baby.I love you so much that I reconfigured the direction of my entire life for you.I hope I can make you as happy as you’ve made me.You’ve awakened my heart.I feel like a new person when I’m with you.I love you Autumn, and I’ll love you forever.”

We exchange rings, promise forever to each other again and the minister declares us husband and wife.He doesn’t have to tell me to kiss her.I lean forward, raise Autumn’s veil and rest my hand on her face before dipping my head lower, tasting those sweet lips that were part of the beginning that led us here.I’m kissing my forever.

A round of applause ensues along with our special dance and then her dance with her father.By the way, when he reunited with my father, it was like brothers seeing each other again.Our mothers also get along pretty well which is a blessing because I’ve heard of in-law situations going south.It doesn’t appear we’ll have that problem.

Nico walks up to me and says, “Man, I’m happy for you.The ceremony was fire.Everything is good.I’m glad I got to have a part in this.”

“Of course.Who else would my best man be?”

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