“Always,” I answer as I hug her tightly. Then the door opens and my aunt Shelia comes in, fussing and blubbering all over me and Fiona. When Mrs. O’Callaghan comes in, I smile at her as her mouth falls open.

“Perfection, yes?”

Shelia nods her head quickly as she wipes her face. “That’s what I said. Just truly gorgeous.”

Coming toward me, Mrs. O’Callaghan kisses my forehead, holding my gaze. “Ya look every bit like yer ma. To a tee, I think.”

“Yeah, she does,” my aunt says, wiping her face again. “They would be so proud.”

“They are,” Mrs. O’Callaghan says, moving a tendril behind my ear. “We all are.”

“Thank you.”

She waves me off. “Declan looks dashing.”

I smile. “Is there any other way that man looks?” I ask and she laughs.

“I don’t seem to think so. It’s time. Are ya ready?”

Sucking in a deep breath, I smile as I let it out. “I’ve been ready since the moment he asked.”

And those words could not ring any truer in my soul. As we head out of the living room of what was my home for a bit, I can’t believe this day is finally here. For the last week and a half, Declan and I have fallen into a routine we’ll have for the rest of our lives. We are apart throughout the day, but when he is home, we are together, and it’s honestly magical. We are so happy and my soul is joyful.

Don’t get me wrong, I miss my mom and dad so much. But after going back to the States with Declan, listening to him promise them that he will love me until our dying day, it really helped me. It was like tons of bricks fell off my chest, and I knew I was starting a life with the man who was made for me. Our love story isn’t perfect. We’ve had people try to kill us, break us apart, and even had fear rear its ugly head, but we made it through.

We didn’t give up. We fought.

Because we love each other too much to be apart.

And now I’m about to make him my husband.

It’s a little bit of a walk to the spot where everyone is gathered to watch Declan and me get married, and I’m bouncing on my heels, ready to do this. This morning when I woke up, Declan had a package waiting for me with a two hundred and ten roses, one for each day he’s loved me. It was a beautiful thing to see, but when I opened the gift with two Mickey Mouse-ear hats and two shirts, one that said Mr. and the other saying Mrs., I about lost my shit. I was screaming so loudly as I read the note that told me he was taking me to Disney World for our honeymoon. And then when I saw that we’d stop to see my mom and dad, I cried for good little bit.

It was insanely sweet, and I’ve been waiting hours to see him.

To thank him for constantly surprising me.

Coming out the door, Mrs. O’Callaghan stops me. “Ready for your surprise?”

I look around, confused. “Now?”

She nods as Mr. O’Callaghan comes up, leading Cathmor with him. “Surprise! You’re gonna ride in on the horse.”

My grin grows as I hug her tightly. “Declan will love it.”

“He will.”

Soon they are helping me up on Cathmor. They tried to make me sit like a lady, but that wasn’t happening. I was scared I was gonna fall, and finally, they gave up, letting me be. I know I look insane with my legs open and my dress falling like a cape on the gorgeous horse, but oh well, it’s me.

“Good luck, sweetheart, and congratulations,” Mrs. O’Callaghan says, patting my legs.

“Yes, we are very lucky to have ya in our family,” Mr. O’Callaghan says with a boasting grin. “Declan is going to hit the ground at the sight of ya. Yer gorgeous, ya are.”

“Thank you,” I say before they wave and then they are gone.

I’m supposed to wait for the signal to go, and as I sit here, I’m surprised that I’m not the least bit nervous. I’m excited. Ready to start my life with the man I love. I can’t wait to see what our future holds, and while I do miss my family, I have people here who love me and a man who would give up everything just to have me. The man who was made by the hands of God just for me.

Slowly I close my eyes, my fingers tangling in Cathmor’s mane as I send a little prayer up to my mom and dad. For some reason, I can feel them around me. I know they are watching, probably crying in heaven from being so happy for me. I’m living the life they wanted for me. One where I plan on taking more risks than I already have. Where I plan to do something drastic just to drive Declan mad and to make me happy. And one where I will continue to fall in love with the love of my life every single day of my existence. What more could they want?

When Tom, one of the stable hands, whistles, I open my eyes to see that he is waving me on. I kick lightly into Cathmor, and he starts a slow trot as I head toward the field where the person with whom I’m going to start the rest of my life is waiting. The ride isn’t long, and soon all I see are rows and rows of people. They have put up a huge, gauzy-type tent that will shield us some from the sun, but it also just gives a certain elegance to the spot. I know that my mom is probably grinning from the mere perfection of it all. There are fields of white blossoms, so big they look like clouds all over the place. They even are hanging from the gauzy curtains on the tent. It’s gorgeous.

Fiona starts walking down the aisle, looking like a beautiful pink flower floating along the way, but that isn’t who I see first.

No. It’s my groom.

Standing all dashing and commanding the attention of everyone around him is my forever. Clad in a very chic and tailored black suit, I almost bust a gut when I see a black beanie on his head. When he sees me, his face lights up, and there is no way I’m going to make it down the aisle with my makeup in place. His eyes are locked with mine, and I’m not looking anywhere else as our whole love story plays on rewind in my head. I can still remember the first time I saw him, how I hated that damn beanie. But now, I love it and can’t wait to pull it off so I can run my fingers through his spectacular curls. I can still feel his lips against mine the first time we kissed. I remember the first time he touched me and recall the burn of the bullet when I was ready to give up my own life for him. I can still feel him as he laid me down in the field and every time after that. Every stolen glance, every sweet touch, everything, and it was all just so damn perfect.

But now, I’m starting the rest of my life, and it’s bound to be even better.