Page 166 of The Persistence of Thornes
This is so over-the-top for a courthouse wedding, but it couldn’t be more perfect. When we turn and enter the room, my knees go weak. Caleb waits at the other end with Seda at his side. She’s wearing a pink floral dress and tugging on his arm. He bends down so he can hear what she says, his eyes on me the whole time.
I head straight for him, maybe a little too quickly. Maybe I should be embarrassed by the way I can’t get to him soon enough, but there’s no shame in any aspect of how I feel about him.
As he takes my hand and we exchange our vows, the room melts away. It feels like it’s only the two of us as we slide bands onto each other’s ring fingers. When he kisses me, it feels like the promise of a new beginning.
The start of a new chapter.
One I can’t wait to fill the pages of.
CHAPTER 42
CALEB
“Those dance lessons paid off, huh?” I ask as we sway to the song.
As meddlesome as our friends are, I probably should have expected the surprise reception they put together.
Halle lets out a laugh that ends in a snort. Her cheeks pinken, and she peers around like she’s worried someone heard her. “Rub it in.”
Grinning, I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “You’re my wife.” I can’t stop saying it. Subconsciously, maybe I’m a little scared that if I don’t, I’ll wake up to discover thishas all been a dream.
“You’re my husband.” She rests her chin on my chest, looking up at me.
The rec center is filled with people from town. I don’t think Halle knows many of them, at least not well, but she has encountered them. That’s how Hawthorne Mills is, though—one giant family.
Except for, ironically, given our ancestors were the founders of this town, my own family.
I’ve tried not to dwell on my mother’s reaction. I expected it, honestly, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. There’s no changing my parents. I learned that long ago. All I can do is keep reaching out, hoping to meet them in the middle. If they don’t want to take the step to do the same, that’s okay too. I’ll never put my relationship with them above the ones I have with my wife and kid.
Salem appears from the kitchen, holding a carrier filled with cupcakes, and a second later, Halle sees her, her eyes lighting up.
“Cupcakes!” she squeals, pulling away.
The girl I met months ago never would’ve reacted so openly to a sweet treat. I’m so fucking thankful that she let me peer past those thick walls of hers, that she eventually let me dismantle them and that she’s found a home with not just me, but with this entire town.
Before she gets far, I grab her hand.
She’s mine now, and I’m not letting her get away that easily.
I do, however, let her drag me over to the table where Salem is carefully setting out an array of cupcakes.
“Do you have red velvet?” Halle asks with a little bounce.
Salem swishes her hair over her shoulder. “Duh. It’s your favorite.” She plucks one and hands it to Halle. “You want one too?” she asks me.
I hold out an eager hand.
With a playful eye roll, she passes me a cupcake of my own.
I swipe a plate, napkins, and a bottle of water before draggingmy wifeover to the table set up at the head of the room.
There’s a good chance Halle will be annoyed by how often she’s going to be hearing the wordwife. It settled in my brain with ease, like that label was always meant to belong to her and only her.
Once we’re seated, Halle peels the wrapper from the cupcake, careful not to get any red velvet crumbs on her dress.
“Today’s a good day, isn’t it?” she asks with a smile.
“The best day.” I grin at her as she takes a bite and hums when the flavor hits.
