And there was his heaven standing right in front of him.
Her father took her hand, kissed the back of it, whispered, “Be happy,” and held her hand out to him.
Jon stepped forward and took it.
Trinity stood before him and Emmy, smiling with a lightness and love that lit up his heart.
“You are so beautiful.”
The smile brightened to megawatt.
He set Emmy down between them and held her hand. Trinity took Emmy’s other hand, and he and Trinity looked to the justice of the peace.
“We are gathered here today to witness the union of Jon and Trinity and Emmy.”
Jon turned to Trinity and saw the confirmation that she’d been the one to include Emmy in their ceremony.
“Marriage is the promise between two people who love each other, and who trust in that love, who honor each other as individuals, and who choose to spend the rest of their lives as partners.”
Jon shared another knowing look with Trinity.
“No matter what challenges you face, you now face them together. The successes you achieve, you now achieve them together. The love between you joins you as one.”
The justice of the peace turned to him. “Do you, Jon, take Trinity to be yours? Do you promise to keep living, learning, loving, and growing together for the rest of your lives?”
“I do.”
“Do you, Trinity, take Jon to be yours? Do you promise to keep living, learning, loving, and growing together for the rest of your lives?”
“I do.”
“Do you have the rings?”
Jon pulled the box out of his pocket and plucked the ring from the velvet holder, then handed the box to his dad.
Trinity handed her lush bouquet of white flowers to Adria and accepted the ring she handed to her.
“Jon. Place the ring on Trinity’s finger and repeat after me.”
Jon slid the ring on her hand and watched her eyes light up.
The justice of the peace told him what to say and he repeated, “With this ring, I give you my heart. All that I am, all that I have, I share with you. Wear this ring today and every day so that you will always have a part of me and my love with you.”
Jon thought the vows, promises, and symbols were really heartfelt and touching, but he added, “This was my grandmother’s ring. With an upgrade.” He brushed his thumb over the large center round diamond. “She and my grandfather were married for sixty-two years. May we be even luckier than them.”
Tears gathered in Trinity’s eyes. “That’s beautiful, Jon. Thank you.”
He squeezed her hand, then held out his left one.
She slipped a thick gold band on his finger. “This was my granddaddy’s ring. He loved me as fiercely as he loved my grandma, because I was his princess.” Trinity glanced down at Emmy because that’s what she’d called her, then met his gaze.
The justice of the peace recited the vows, and Trinity held his hand in hers and poured out her love to him. “With this ring, I give you my heart. All that I am, all that I have, I share with you. Wear this ring today and every day so that you will always have a part of me and my love with you.”
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may seal your promises with a kiss.”
Jon pulled Trinity in for a kiss that promised a lifetime of love and happiness.
The crowd cheered and Emmy pressed into both of their sides, her little arms wrapped around them.
Jon reluctantly broke the kiss and stared into Trinity’s eyes. “This was perfect.”
“I’m so glad you’re happy.”
He couldn’t be happier. “I am because you’re my beautiful wife.”
She beamed with joy, then crouched next to Emmy. “I promise to be the best mom I can be to you.” She sealed that promise with a kiss on Emmy’s cheek.
He picked Emmy up and held her at his side, took Trinity’s hand, and they turned and faced their family.
“I give you Mr., Mrs., and Emmy Crawford,” the justice of the peace announced.
Everyone clapped and cheered again.
Jon set Emmy down again and she ran to Trinity’s brother. “Uncle Tate!” She climbed into his lap and hugged him.
“What can I say, the ladies love me.” Tate smiled. Liz smacked him on the shoulder and laughed with everyone else.
After everyone came up to congratulate them, and Jon thanked Declan and Skye for turning their rehearsal dinner into his and Trinity’s wedding, they all sat down to dinner. The drinks flowed, toasts were made, everyone danced, and he reveled in the fact that Trinity wasn’t just the love of his life, she was his wife, his partner, his true love.
Epilogue
Trinity and Jon rode the high of their wedding into Declan and Skye’s wedding at Cedar Top Ranch two days later. It was a beautiful country affair. She’d never seen Declan so happy and carefree. Skye was beautiful and glowing in a gorgeous white gown. When they kissed at the end of the vows, everyone saw and felt the love between them. And when they were announced as Mr. and Mrs. McGrath, Trinity smiled at her mom and dad down in the front row, watching with pride and joy as their last child married the one he loved.
At the outdoor reception, Jon leaned in and kissed Trinity over Emmy, who sat in the middle of them and said, “I still think you were the most beautiful bride ever.”
With all that love in the air, it wasn’t surprising that babies followed, starting with, of course, Adria and Drake’s twins . . .
PROUD PARENTS,
ADRIA AND DRAKE MCGRATH,
WELCOMED TWINS!
JULIANA—6 pounds, 4 ounces, 20 inches
AND
JAMES–7 pounds, 3 ounces, 21 inches
IT’S A BOY!
PROUD PARENTS,
LIZ AND TATE MCGRATH,
WELCOMED
WYATT—7 pounds, 5 ounces, 21 1/2 inches
IT’S A GIRL!
PROUD PARENTS,
SKYE AND DECLAN MCGRATH,
WELCOMED
BROOKE—6 pounds, 8 ounces, 19 inches
IT’S A BOY!
PROUD PARENTS,
TRINITY AND JON CRAWFORD,
AND BIG SISTER EMMY
WELCOMED
LUKE—7 pounds, 9 ounces, 20 3/4 inches
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author JENNIFER RYAN writes suspenseful contemporary romances about everyday people who do extraordinary things. Her deeply emotional love stories are filled with high stakes and higher drama, love, family, friendship, and the happily-ever-after we all hope to find.
Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head . . . until she puts them on paper.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Announcement
Keep reading for a sneak peek at the first book in Jennifer Ryan’s new Wyoming Wilde series
Coming soon from Avon Books!
Chapter One
“Chase! Wake up!”
Chase shot up in bed, the rat-a-tat-tat of automatic gunfire and the blast of explosions going off in his head overlaid with a newer nightmare, the ghostly image of a beautiful blonde staring up at him with dead eyes and blue lips. His unwelcome brother’s scowling face only made things worse.