by Gina Wilkins
"Tell him to take heart. Autumn swears shell never go through this 'archaic and obsolete ceremony,' so maybe this will be his last time."
"Autumn's young yet. We'll see how she feels when she meets someone as special as your Clay and Summer's Derek."
"Speaking of my Clay, what is he wearing, Mom? I can't stand the suspense." Spring had cheerfully given Clay free rein to wear whatever he wanted to their wedding, but he had refused to tell her what he'd chosen. She hadn't seen him since he'd gone off to change for the ceremony an hour earlier.
Lila shook her gray head, smiling girlishly. "He made me promise that I wouldn't tell you. That boy is sure going to liven up our lives, honey. I'm glad ya'll decided to settle in Little Rock so your dad and I can see you often."
"So am I, Mom. Okay, let's get on with this."
Her hand tucked into the crook of her father's work-muscled arm, the fabric of his favorite brown suit crisp under her fingers, Spring walked down the aisle formed by rows of folding metal chairs, her eyes sparkling with happiness and amusement. Flanked by Autumn and Summer in their jewel-toned summery dresses and Derek and Gil in their conservative suits, Clay fit in surprisingly well. His suit was dark blue, hand tailored, European cut. His shirt was white, his tie a muted stripe. He looked as breathtakingly handsome in his conservative attire as he did in tropical-print shorts. Spring's heart swelled with love for him.
He stepped forward to meet her, catching her hand in his as his eyes glowed warmly into hers.
"A blue suit, Clay?" she murmured.
"In honor of this serious occasion, my love," he replied softly.
"Clay, I told you that I didn't want you to change for me. I love you exactly the way you are."
He stared down at her for a moment, then gave her a smile that competed with the August sun in intensity. "I love you, Spring," he murmured, then caught her to him for a long, passionate kiss, much to the amusement of their small audience.
"You're supposed to wait until after the ceremony, Clay," Derek pointed out from his position as best man.
Clay chuckled and released her, though he directed her attention downward as he lifted the hem of his beautifully cut pants. "I haven't changed, Spring. I'm still the man who loves you more than life itself. Just wait until you see what I have on under the suit."
Glancing at his bare ankles, Spring smiled and turned with him toward the perplexed minister, toward their future. The next time Clay kissed her, they were husband and wife.
