by Lila Felix
“I don’t live here anymore.”
“You can move in with me.”
“I’m nervous.”
I cupped her face in my hands. “I am too. However with you by my side, I know I can conquer the world. I need you in my life forever. I’m not whole without you.”
She closed the gap between us. Her peach lip gloss tasted like heaven on my tongue. There was a hunger between us both, but I pulled away first.
“Please say yes.” I begged. Hearing no from her would shatter me, but I’d keep fighting until she said yes.
“Yes, Austin. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
My heart raced faster than it ever had. She was going to be mine. Forever. I kissed her – my future wife.
Epilogue
Alma
One year later
The sun was shining, but it wasn’t too hot. Mama and Tara created a picture perfect wedding. I couldn’t have done it better myself. I double checked myself in the mirror. I decided on a short wedding dress since I was going to be walking through grass. I wanted it to be in the hayfield, but it hadn’t been harvested yet.
“Alma.” Papa knocked on the door.
“Come in,” I said.
When he opened the door, his jaw dropped and he put his hand over his heart. “You’re all grown up.”
I thought I saw tears fill his eyes. A lot has changed in the past year. I did end up leaving my job but found another with a local doctor’s office. The hours weren’t as long as before, but I still loved being with my patients.
I moved to the ranch about six months ago. Waking up in the morning and helping out with breakfast or feeding the animals brought me closer to Austin and the land. It was everything I had dreamed of.
“Papa, I love you.” I kissed his cheek.
“You’re my little girl, always.”
I smiled. “I know.”
It had been a hard year for Papa. However, he and Austin have really grown to accept each other. They even went hunting and fishing together. I actually think they like each other now.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes. I’m ready to get married.”
He held out his arm and I linked mine with his. We walked out of the house and down to the backyard. All our family and friends stood up as we walked off the porch and down to Austin.
My Austin.
My love.
He looked indescribable in his suit and shiny black cowboy boots. His bright smile made my heart stop.
As we approached my eyes were only on Austin and no one else. I barely heard Papa say he gave me away. I knew he did because he placed my hand in Austin’s. The preacher began to speak, but again I heard nothing.
Suddenly my ears opened and the words flooded me. “Alma, there is no one else in this world I could love as much as you. There’s no one in this world who can put up with me like you do. My life is incomplete without you by my side. I love you more today than I did yesterday and I’ll love you more tomorrow than I do right now.”
The tears of happiness and love slowly left my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. “Austin, I vow to you that I will be hard to live with and at times I’ll be complicated.” He chuckled. “However, I promise I will love you with every breath I have until I have none left. Then I will love you still because I always have loved you since the moment I saw you.”
His eyes filled with tears, but his smile never faltered. The preacher began with the traditional vows and we both said ‘I do’. Our kiss was tender and sweet, which ended our perfect wedding. Everyone cheered and clapped, watching us race up the aisle hand in hand. We ran into the house for a moment of silence and kissing.
“I love you, Mrs. Alma Chambers.” He kissed my forehead.
“I love you, Mr. Austin Chambers.” My lips landed on his – ready to remain there forever.
About the Author
Lila Felix is full of antics and stories. She refused to go to Kindergarten after the teacher made her take a nap on the first day of school. She staged her first protest in middle school. She almost flunked out of her first semester at Pepperdine University because she was enthralled with their library and frequently was locked in. Now her husband and three children have to put up with her rebel nature in Louisiana where her days are filled with cypress trees, crawfish, and of course her books and writing. She writes about the ordinary people who fall extraordinarily in wild, true love.
Born and raised in Illinois Elle Kimberly has been a day dreamer and writer since childhood. A lover of traveling and avid book nerd Elle took the leap to writing professionally in 2016. She is the author of the clean, inspirational romance series Nashua Tigers (to be published late 2017) and co-author with Lila Felix. If she isn't working on her fictional worlds and characters, she's holding tightly to her paperwhite kindle and trying to copycat Facebook cooking recipes.
