Page 30 of Christmas Past
As she walked toward him, he thought again of how right this all felt. Devynn was the woman who’d changed his entire world…and given him a future he’d never imagined possible.
And in just a few minutes, she would be his wife.
She reached the front of the room, and her father placed her hand in Seth’s with a warm smile and a whispered, “Take care of each other.” Then Robert went to join his wife in the audience, leaving the two of them standing together before their assembled family and friends.
“Hey,” Devynn whispered. Her eyes sparkled with happiness…and maybe just a hint of mischief.
“Hey,” Seth whispered back, and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “You look incredible.”
“So do you.”
Angela cleared her throat and shot them a significant glance, and Seth realized the entire room was watching them with indulgent smiles. Right — they were supposed to be getting married, not having a private conversation.
“Friends and family,” Angela began, her voice warm, carrying easily through the space, “we gather today to celebrate the union of Seth McAllister and Devynn Rowe. These two have traveled quite a journey to reach this moment — literally and figuratively — and we’re honored to witness their commitment to each other.”
Seth barely heard the opening words of the ceremony. His attention was focused entirely on Devynn, on the way the candlelight played across her face, on the warmth in her eyes as she looked back at him. Everything else faded into the background…the other guests, the restaurant around them…even Angela’s voice became not much more than a murmur.
“Seth and Devynn have chosen to write their own vows,” the prima continued, and those words brought Seth’s attention back to the ceremony. “Seth, would you like to go first?”
Seth nodded and turned to face Devynn fully, his fingers still entwined with hers. He’d spent weeks working on his vows, trying to find the words that would adequately express what she meant to him and what their journey together had taught him. Now, looking into her eyes, the carefully planned words seemed insufficient. But they were what he had, and they came from his heart.
“Devynn,” he began, his voice steady despite the beating of his heart, which he thought must be loud enough for everyone to hear, “when I first saw you in that mine shaft, I thought I was rescuing someone who was lost. I had no idea that you were actually the one who would save me. You’ve given me more than I ever dreamed possible — not just love, but a purpose, a home, a future I never could have imagined on my own.” He paused, swallowing against the tightness in his throat. “You’ve shown me that home isn’t a place or a time, but the person you choose to build a life with. You’ve been my rock through every adventure, my partner through every challenge, my best friend through every ordinary day. I promise to love you with everything I have, to support your dreams, to be your constant companion through whatever time may bring us. I promise to choose you, every day, for the rest of our lives.”
Devynn blinked. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears, and he could tell she was trying with all her might not to spoil her carefully applied makeup. When Angela nodded at her, she pulled in a breath and then began her own vows.
“Seth,” she said, her voice clear and strong despite the glitter of tears in her eyes, “you’ve taught me that courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s choosing love despite the fear. You followed me through time, away from everything you’d ever known, because you believed in us. You’ve given me a home in your heart, a partner in every adventure, a love that transcends time itself.” A pause, and her smile grew even brighter. “I promise to love you with all that I am, to stand by your side through every challenge, to build a life with you that honors both where we’ve come from and where we’re going. I promise to choose you, every day, in every timeline, for as long as we both shall live.”
Tears stung his eyes, and he found himself blinking as well. Every single thing she’d said was true…and he’d do his best to prove it to her every day of their lives together.
Connor stepped forward then, carrying two simple white gold bands on a small silver tray. “The rings you’re about to exchange are symbols of your commitment to each other,” he said. “Circles with no beginning and no end, representing the eternal nature of true love.”
Seth took Devynn’s ring with slightly trembling fingers, sliding it onto her left hand beside the engagement ring he’d surprised her with months earlier, then spoke the traditional words, “With this ring, I thee wed.”
The simple band looked perfect on her finger, elegant and timeless, just like the woman wearing it.
Devynn took his ring and repeated the gesture, her touch gentle as she slid the band into place. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
“By the power vested in us by the state of Arizona and the McAllister clan…and the Universal Life Church,” Angela added with a grin, “we now pronounce you husband and wife. Seth, you may kiss your bride.”
Seth didn’t need to be told twice. He cupped Devynn’s face in his hands and kissed her softly, pouring all his love and joy and gratitude into that single moment. Around them, their friends and family erupted in cheers and applause, but Seth barely heard any of it. All his attention was focused on the woman in his arms.
When they finally broke apart, another wave of clapping went through the audience.
“Hello, Mrs. McAllister,” Seth whispered against her ear.
“Hello, Mr. McAllister,” she whispered in reply. “Ready for the next adventure?”
“With you?” he said, then smiled. “Always.”
The reception that followed was pretty much a blur. Seth recalled that the food was amazing — of course it was, since Bree’s brother Shane, the head chef at The Asylum had overseen the whole meal — and the wine was incredible as well, thanks to the way Shane had carefully chosen vintages from local wineries that would complement each course.
There were speeches, of course, from anyone who chose to stand up and say a few words, and people tapping on their wine glasses to nudge the couple into sharing another kiss.
Not that Seth minded, of course, but he was a little amused by the practice, which seemed to be tradition. It certainly wasn’t anything he’d ever heard of.
As the evening continued, they danced to music provided by a DJ friend of Bree’s, shared cake that had been decorated with winter flowers, and accepted congratulations and well-wishes from everyone present. Seth found himself stealing quiet moments with Devynn throughout the night — a few minutes alone on the restaurant’s small balcony, a private dance when most of the other guests were distracted by chatting with one another, whispered conversations about their honeymoon plans and their hopes for the year ahead.
“Any regrets?” Devynn asked during one of those stolen moments, as they swayed together to music that drifted through the windows.
