by K. Ryan
"Caleb!" her muffled laugh echoed in my ears and I couldn't stop my lips from starting a trail down her neck. She squirmed a little, but I didn't let go. There was no way I was letting go.
"I have to get up," she swatted me on the shoulder. "Seriously."
"No, you don't. Ten minutes, babe. That's all I need."
Her eyes lifted up to the ceiling, but her beautiful lips still curved into a smile. "Ten minutes, huh? Where have I heard that before?"
"Okay, fine. Fifteen minutes, babe. That's all I need."
Isabelle's sweet laugh filled my ears again and I grinned down at her as she leaned into my shoulder. I took that opportunity and skimmed a hand up her back in a vain attempt at getting that tank top over her head. It didn't work because she just batted away my hands and playfully pulled out of my arms.
I slumped back on her pillow, still reaching out for her as she slipped out of bed and shimmied on a pair of those tiny sleep shorts she knew drove me up the wall.
"Ugh," I groaned. "You're gonna kill me, you know."
"I know," she laughed and leaned down to kiss my cheek before she scampered off, leaving me no opportunities to yank her back down into bed.
When she closed the door behind her, I figured I might as well get my lazy ass up and be helpful. Coffee would probably be appreciated and since my list of things to do around the house were dwindling every day, this was something I could do. But when I padded out of Isabelle's bedroom, I stopped short in front of the bathroom. I could hear her rustling around in there, probably getting ready to hop in the shower, and that gave me an amazing idea.
We might not have had a ton of time to ourselves these last few days, but I wasn't about to miss an opportunity when a golden one presented itself. Unfortunately for me, the second my hand found the bathroom doorknob was also the second the door across the hall opened.
I froze and squeezed my eyes shut.
Shit. Caught red-handed.
I could already feel my face turning red and ran a hand over my head awkwardly. Sam just cocked an eyebrow at me as if to say, Yeah, I know what you were just about to do to my daughter, you asshole.
His daughter might be mine, but this was still his house.
"I was just, uh," my lips pulled apart sheepishly and that was about as far as I got. There was no easy way to explain why I'd wanted to be in the bathroom at the same time as his daughter.
"It's not like I've got my head buried in the sand. I'm well aware you two lived together, you know," he called out to me and I didn't know what made me wince more: the embarrassment or the fact that his voice seemed even weaker than when I saw him the night before.
His weary eyes, so faded now they were more grey than blue, scrutinized me sharply and it took me a moment to realize just what held his focus.
"I didn't know you had that," he lifted his chin and pointed at my chest.
I glanced down and ran a hand over my bare chest, right where Isabelle's full name was inked on my skin. That tattoo had always been a badge of honor, a source of pride, and up until just a few days ago, a pain-filled reminder of what I might never have again. Now I had half a mind to walk around shirtless everyday for the rest of my life just to show it off.
"I've had it for a long time," I told him from across the hall.
A weak smile pulled at his lips and at this point, I figured, what the hell? I hadn't necessarily planned on doing this today, but I didn't want to waste any more time. So I just went for it instead.
"Hey, Sam? I've been meaning to talk to you about something," I motioned with my head to the stairs. "Do you think we could...?"
Why was I suddenly nervous? My palms got a little sweaty, my heart galloped a little in my chest, but this wasn't the kind of thing I needed to be scared of. It's not like I didn't know what either of them would say.
"Probably a good idea to do it now while she's preoccupied," he gestured toward the bathroom door as he spoke. "She'll be in there for a while."
I huffed out a laugh. Yeah. We had at least a good half hour. Probably more.
So after I skidded back into Isabelle's bedroom to grab what I needed and I had a pot of coffee going in the kitchen, I leaned up against the island as he sank down onto a stool. I smiled wistfully at Cooper, who sat next to Sam with his head in his lap. The dog had barely left his side ever since we brought him back from the emergency room, but I couldn't dwell on that now. We had some important business to take care of.
With that thought, I dug into my pocket and set the tiny velvet box down on the island. His eyebrows lifted into his forehead as he reached out to snap it open. He nodded to me when he shut the box and set it back down on the counter.
About eight years ago, I never would've pictured this moment as even a possibility, let alone a reality. Never could've imagined I'd ever get here with this man, who, at one point, I'd definitely threatened to throw into an unmarked grave.
"So," I grinned at him. "I'd like to marry your daughter. I just need your permission first."
He laughed heartily and his gaze fell to the counter, right back on that velvet box. "I was wondering when you were going to talk to me about that. It's about time."
"Right," I shook my head and leaned back on the counter. "I guess I just never thought I'd ever be in a position again where I'd get to actually ask you and where she might actually say yes."
"Ah," he just batted a hand at me. "I was never too worried about that. She's a stubborn little thing—gets that from her mom. Let me tell you, her mom just got more stubborn with age, so I guess you have that to look forward to."
And it will be a pleasure, I thought with a smile.
"And," he went on, "I have to say I'm still not convinced anyone's good enough for her, but you come pretty close. I trust you, Caleb. I hope you know that. And while I might be leaving the house to Isabelle, I'm leaving her to you. That's not something I'm doing lightly."
I swallowed hard. "I know that, Sam."
"Whatever she needs, whatever she wants, you have to make sure she gets it, okay?"
My eyes stung and I had to bit down on my bottom lip just to keep it from trembling. This wasn't how this conversation was supposed to go, but somewhere along the way, he and I had gotten to this point. Built out of necessity, at first, but it had slowly morphed into a mutual respect I'd never expected. I couldn't have been more grateful for it.
"I will," I murmured hoarsely. "I promise."
He smiled and from the looks of it, his own eyes were already misting with unshed tears. He held out a hand and I took it, clasping his hand firmly.
"You're not going to start calling me Dad, are you?"
I choked out a rough laugh and shook my head. "No. Hadn't planned on it."
"Well," he told me, his voice hitching a little as he spoke. "I'm proud to call you my son-in-law. You're a good man, Caleb. You're smart, you're loyal, and you're strong. You love my daughter. You'll take care of her and all my future grandkids. I couldn't have asked for anything more for her."
I smiled through my blurry vision and swallowed back the lump in my throat. "I won't let you down, Sam."
"I know," he nodded. "I just have one condition though."
He went on to detail his request and I found myself nodding in agreement before he even finished. It was simple enough to pull off and at the end of the day, I couldn't think of anything better. In fact, it was exactly the way it was supposed to be.
Now all I needed was to put that ring back where it belonged.
. . .
"Oh hell," Saul tsked and shook his head, gesturing for me to move a little closer. He made quick work of straightening my tie and patted my shoulder when he was finished. "There. You're all set now."
I tugged at my collar a little—definitely wasn't used to wearing stiff clothes like this—and winced. My gaze dropped down to my simple white button-down, black dress pants, and dress shoes that were about a half size too small. "I look okay, right?"
He huffed out a laugh, but that proud grin nev
er left his face. "Yeah, boss. You look just fine."
I blew out a deep breath and glanced at the clock right over our heads in the hallway. We still had a little time before it was our turn, so Isabelle had run into the bathroom to check her makeup and freshen up, but my nerves were starting to get to me the longer I stood here without her next to me.
By the time I'd resorted to pacing the small waiting area for lack of anything better to do, I heard a low, familiar chuckle from the bench a few feet away from me. My eyes shot to my mom, who just shook her head at such an unnecessary display, and my lips lifted in a soft smile. I still couldn't believe she was really here, not necessarily that she wouldn't have come, but that in spite of everything, all the hurt feelings, disappointment, bitterness, and distance, we might actually be able to get to the other side of it.
"Hey, Mom," I'd told her yesterday when she answered the phone. The surprise in her voice wasn't lost on me.
"Caleb? Is everything okay? What's—"
"Everything's good," I'd laughed. "I just wanted to tell you that me and Iz are getting married tomorrow at City Hall. Her dad wants to give her away, so that's what we're doing. Anyway, I don't know what you're doing or if you're busy, but if you wanted to come, I—"
That was about as far as I'd gotten.
"Of course!" she'd yelled so loud I had to pull the phone away from my ear. "Oh my God, of course I'll be there! You just tell me when and I'll be there."
Everything about this day had to be perfect, or at least as perfect as I could make it. We wanted to do this right, which was why we'd scrambled to make it happen as soon as possible, why Isabelle was putting a little bit of distance between us right now—after all, I really wasn't supposed to see her before the wedding—and why my mom needed to be here, too. Just like it wouldn't be right to do this without Sam here to give her away, it wouldn't be right without my mom either, regardless of history.
My eyes flew to the clock yet again and I bit down on my bottom lip. Just a few more minutes and we'd be able to get inside that room. Just a few more minutes and she would finally be my wife. My heart swelled at that thought, so much that I thought it might burst, and Isabelle stepped around the corner a moment later, sending all my anxieties flying right out the door.
She smoothed down the sides of her soft pink dress as she walked toward me, a warm smile playing on her lips, and she tugged at the material on her elbow a little. The dress was just another thing that helped make this day a little closer to perfect. I'd made the mistake of suggesting she wear the dress she'd originally planned on the wearing the first time we were supposed to come here and she'd quietly reminded me that had been a maternity dress. After that, I'd wanted to punch myself a few times in the face.
Instead, she'd pulled one of her mom's old cocktail dresses from the back of her closet, ones she'd saved a long time ago. It didn't fit perfectly, but with its rouched material that hit her just above the knee and curved neckline that dipped just low enough, it was just one more piece to the day, one more way to pay tribute. Her hair fell in soft waves just above her shoulders and her makeup was simple, but pretty. She'd never looked more beautiful to me.
Isabelle closed the short distance between us and slid her hand into my waiting palm. Maybe, in normal circumstances, we would've waited a little longer, but I'd been patient enough already and it was time to finally make this woman my wife.
As we took those first steps towards the room where the Justice of the Peace waited for us, my mind flashed back to the day before:
Isabelle sat on a stool by the island, the same one her dad had vacated just a few minutes before to give us some space, quietly eating the toast I'd put in front of her and none the wiser. I watched her for a few moments, my heart racing and my stomach flip-flopping, and then I reached inside my pocket to pull out that velvet box and set it in front of her on the counter.
She froze mid-chew, her eyes locked on that familiar velvet box, and she swallowed hard as her eyes darted back up to me.
My lips lifted up and I took a deep breath. This was it. I hadn't really planned on giving it back to her just yet, but it felt right.
"It's yours, Iz," I told her hoarsely, my voice cracking a little. "I think it's time you started wearing it again."
Her lips parted, curving up into a soft smile, and she snapped the box open to reveal the round diamond ring with smaller diamonds circling the band, the same one I'd given her eight years ago, before I went to prison, before we lost the baby, before everything crashed around us.
Isabelle pulled the ring out of the box without any hesitation and slipped it back onto the fourth finger of her left hand, right where it belonged. I stepped around the island, reaching for her and took her face in my hands.
"You still wanna marry me?"
She smiled back at me with tears in her eyes and nodded into my hands. "Yeah, I still do."
Now, as we pushed through the double doors in the courthouse, I brushed my lips against her knuckles. All five of us took our places as directed, I stood to the right of the judge with Saul on my left, and my mom stepped over to the other side as we waited for Isabelle and Sam, who were standing at the bottom of the makeshift aisle on the opposite side of the room. He murmured something in her ear, kissed her cheek, and then reached up to wipe away a tear underneath her eye.
Then he jutted out his elbow and she slipped her arm through it as they started their slow walk toward us. He managed to get her all the way to the front of the small podium where the rest of us waited until I took my cue and stepped forward.
Sam extended his hand to me with watery eyes and nodded firmly when I shook it. He glanced at Isabelle, who'd watched the exchange between us through a smile and tears, and then he stepped away so I could take my place next to her.
I grinned at her, wanting to commit every detail of this moment to memory. The curve of her lips, the light in her eyes, the way her hair kissed her collarbone, the way she squeezed my hand, the way I didn't think I could possibly love her more than I did right now, right at this moment. I'd never forget any of it.
The Justice of the Peace cut right to the chase, asked us if we were both here of our own free will, and then he jumped into the rest of it, prompting me with my vows.
I swallowed back the lump in my throat, took a deep breath, and my eyes locked on the only person who made my life worth anything.
"I, Caleb Sawyer," my voice was hoarser than I expected and I inhaled shakily, "take you, Isabelle Martin, to be my lawful wedded wife to have and to hold, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish till death do us part."
I didn't know how I managed to get through it all with my voice only breaking once. Those simple words felt heavy as I said them—I hadn't expected to feel that weight settle over me, the finality of it all, and the fact that despite their simplicity, I'd never said anything truer or more heartfelt. I'd carry those words with me for the rest of my life.
As Isabelle squeezed my hands and repeated her vows with tears in her beautiful blue eyes, I blinked back my own tears. This wasn't really the time for crying, but given the weight of everything we'd been through to get here, those tears stung my eyes all the same.
When it was time, we exchanged the wedding bands we'd purchased late last night after getting all our paperwork in order and I brought her hand up to my lips so I could brush my mouth against her knuckles.
From now until the day I died, my life had one clear trajectory: to spend every day and every moment possible loving this woman, taking care of this woman, and protecting this woman. She'd been part of my life since we were kids, but I'd never gotten it right until now. I'd had so many opportunities, even when we were in high school, to take what was always supposed to be mine and I'd mangled every single one of them. Until now.
I took her face in my hands and kissed her as the Justice of the Peace pronounced us husband and wife and our witnesses clapped and whooped around us. Isabelle leaned int
o my chest, letting me wrap my arms around her to pull her in even closer, and I murmured in her hair, "I fear no fate for you are my fate...my wife."
Isabelle laughed against my chest and wiped away a stray tear with her free hand. "Aw, you remembered!"
"How could I forget?" I grinned down at her. "I'm pretty sure I swiped that from some book in some bookstore a long time ago."
She laughed again, this time against my lips when she pressed them there a moment later. Then she pulled away so our wedding party could congratulate us. Saul pulled me into a hug, my new father-in-law shook my hand with more tears in his eyes, and my mom clung to Isabelle like her life depended on it.
And when it was time to leave the room to make way for the next people waiting, that was it. Short, sweet, and right to the point. Just me, Isabelle, our vows, and the people we wanted here with us. Just like it would've been if we'd made it here the first time.
"So what should we do now?" Isabelle asked me from underneath my arm.
Saul and Sam exchanged glances and then Sam shrugged at me.
"I think Saul and I are going to grab a bite to eat, you know? Maybe we'll see a movie or something too. Should be gone for a few hours."
In light of the day's events, it took me a second to catch up. Then a slow smile crept up my face and I practically hauled my wife over my shoulder to hightail out of the courthouse and back to the house as soon as possible.
"We'll, uh," I called out behind me as I pushed Isabelle toward the main exit. "We'll catch you guys later. You said a few hours, right?"
Saul's laugh just echoed down the hallway.
. . .
Isabelle kicked off her heels and bit down on her bottom lip as she turned back to me with a smile. I loosened my tie and closed the distance between us, gripping her hips to pull her forward.
"Hey there, wife," I grinned down at her.
"Hello, husband."
My thumbs grazed her cheeks and I brushed my mouth against her lips, savoring the way she responded and the sweet taste of our new life together. She hummed a little as the kiss deepened and as we edged closer to the bed. My fingers fumbled with the zipper on the back of her dress, but they found their course and that dress slid easily off her shoulders so it could float down to the carpet.
