She beams. “Thank you. So does Momma.”
“I’m sure she does. It was very sweet of you to help her get ready.”
“We had a lot of fun.”
Chuckling, I grab the end of her braid and give it a gentle tug. “You didn’t give anything away, did you?”
“Nope,” she chirps, rocking back on her white sandals. “I kept my lips sealed like you asked me to.”
“Good girl.”
Her eyes scrunch up with how big her smile is.
I turn to face the room and quietly let everyone know that I’ll be back out in a few minutes and for them to get ready. After, with my heart pounding in anticipation, I walk down the hallway to our bedroom door. I may have told Owen I wasn’t nervous, but a small part of me is. Not for fear of Molly being disappointed, but because this means a lot to me, and I know it’ll mean a lot to her.
A few days ago, when she said she wished we could relive our wedding day, she had no idea what I had planned. So I know this will come as a shock to her.
Cracking the door open, I slip inside the room. Molly, once again, just as she has many times over the years, takes my breath away. She’s sitting in front of the vanity in a simple white sleeveless dress that Gemma helped me pick out and we both gave to Molly under the guise that she needed a new dress for when we went to the lake house. Her long, gorgeous hair hangs halfway down her back in soft waves. Ever since the time I told her when we were kids that I loved her hair loose, she’s worn it down.
When she turns her head and her gorgeous, green eyes meet mine, I swear I grow weak in the knees. She’s wearing a soft smile that arrests my heart. Her makeup is a tiny bit more muted than Gemma’s, although a little heavy, but it doesn’t take away from her beauty.
“Hey,” I say softly, walking over to her. “You waiting for me?”
“I ammm. Took youuu lonnng enough.” She throws me a wink, then runs her eyes down my clothes. “Yooou look mmmighttty handsssome, Mr. Braaadshaw.”
With a laugh, I drop to my knees in front of her. Pushing her legs apart, I wedge my hips between them before grabbing her hands.
She looks down at me, a frown creasing between her eyes.
“Whaaat’sss wronggg?”
“Nothing.” I smile and bring one of her hands to my lips. “Except there’s this one small thing I need from you.”
“Whaat’ss that?”
I lean forward and place a soft kiss to her lips, then only back away a few inches. “Well, you see. There’s a bunch of people outside waiting for a wedding to happen, and I seem to be a bride short.”
“Whaat?” she asks, her eyes growing wide.
“I want to marry you again.” I grin crookedly at her. “If you’ll have me, of course.”
Tears appear in her eyes and her bottom lip wobbles. “Ifff I’ll have youuu?” she asks, her voice shaky. “I’ddd marry you a thousannnd timesss, Lincoln.”
A smile stretches across my face, and while I had no doubt she would say yes, my heart still soars.
She smiles back, giving me the fireflies I love so much. She looks profoundly happy.
Leaning forward, I press another kiss against her lips before I stand with her in my arms. “You ready to become Mrs. Bradshaw again?”
“Yes.” Her grin takes up her entire face.
When we leave the room, the house is empty. I head for the back door of the lake house. Molly sucks in a sharp breath when I open the door and she sees what’s become of the backyard. With Jenna and Lindsay’s help, we’ve managed to turn it into a small wonderland. The sun has already set, so the greenish-yellow twinkling lights hanging from the trees look like hundreds of fireflies flashing. The small pathway is covered with flower petals and lights our way. The arch at the end is covered with dahlia flowers. Our family and friends, standing on either side of the path, turn and watch as we approach. Everyone wears a smile, their eyes glued on the woman in my arms.
“I caaant’t believvve you did alll this. It’sss beautiffful.”
“Only the best for my girl.” I wink at her. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Jenna and Lindsay’s help.”
Speaking of Jenna, we stop by her long enough for her to kiss Molly’s cheek.
“You look stunning,” she says, her eyes glassy.
“Thank you.”
We continue our walk down the aisle, and I stop again when we come to my parents. Mom uses a tissue to wipe beneath her eyes.
“You are utterly gorgeous, my dear.” Cupping Molly’s cheek, she kisses the other. I turn to the side so she can do the same to mine.
Right before we reach the officiant, we come to a stop by Molly’s parents, Lindsay, Gray, and Gemma. Nancy has tears rolling freely down her cheeks as she takes in her daughter.
“My beautiful baby girl,” she blubbers and leans over to kiss Molly’s forehead. Douglas comes next and does the same. Then it’s on to Lindsay. The kids beam at their mother and each gives her a kiss.
“Love you,” she whispers to them and they say it back.
We finally make it to the officiant. He’s a pastor at one of the local churches that Mrs. Bagley recommended. Keeping Molly in my arms—I wouldn’t put her down even if she were able to stand on her own—I turn us to face him.
“Good evening, folks,” he begins, his kind eyes moving from me to Molly, then to the crowd behind us. “We’re gathered here today so that Lincoln Graham Bradshaw and Molly Isabelle Bradshaw may renew their wedding vows.”
He goes on to explain the reunion of vows. The whole time he speaks, I keep my eyes on Molly and she does the same. I couldn’t look away from her if I tried. She’s always kept me captivated with her beauty, both on the inside and out, even after twenty-eight years of knowing her.
I pull my eyes away from her when the officiant asks if either of us has anything to say.
I nod. “I do.” I look back down at my wife. “I love you. I have from the day I first met you when I didn’t even know the meaning of the word. Many people aren’t lucky enough to fall in love with their soul mates, let alone find true love, period. I’m lucky because I’ve not only been blessed with a wonderful wife who I love with every single piece of my heart, but I get to keep falling in love with her every day over and over again. I’ll love you until the last breath leaves my body and my heart no longer beats.”
Once I’m done, Molly has tears sliding down her cheeks smearing her makeup. She lifts a shaky hand and wipes beneath her eyes, smudging it even more. Even so, she’s still beautiful. There’s nothing that could tarnish her beauty.
The officiant clears his throat. “Molly, would you like to say something?”
Her eyes dart to him, and a look of panic slides over her features. “I-I dddin’t—”
I cut her off before she has any more problems talking. “Shh…. It’s okay.” I smile. “I know I kinda sprung this on you. You don’t have to say anything. I have everything I need right now here in my arms.”
“Therrre is sssomething I wannnt to saaay,” she says strongly. Her eyes flicker back to the officiant.
“Go ahead, Molly,” he says gently.
After pulling in a deep breath and licking her lips, she opens her mouth.