Honestly, I don’t even know what he was saying, because I was completely captivated by her beauty. We stood there, in some sort of trance as if nobody else existed.
Finally, I felt someone touch my arm. “Are you ready to exchange your vows?” Neither of us had noticed the person trying to get our attention.
I smiled and answered, “Yes. Yes, we are.”
We’d discussed me going first, but Kat spoke before I could say anything. “This morning I woke up to a Valentine, from my Valentine.”
Everyone attending laughed and she waited for them to finish. “I had written down my vows and polished them a dozen times, but after I read what Brooks wrote to me in this card, I knew my vows could never come close. So, I’m going to read it to everyone and let you all see the real man I’m marrying today.”
She waved to Melissa and I watched as she approached us with the card in her hand.
Since I’d poured out my heart to her, I felt a little overwhelmed.
Kat opened it up and looked down, clearing her voice before she began.
“The outside says, ‘To my wife on our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple.’ Then Brooks wrote his message on the inside.”
“Dear Mrs. Valentine, my beautiful bride, mother of my children, my soul-mate and my very best friend,
I’ve loved you for my whole life and perhaps even in lives before this one. There was no amount of time, distance, or even person that could ever change the way I feel about you. I’ve literally waited my entire life for this day. It’s easy to say that I’ve never felt more complete than when you’re in my arms. Every time I look at our little girl, or feel our son moving around in your belly my heart melts, because it’s just another anchor of our love for each other. You’re mine forever, Kat. You don’t need a ceremony to know that. No matter where life takes us, I’ll be by your side, and when the good Lord comes at our last breath, I know we’ll find each other again, because you are who I will always choose for that other peanut butter cup. I hope now you can finally know without a single doubt that I will hold you when you’re sad, love you when you feel lonely, and protect you when you feel scared. I guess I don’t have to ask you to be my Mrs. Valentine, because you already are and will be for every single moment of every single day, for as long as we both are breathing. Love, your husband, Mr. Valentine.”
I wasn’t really sure how much the crowd could understand through Katy’s sobbing, but as I turned to look at them, most were shoving tissues over their faces. To avoid losing it completely, I looked back to Kat. Even as a babbling mess, she was still gorgeous. “There’s nothing that I can say to you that you don’t already know, Brooks. I’ve already given myself to you in every way. You give me comfort and support and your love is more than I could ever deserve. I’m in awe of you, and I thank God every day for giving us this life. I love you so much.”
She couldn’t say anymore, and she didn’t need to. We could have stood there staring at each other all day. We were already married in my eyes.
I glanced at the guests and flashed a half-smile. “How about we make this official and get to the celebrating?”
“It gives me great pleasure to announce the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks Valentine.” The officiator leaned in for only us to hear. “Go ahead and kiss her now, Brooks.”
My lips were on Kat’s before he finished his sentence. She was mine in the eyes of the whole world and I let her know exactly how happy I was about it in our embrace. At first people clapped. Then some whistled. Then my brother started making pervert remarks. When our kiss ended, half of the guests had gotten up and were already in line on the other side of the heated tent.
I wiped away her tears. “You’re my wife.”
She smiled and leaned her cheek against mine. “I know.”
Bug came up and wrapped her arms around my legs. I acknowledged her by rubbing her head.
We couldn’t stand there for the whole day, so I grabbed Kat’s hand as we turned to face everyone, knowing that after they’d all gone home and went about their lives, we’d have forever to spend together. Knowing that made me the happiest man in the world.
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