Chapter 7

CHAPTER

SEVEN

Lena

Age Twenty-Two

My heart has a heaviness, but it also feels light as a feather. I know that's contradicting, but let me explain.

Today is my wedding day.

The heaviness is from missing my father. He was supposed to be here with me today. It was supposed to be him who walked me down the aisle to the man I love. I'm missing him so much, and I know my mom is too. She's taking his place. She's walking me down the aisle. I was so worried about asking her, but with Stanley's encouragement, I did it. It's not that I was worried she would say no. I didn't want to cause her more pain. He was the love of her life, and I know she misses him terribly every single day. I do, too, but knowing the love I have in my heart for Stanley, I can't imagine the pain my mother has been dealing with since we lost Dad.

So yeah, there is a heaviness that sits on my chest, but the light-as-a-feather parts keep it from pulling me under with the pain of missing him. I'm marrying the love of my life. A man who took one look at me and knew I was meant to be his. A man who has never wavered in his devotion to me. A man who wants to give me his last name and build a life with me. A man I know, without a shadow of a doubt, my father would not only approve of, but he would have loved him as the son he never had. Of that, I'm certain.

"Your father would have loved him," my mom says as if she can read my thoughts.

"I think so too." I meet her watery gaze, the one that matches my own in the mirror as she stands behind me with her hands on my shoulders.

"You look beautiful, Lena. The most beautiful bride I've ever seen."

"Present company excluded," I tease.

She smiles and shakes her head. "Your father would have said something similar, I'm sure." She smiles. The pain of missing him is present in everything we do, but so is the love that we had for him and him for us. He's here today with us. We both know it, even if we don't say it.

"Yeah," I agree, dabbing a tissue under my eye, trying to salvage my makeup.

"I'm so proud of you, Lena."

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too." She clears her throat. "Now, let's get you married. I'm sure Stanley is pacing at the altar."

"I'm not late."

She smiles. "Daughter dearest, the way he loves you—you could be twenty minutes early to the altar, and he would be there waiting."

I laugh. "That's a little much."

"Do you not know the man you're marrying?" she jokes.

Before I can reply, there's a knock at the door. "Come in," I call out. My future in-laws step into the room. They both rush to give me a hug and tell me how beautiful I look.

"Thank you," I say, trying to fight my tears.

"Did he send you?" my mom asks. There's amusement in her tone.

"We were headed to see our girl before, but yeah. He's at the altar and has been for the last thirty minutes," his mom confesses.

"But we still have fifteen minutes before the ceremony starts." Even with my argument, I know Stanley. I know he wants this. I know he wants nothing more than for me to take his last name. This has been a long time coming. We're both more than ready to start the next phase of our lives together.

My future father-in-law grins. "He's just ready to marry you, Lena."

I glance at my mom, and she's wearing a smug grin.

"Told you so."

Stanley's parents laugh, and after another round of hugs, they leave, and it's just Mom and me again.

"You've found a love that most search for their entire lives. Embrace it, and him. He might be anxious, but it's not because he thinks you're not going to show. He just wants you to be his wife."

"I love him so much."

She smiles. "I know you do. Come on, let's go calm your groom's nerves and get you married."

With my arm linked through my mother's, we make our way out of the room and head toward the double doors of the church that will lead me to Stanley. She gives my arm a gentle squeeze as the doors are pulled open. My gaze goes straight to the altar where he's waiting for me.

His head pops up, and he freezes. With every step I take to get closer to him, my heart pounds in my chest. I'm about to be Mrs. Stanley Riggins, and all I can think is it's about damn time.

When we arrive at the altar, he steps forward and reaches for me, but my mom holds up her hand, and all the guests laugh. She doesn't get to say anything before Stanley leans in and kisses her cheek.

"I'll love her with everything I have until the end of time."

My gaze is glued to him as he looks my mother in the eye. I hear her sniff, and my own tears burn in the back of my throat.

"I know you will," my mom tells him. "Welcome to the family, Stanley."

He swallows hard. "Thank you."

Mom turns to me and kisses my cheek. "Love you," she whispers and steps back.

Stanley swoops in and takes my hands in his. "Love you," he mouths.

"Who here gives this woman away?" the minister asks.

"She's a strong, independent woman," my mom says, her voice loud and clear. "However, her late father and I do."

I smile as I lose my battle with tears. I should have assumed she'd mention Dad. I watch her as she walks to her seat. Next to her is a picture of my father in the seat that should have been his. My eyes leak with tears, and I pull my gaze back to Stanley.

"He's here, baby."

"I love you." My voice cracks, but it's also loud enough for everyone to hear.

"That's good, wife. That's real good because I love you too. Now, let's change your name, yeah?"

I nod, unable to find my voice through my tears. Stanley leans in and kisses the tip of my nose. I shudder a breath and square my shoulders. I give him another nod, which he returns with a panty-melting smile.

The minister welcomes everyone and begins to talk about marriage and love. I'm trying to listen to him, but I'm finding it difficult. Stanley has my hands in his, and his thumbs keep tracing over my knuckles. His gaze hasn't left mine, not once.

"Now, the bride and the groom have prepared their own vows."

"Lena." Stanley clears his throat. His eyes mist with tears, and my heart melts. "I love you." The guests laugh. "I don't know if it's magic. I don't know if it's a higher power, but whatever brought you to me, I will forever be grateful. My love for you was instant and the most real thing I've ever felt. We took our time. We let that love grow, we nurtured it, and here we are. Forever isn't long enough with you. I'll love you this lifetime and all of the next. I promise to be your partner. I want to be your shoulder on the bad days, and I want to revel in your happiness on the good days. My heart and soul are yours, and I can't wait to see what we do next."

I exhale and try to get my tears under control. "I love you too." I take a moment to find my words. "You came into my life when I was floating. I needed a safe place to land, and you offered me that. You're not only the love of my life. You're my best friend. I will be your partner and walk beside you through whatever life sends our way. I know you're going to do amazing things, and I'm honored that I get to share those wins with you. There will be losses, and I'll be there for those too. For every second of our forever, I want to be your safe place to land. I'm honored to call you my husband, and I know that wherever life takes us, it's going to be a journey filled with love and happiness." I repeat his words back to him, "My heart and soul are yours, and I can't wait to see what we do next."

He leans in and kisses me. "I love you so damn much, Mrs. Riggins."

"We're not there yet, son," the minister jokes.

"Can we get there?" Stanley asks. His voice is strong, and the love shining in his eyes would have me falling to my knees if he didn't have a tight grip on my hands.

"The rings?" the minister asks.

"Yeah, we're gonna need those," Stanley says, and the guests laugh again.

I smile at him as he turns and accepts my ring.

"Repeat after me," the minister instructs. We each take our turn and take our vows, before sliding the white-gold bands onto our fingers.

"Now, you may kiss your bride."

"Finally." Stanley expels a heavy breath, sliding his arm around my waist and hauling me into his chest.

When his lips touch mine, sparks fly just as they always do. Only this time, it's different. It's more because I know that he's my husband. I know that no matter where life takes us, he'll be by my side, and there is nothing in this world that I want more than that.

Slowing the kiss, Stanley rests his forehead against mine. "My wife," he murmurs.

"My husband."

"Fuck, I love that. Say it again."

"I love you, husband."

"Mrs. Riggins, you are my world." He kisses me again, not showing an ounce of care that our friends and family are watching us. In this moment, there's just the two of us.