Chapter 78 Mr. & Mrs. Collins

Chapter 78 Mr. & Mrs. Collins
The moment Victoria and I walk into the reception, the room erupts. Applause fills the room, followed by cheers and whistles that make Victoria laugh beside me.

I glance down at her.

My wife.

The thought still feels surreal.

Victoria catches me staring.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You're staring.”

I smile. “I'm allowed to stare at my wife.”

Her cheeks turn pink, and I can't help but smile wider.

I could definitely get used to saying that.

We make our way through the room and by the time we reach our table, Jamie is already waiting for us.

He looks at me, then at Victoria, before shaking his head.

“Well, look at you.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“Officially tied down.”

I roll my eyes. “You're just jealous.”

“Jealous?” Jamie scoffs. “Of you?”

“Exactly.”

He pats my shoulder sympathetically. “Enjoy your freedom while you can, brother.”

“I'm married, not incarcerated.”

“Same thing.”

Victoria bursts out laughing.

I point at him. “You're giving a speech later. Remember that.”

Jamie grins.

“Exactly why you should be nice to me.”

I shake my head as we sit at our table. Once we're seated, food is served, and for the first time all day, everything slows down.

There were moments when I wasn't sure what the next day would bring, let alone the next few years.

We've had beautiful moments, painful moments that nearly took her from me, and moments that reminded us why we kept choosing each other.

And somehow, after everything, we're here.

Married.

I reach across the table and take Victoria's hand. She looks at me.

“You okay?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

“What are you thinking about?”

I squeeze her hand.

“Us.”

She smiles softly and  turns her hand over intertwining our fingers.

“I love you.”

My chest tightens.

“I love you too.”

Before I can say anything else, the music changes.

Our first dance.

I stand and hold my hand out to her.

“Mrs. Collins.”

She looks at my hand before looking back at me.

“Mr. Collins.”

I smile as she takes my hand and I lead her onto the dance floor as everyone watches us.

Her arms settle around my shoulders while mine wrap around her waist.

For a few moments, neither of us says anything.

We simply move together.

I look down at her.

“You know, I still can't believe you're my wife.”

She smiles.

“You've said that several times today.”

“Because it keeps getting better every time I say it.”

She rests her head against my chest.

I hold her a little tighter.

For years, I wondered what my future would look like.

I never imagined it would look exactly like this.

The woman I love in my arms.

Our daughter somewhere nearby.

A life we fought for.

……………

A few minutes later, Jamie stands and taps his glass.

I immediately know I'm in trouble.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I was given the honour of being Hayden's best man.”

He pauses.

“Although, after knowing him for all these years, I'm still trying to understand why he thought I was qualified to give him advice.”

Everyone laughs.

“Hayden has always been stubborn. Annoyingly stubborn, actually.”

“Here we go,” I mutter.

Victoria laughs beside me.

“But if there's one thing I've learned about him, it's that when he sets his mind on something he doesn't give up. This man has only loved one woman his entire life, and today he gets to call her his wife.”

The room grows quieter.

Jamie looks at Victoria.

“And Victoria, you somehow managed to make this man even more impossible.”

Victoria covers her face laughing.

“But you've also made him happier than I've ever seen him.”

I look at Victoria.

She's already getting emotional.

“You two have been through your fair share of things. But somehow, you've always found your way back to each other. And now you're here. Married. With a beautiful little girl.”

“So here's to Hayden and Victoria. May your marriage be filled with love, laughter and patience, because Hayden will definitely need some and many more years of choosing each other.”

He raises his glass.

“To Mr. and Mrs. Collins.”

“To Mr. and Mrs. Collins,” everyone echoes.

I stand and pull Jamie into a quick hug.

“Thanks, man.”

He pats my back.

“Don't get emotional. You're married now. You're supposed to be tough.”

I laugh.

The rest of the evening passes in a comfortable blur.

Family and friends mingle around the room, conversations overlapping with laughter and music.

At one point, I look toward our mothers and find them deep in conversation.

Victoria's mother laughs at something my mother says, and soon they're both laughing so hard that they have to pause.

I shake my head.

“They're getting along.”

Victoria follows my gaze.

“They are.”

……………

The music changes again, this time, it's for the father-daughter dance.

Victoria walks toward Paul, and I watch as he opens his arms for her. After everything that happened between them, seeing them like this makes me proud of my wife.

Their relationship hasn't always been easy. There were years of hurt, secrets and anger.

But tonight, she's embracing her stepfather, and has found room in her heart to let go of the past.

I'm proud of her.

My eyes move across the room, and I notice Victoria's paternal grandmother standing near one of the tables, watching them too.

She brings a hand to her face, quietly wiping beneath her eyes.

I don't need to ask why.

She's wishing her son were here to see his little girl getting married, the same way I wish my dad were here.

I look down when I feel a tiny hand tugging at my jacket.

“Daddy.”

I glance at Lexi.

“Dance?”

I smile.

“You want to dance with Daddy?”

She nods enthusiastically as I pick her up and carry her onto the dance floor.

She wraps her tiny arms around my neck while I hold her against me.

“Careful,” I whisper. “Don't step on Daddy.”

She giggles.

I sway with her as she rests her head against my shoulder.

When the song ends, I kiss Lexi's forehead before carrying her back toward the table.

That's when Noah appears beside me.

He looks at me with a grin.

“Well, well, well.”

I already know where this is going.

“Don't.”

“Welcome to the married-man club, Hade.”

I groan.

Noah laughs before looking toward Liam and Jamie who just joined us.

“So, which one of you two is next?”

Liam immediately shakes his head.

“Not me.”

Jamie surrenders, “Absolutely not.”

“That's what they all say.” Noah says, then points at me laughing.

“I thought you would beat Hailey and I down the aisle.”

Victoria walks over and slips her hand into mine.

“Taking him already?” Jamie asks with a pout.

“Don't worry Jamie, I will return him to you in two weeks.”

We've say our goodbyes to everyone, promise to call when we arrive, and make sure Lexi is settled with the family before we leave.

“Well, husband.”

“Yes wife?”

“Take me to our honeymoon.”

I grin. “With pleasure.”

And for the first time in a long time, I don't wonder what comes next.

I already know.

Whatever it is, we'll face it together.