Chapter 32

Chapter Thirty-Two Caleb The doors to the chapel open and the most stunning vision I have ever seen stands before me. Hope is the woman of my dreams and I watch as she's walked down the isle by my new favorite little guy. The two of them have made me the happiest I've ever been. I can't wait to make them my family and to share a small piece of the love that they have for each other. Hope's eyes catch a glimpse at Tammy who is standing where traditionally the mother of the bride stands. Tammy smiles at her and offers a small wave, which brings a smile instantly to Hope's face. Brandon catches the interaction and gives me a firm pat on the back in appreciation for a job well done. I wonder if I'll ever get tired of making her smile. When Hope and Nathan reach the front of the chapel, I lean down and pick Nathan up. I don't want him to not be apart of this. Marrying Hope means becoming the father figure in his life and I'm more than happy to do that for the both of them. I asked him to share with me, and I'll be doing the same in return. Hope softly says, "Thank you," and I answer, "Of course." The minister thanks everyone for being there and starts to tell us how important marriage is and what it means to join your life with someone's. He has me repeat that I take her hand in marriage and promise to love her and be faithful for all of the days of my life. I watch as Hope repeats the same promise back to me and I can't wait for the part where I get to kiss my bride. We exchange the rings that I bought today. Before the minister joins us in marriage, he blesses the baby that is on the way and asks for everyone that's standing with us today to bow their heads and pray for our marriage and the life that we've created. There isn't a dry eye in the room when he says, "Amen" and I finally get to kiss my bride. For that, I put Nathan down and turn him away from us as my family laughs. I slide my hand into her hair and pull her face towards me, kissing her like there's no tomorrow. I grab her hand and turn back towards my family, making sure to grab Nathan's hand also. With the blessing of my family and the minister, I walk Hope and Nathan back down the isle and into our new life together. I had told Julie that we didn't need a reception, but she set up a small buffet in my dad's room along with a two-tiered wedding cake. A photographer from the chapel follows us up to the room and captures some of the traditional wedding poses. I make a note to remember to thank Julie for thinking of everything when a man in a tux and guitar knocks at the door of the suite. He introduces himself as a professional musician and congratulates us on our marriage. He tells us that Julie has sent him to make sure that Hope and I get a first dance together as a married couple on our wedding night. We invite him in and my family forms a circle in the living room as the musician sits in a chair with his back to the lights of the strip in the window behind him. He takes a minute to tune his guitar before asking if we are ready. This whole thing is a surprise to me, but anything that makes Hope happy and gives her every piece of a traditional wedding, I'm a fan of. I pull Hope close to me and hold her hand in mine with one hand and let the other rest lightly on her back. Her free arm moves to my shoulder and I move her closer to me so that her body is snug against mine. The musician begins to play a song, and I recognize it as "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton. I nod my head in his direction in appreciation for the choice of songs and begin to sway Hope back and forth with the music. I bring her so close to me that I can rest her cheek against mine and dip my mouth down to kiss her neck as we spin to the music, uncaring of the audience around us. The sound of the guitar chords echo through the room and as they begin to fade, I kiss her lips and move my arms to embrace her completely. The song is over and the clapping from my family brings me back to the moment. I wonder for a minute if anyone will care if I take Hope and leave the party to escape to our room for some time alone together. The look in her eyes tells me she might be thinking the same thing. Madeline calls us over to the cake so that we can cut it and the musician begins to play again as we cut the cake and stand around eating it and talking. In this moment my life is perfect and I'm so grateful for everything that has lead me to this day with her. Madeline motions for me to come over to her and I do. She tells me that she and Jackson will take Nathan tonight so that Hope and I can have our honeymoon night alone. With that, I make my way over to my bride and take her hand in mine. I thank everyone for coming to support us and then I announce that I'll be taking my bride back to our room now. Hope's face flushes red, but she doesn't argue, and when I tell her that Nathan will be staying with Madeline, Jackson, and the twins, she nods her head in agreement. My family hugs us goodbye and tells us how wonderful the ceremony was. We make plans to meet in the lobby by 9am tomorrow morning to ride to the airport together. Hope and I walk hand in hand back to our room. When I open the door, I scoop her up to carry her over the threshold. I'm not even sure why that's a tradition, but any excuse to hold her close to me is a worthy one and I happily walk over the threshold with her in my arms. I don't stop walking until I lie her down on our bed and sit beside her. "Today was the best day of my life, Hope." I bring her hand up to my mouth and kiss her knuckles before leaning in to kiss her lips. "But I know that one day I'm going to look back on this moment and wonder how I could have ever thought I could never love you more."