Page 271 of This Woman Forever

“Ava, no jumping,” I yell. “You’ll shake the babies up.”

She laughs, totally ignoring me, and leaps the rest of the way down to the sand. “Come on,” she calls, breaking out into a jog but soon slowing again. I smile as she comes to a gradual stop, taking in the row of people before her. All smiling. Our family. All people who love us.

It’s a delayed reaction, but she gasps and faces me. “What are they doing here?”

“They’re here to witness me marrying you.”

“But we’re already married.” A huge frown creeps onto her forehead. “We are, aren’t we?”

I laugh. “Yes, we are.” I look up to Mum and Dad. Old, glassy eyes look back at me. Yes, this is for Ava. But it’s mostly for me and for them. I don’t mind admitting that. And, bonus, I get to marry my wife again. With all of my family. Just how it should have been.

That’s one lesson I’ve learned.

It’s not too late to do things the right way.

“But my mum and dad missed our day,” I say, giving my attention back to Ava before I let my emotions take over. “And we should have done it this way before.”

I walk us through our family to the registrar by the shore, and turn Ava to face me, holding her hands with both of mine.

“We are gathered here today,” the registrar begins as Ava looks up at me, a small smile on her face, her bewilderment clear. I hold her hands tighter, watching her mouth move, her eyes shine.

“Will you love him, cherish him, honor, and obey him?” she’s asked, “for as long as you both shall live?”

I raise my brows as Ava’s smile becomes knowing. “Well?” I ask.

“I will,” she says quietly as I move in closer, bringing her hands to my mouth. And now it’s my turn.

“I love you,” I say quietly, tilting my head when she tilts hers. Watching her closely. I thought I’d known peace. Ava’s trampled all over that. “An eternity with you wouldn’t be enough, Ava.” I smile as her lip begins to tremble, feel my throat getting thicker. “From the moment I saw you, I knew things would change for me.” She breathes in, and I definitely hear a collection of emotional whimpers from the crowd. I can’t look, especially at Mum and Dad.

Don’t, bro. They’re a wreck.

You’re never alone.

I breathe in. “I plan on devoting every second of my life to worshipping you, adoring you, indulging in you, and I plan on making up for empty years without you.” My voice wobbles terribly. It’s another chance. And I’m grabbing it with both hands and never letting go. “I’m taking you to Paradise, baby.” Or Jesse Cloud Nine. Either will do. I lift her up to me, holding her to my front. “Are you ready?”

She nods as she speaks. “Yes,” she whispers, but her words are strong and assertive. Everything I need. “Take me.”

“Oh, I took you long ago, Mrs. Ward,” I say, as she pulls at my hair. “But right now is where it really begins.” I slam our mouths together and kiss her with purpose. “No more digging to get beneath me,” I mumble around her mouth. “You know everything there is to know.” Freedom from my demons. “And no more confessions, because I have nothing left to tell.”

“I think you have,” she says, snuggling into my neck.

“I do?”

“You do.” She nibbles at my cheek as I walk into the sea. “Tell me you love me.”

Except that, of course. And I will tell her every day for the rest of our lives.

I find her eyes, those dark, beautiful eyes. Eyes I’ve been lost in since the first moment I looked into them.

She’s real.

And she’s mine.

“I love you so fucking much, baby.”

I wade into the sea, looking up at her as she turns her face toward the sky. “I know,” she yells to the clouds.

And I laugh and sink us both into the water, completely wrapped in Ava, her mouth adoring mine.