Page 131 of Hail Marry
During this time, regular assessments of your living and marital arrangements will be conducted by USCIS to ensure the continuity and legitimacy of the marriage.
“That sounds…creepy,” Jack says, cocking a brow. “How exactly do they assess the legitimacy?”
“Ignore him,” I say to Luca, impatient to hear the rest.
3. No Removal Action
Upon satisfaction of the conditions above, no further removal action will be pursued, and Mr. Callahan will be eligible for lawful permanent residency upon successful completion of the monitoring period.
“Blah, blah, blah.” I yank the phone out of Luca’s hand, toss it onto the nearby armchair, and pull him into my arms, relief making its way through my veins to every part of my body.
Troy grabs the phone and continues reading the letter wrap-up while Luca and I hug.
“We did it,” Luca whispers.
“We did.” My chest feels like it might explode with gratitude and joy any second. “Does this mean no deportation wedding?”
His chuckle ruffles the hair around my ear, and his arms squeeze me more tightly. “You can have whatever wedding you want.”
Our hug is rudely interrupted when the entire Sheppard clan—Allreds included—decide they’ve given us enough private time and are now joining in, creating an enormous Sheppard family group hug.
Luca and I are at the center, his arms wrapped around me and mine around him.
“I’m being crushed,” I manage to eke out through ultra-compressed lungs. “Crusher is back.”
“And here to stay,” he says, kissing the only part of my head he can reach.
EPILOGUE
LUCA
6 months later
This.This is what I could’ve missed out on if I’d been stubborn enough to insist on not getting close to anyone.
The golden glow the sun casts all along the beach in Belize. The halo of light around the archway of flowers over Tori’s and my heads.
The smiling faces of the Sheppards and at least half of the Admirals team looking up at us from their seats.
The feel of Tori’s hand in mine as I rub my thumb along her wedding band and promise to love her and cherish her for the rest of my life.
The way she looks at me like I’m everything she could have dreamed of and more while she swears to stand by me and love me no matter what comes.
I’m so unbelievably grateful for everything that brought me to this moment. None of my past pain compares to my present joy as our lips lock and our friends and family erupt in cheers.
“That was so much better than our kiss the first time we got married,” Tori says when we pull apart. “I can’t wait to find out what it’ll be like when we renew our vows again.”
I laugh, kiss her head, and take her hand to walk down the aisle, where flower petals and cheers rain over us.
Austin and Troy sprint ahead through the sand, making for the tent, where the DJ system, dance floor, and food await. A few tables lit with white lanterns line the entry, and we slow as we pass through them.
One is stacked with gifts, and Tori points to a particular one: a DVD wrapped with a white bow and a short note from Zach:Probably time you watched this.It’sThe Proposal.
A few Polaroid cameras and extra film sit on another table next to a sign that says:Snap a few shots and help us fix this sad, empty album!The gag wedding album Tori’s family gave us sits open beside the sign, still entirely blank.
I grab a Polaroid and face it toward us, then press my cheek to Tori’s and click the button. She pulls the film out of the camera and waves it in the air as it exposes.
“What do you think?” I ask as we look at it.
