“Well, I suppose you are.”
“Suppose?” I stared down into her bright green eyes. I looked there often to make sure she was still with me. Never again would we lose sight of each other if I had a say in it.
She nodded up at me as she ran her fingers through my hair.
“You’re not sure?” I asked.
“It’s a day by day thing,” she said, grinning up at me.
“Day to day, huh? And today I haven’t met the threshold for being a great husband?”
“The day isn’t over yet.” She reached down and cupped me.
I jerked as her touch sent electric shocks of desire through me. “Well then, let me perform my husband duties. See if I can improve my marks.”
“Making love to me is always a good way to ensure you’re a great husband.”
I laughed. “Good to know.”
28
Terra
Two weeks after Brayden proposed again, I stood in the Rose Garden, where ten years earlier I’d made vows to love Brayden in sickness and in health. Today, I was going to reaffirm those vows. The difference was that today I knew how precious love was, and how easily it could be lost if it wasn’t nurtured. So today, those vows would mean even more.
“Mommy, when do we go?” Lanie was lovely in her little bride’s maid dress. She was so excited to be my maid of honor, although Emma, as a bride’s maid, had to help her with the duties. Not that we went all out like we had for the first wedding. But she’d had a little shower for us.
“Soon baby.”
“How come Noah gets to be up with daddy?” she asked.
I peeked up at them. No one wore a suit like Brayden. If we did lose all our money, he could make a fortune as a suit model. Next to him, Noah stood, tugging at the tie. Brayden smiled at him and bent over to say something.
“Because he’s the best man,” Emma said, handing me a necklace. “Your dad gave this me to give to you. It’s the something old and borrowed.”
I took my mother’s pearls that I’d worn on my first wedding day and I’d wear again today so my mother could be with us. The only difference was that my father wasn’t walking me down the aisle.
“I can’t give you away, you’re already his. Besides, you’re your own woman.” Instead, he was sitting in the front row, pointing toward a butterfly to show Noah.
“Ready?” Emma asked, as she positioned Nina, who I chose as another bride’s maid, in front of her.
“More than ready.”
She smiled at me. “I’m so happy for you, Terra.”
It had to be bittersweet for her. I’d survived cancer and I had the love of my life with me. Emma lost her love to cancer. It didn’t seem fair, and because I knew that life could sometimes be a crap shoot, I’d savor every moment of it.
“Okay sweetie, I’m going up first, then as the special maid of honor, you follow me.” Emma said to Lanie.
“I remember.”
Emma laughed. “Let’s go then.”
Emma and Nina made their way up toward the gazebo with Lanie following. I stepped onto the path and looked directly at Brayden. His gaze caught mine, and in them I saw all the love for me that was flowing through me for him. It had been the same the first time, but this time was so much more poignant.
When I reached him, I handed my bouquet to Lanie.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said.
I leaned closer. “You’re too handsome for your own good. All I can think about is getting you out of that suit.”
He snickered and whispered in my ear. “Careful. I don’t want a hard on in our new wedding pictures.”
The minister proceeded with the ceremony as Brayden and I reconfirmed our love and devotion in front of our children, my father, Emma, and other friends. Even Brayden’s friend Bob was there along with several others from his cancer group.
This time we made our own vows. Another way this wedding was so much deeper than the first one.
“Terra, you are my life,” Brayden started. “My world begins and ends with you.”
There was an audible “aww” from our guests. I had to agree. Brayden could be terribly romantic.
“You’ve given me two beautiful children. You’ve forgiven my faults. I thank God every day when I wake up and you’re there next to me. I vow to always love and cherish you. I promise, you’ll never have another day feeling like you’re not first in my life.”
My heart rolled in my chest. Like me, he would make sure that our marriage stayed strong and connected.
The minister nodded to me that it was my turn.
“Brayden, there are no words to express my love. You’re an amazing man and I’m so grateful that you chose me to live this amazing life with you. You’ve seen me in my darkest moments, nursed me during my sickest, and through it all, loved me unconditionally. I promise I’ll never take you and your love for granted again. I plan to spend every day of my life making sure you know I love you.”
He smiled and leaned in to kiss me.
“You’re jumping the gun, son,” the minister said.
“I don’t care,” Brayden responded.
I didn’t either. I gripped his tie and pulled him to me for a kiss.
“Oh God, there they go again,” Lanie’s voice bellowed.
“Here we go again,” Brayden murmured against my lips. “Again and forever.”
We had a small reception, and then Brayden and I went to the Four Seasons Hotel to spend our honeymoon while the kids spent the night with Emma and Nina. Tomorrow, he and I would fly with the kids to Southern California where we planned to spend a week at Disneyland. We figured it wasn’t just our marriage that we were celebrating, but also our family. What better place to celebrate family than at the happiest place on earth?
At our suite, Brayden opened the door and then picked me up. “We’re here,
