Page 116 of Husband of the Year
“Sarah,” Olan says. My mother is attempting to burp Greggie after the bottle Theo gave him. “Would you mind if I took your son outside for a minute?”
“Go, go! Bubbe’s here.” She kisses the side of Greggie’s head while patting his back.
Exiting the restaurant, the sound of waves crashing on the shore fills the air as Olan gently takes my hand and guides me toward the beach. The sun has set, but twilight still allows us to take in the beautiful view (and not trip on random shells and driftwood in the sand). When we’re about ten feet from the water, Olan lowers himself to the ground, and I join him.
“C’mere,” he says, patting his chest.
“My favorite place,” I say.
“The beach or my chest?”
“Both.”
As I rest against him, the firmness of his pecs supports my back, while the stars twinkle in the darkening sky.
Olan’s arms envelop me, his embrace growing tighter as his warm breath caresses my hair with each deep exhale.
“You okay?” he asks.
I nod, my head buried in the crook of his arm.
“You’re not disappointed we didn’t have the big wedding?”
“Are you kidding? I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. And now we’re married. That’s all I really care about.”
“How does it feel? Being married?”
I hold my left hand out, admiring the ring on my finger. “It’s like everything’s changed, but also nothing’s changed.”
“Exactly. Except, now you’re mine.” He holds me a little tighter. “Forever.”
I nod over the lump that apparently has taken up permanent residence in my throat.
“Look.” Olan points to the sky. There’s a swirl of clouds, resembling cotton candy being pulled and twisted by invisible hands.
“A ribbon in the sky,” he says. “Just for us.”
“I love you,” I say. “So much.”
“Can you feel my heart?” As Olan holds me tightly against his chest, the comforting thumping on my back fills my entire body with affection.
“Yup.”
“You’re doing that. Your love. You.”
As I gaze up at the darkening sky, the stars begin to emerge, their distant lights twinkling against the velvet backdrop of night. My heart synchs with his and a deep sense of peace washes over me, filling every corner of my being with tranquility. Under the vast, star-studded canopy, it’s like the entire universe came out to celebrate us.
Me.
Olan.
My love.
My husband.
EPILOGUE
Fourteen Months Later
