Chapter 37

Thirty-Seven

Damon

I couldn’t look away from the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. All I could do was silently say another prayer to God. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

She grinned at me. I grinned back. I could vaguely hear the pastor reciting the vows.

Suddenly, Noah gently nudged me. “That’s you.”

I jerked back to the present. “I do,” I said automatically.

The audience laughed again.

I thought about everything that had happened in the last four weeks—all the hospital visits and the prayers and how this hard thing had brought my family and the community together. The townspeople were no longer gossiping that I was marrying Isla. Everyone in the community had told me in some way that they were rooting for us and praying for us.

The pastor finished the ceremony. “I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Damon and Isla Armstrong. You may now kiss the bride.”

I took her into my arms and dipped her.

She laughed, smelling like fresh roses.

I pressed my lips against hers. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”

She kept me close. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”

Everyone cheered.

We stood tall and lifted our joined hands into the air. I took off my hat and threw it. “I’m married, y’all!”

My family swarmed us, with Trent and Jason bouncing around on either side of me.

I bent and picked them up. “We’re married!” I shouted again, making them giggle.

My mother and Ella and Kayla circled Isla. This day was so perfect. All I knew was that I would go through anything for this woman. I was so grateful that we hadn’t been wrecked. We would be together and build a life now.

Thank you, Lord!