“Daddddyyyyy.”
We both smile at my whine.
“I’m just kidding. I couldn’t have picked a better man for you, sweetheart. That boy up there loves you to the moon and back. You and that beautiful grandbaby of mine are his world. But you say the word and we will blow this popsicle stand.”
I throw my head back in laughter. I adjust my bouquet and rub my thumb against the photo dangling from the ribbon with a picture of my brother.
I tense and grip the bouquet tighter, fighting back the tears. I am about to walk down the aisle, and there is no time to redo my makeup.
My daddy pulls me into an embrace and kisses the top of my head. “I know you wish he were here, sweetheart, we all do, but just remember he is always with you, especially today. He’s right there with you as we walk down the aisle.”
My dad is right; my brother is always with me. I pull back and brush the tears away, hoping I don’t look like a raccoon.
“You look beautiful. Let’s go get you married.”
The doors open when the music changes to play “Heartbeats” by José González. Everyone turns their attention to us, and as I take a deep breath as take my first steps to forever.
“You may now kiss your bride.”
My lips are on my wife’s—wow, that is crazy to say— in an instant. The spark that ignites is as strong as the very first kiss we shared against her dorm room door. I smile against her lips and kiss the tip of her nose before we turn to face the crowd.
Kyler slaps me on the back as Haylee and I take our first step. We are just six months away from the roles being reversed and him and Dani making their first walk as husband and wife. We approach my in-laws, where my sweet little girl is resting in her grandma’s arms, and stop to press a kiss to the top of Emme’s head. She stirs, but doesn’t make a peep.
Once in the back of the church, I pull Haylee into my arms and place my hands over her cheeks, caressing them with my thumbs. “Hello, Mrs. Jacobs.”
I bring her lips to mine, sweeping my tongue across the seam of her lips to let me in. This kiss probably is a little too risqué for church, but oh well. This woman is now officially my wife, and I plan to kiss her as much and as long as I want from now till forever.
Kyler and Dani make their way to us, and everyone cheers.
“It’s party time,” I shout.
The reception is in full swing, and everyone seems to be having a great time. The hall is covered in beautiful shades of purple and gray. In one corner, there are photos of Haylee and me over the years and more recent ones that include Emme, while on the other side, there is an “In Memory” table with pictures of Emmett and us. There is a sign that sits on the table reading, “We know you would be here today if heaven weren’t so far away.” I’d give anything for him to be here today, but it’s one of those weird moments where I feel like he is actually here.
Dani gave us a surprise when she decided to sing the song we had chosen for our first dance, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Hayley Reinhart.
I sway side to side, holding Emme in my arms as I watch Haylee and her dad make their way to the dance floor for their father-daughter dance. I feel a hand clasp on to my other shoulder and look over to see my future brother-in-law standing there with his hands in his pockets.
“You’re really a married man.”
“Yep. Crazy, huh?”
“Nah, it suits you.”
The music begins to play, a country song. Kyler’s jaw tenses.
“You okay, man?” He stares out to the dance floor and then shakes whatever he was thinking away. A wrinkle forms on his forehead. “Dude, you look like you saw a ghost.”
“No, it’s just this song…”
“It’s perfect, right? When Haylee first played it, I fell in love with it and pulled a page from my parents’ book and ended up spinning her around the kitchen.”
I turn my attention back to my wife and father in law, and they continue to sway to Heartland’s “I Loved Her First.”
When the song ends, Haylee makes her way over to me so that I can steal my mom away for our dance. I hand Emme off to her and kiss her cheek before making my way to find my mom.
As “In My Life” by the Beatles plays—of course, my mom picked a Beatles song—I twirl my mom around. I place one hand on her waist and hold on to the other one while she balances her free hand on my shoulder.
“I’m so proud of you, Zach.”