IS THIS ANOTHER LESSON LEARN?

CHAPTER XXX

Final..

A year after...

My heart raced as the wedding march started, the music filling the chapel. 

Our son—five years old now—stood beside me, watching the aisle intently. 

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. 

My eyes scanned the aisle, watching as the doors opened. 

And then... 

There she was.

Sam walked slowly toward me—and my whole world slowed down with her. She was gorgeous. Every inch of her. But it wasn't because of the dress or the flowers or even the smiles on our friends' faces. 

It was her. 

"You okay, Dad?" our son Ethan whispered, tugging my sleeve. 

  I didn't answer at first—just reached down and squeezed his hand.

Because no words could capture the moment Sam reached me.

She smiled up at me—warm, radiant, home—and placed her hand in mine. 

The pastor began to speak... but I barely heard him.

All I could think was—

I made it.
We made it.

The pastor cleared his throat, smiling at the two of you. "Trevor, do you take Sam to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, from this day forward—" 

  I didn't let him finish. 

  "I do," I said—voice strong, clear. No hesitation. Just truth.

  Sam's eyes shimmered as she whispered: "I do."

The pastor smiled. "Sam, do you take Trevor to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, from this day forward... in sickness and in health...?" 

This time, Sam beat me to the answer. 

She squeezed my hand—her breath shuddering as she echoed the words. "I do."

"In good times and in bad...?" 

"I do." 

"For richer or for poorer...?" 

"I do." 

"In joy and in sorrow... Till death do you part...?"

My heart hammered, but my voice was steady as I answered: "I do." 

I held Sam's gaze, my eyes brimming with tears.

"Then, by the power vested within me," the pastor said—and a ripple of anticipation went through the place. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss—
" 

I didn't give him time to finish. 

I pulled Sam toward me, lifting her chin gently with my free hand—and kissed her.

Soft, slow, sweet—like it was our first and our hundredth at the same time.

The crowd erupted with cheers. People stood, whistling and clapping and shouting. 

But for a few seconds, they disappeared. It was just me. Her. Us.

Her lips were soft, her hands warm and strong.

I didn't want to let go. 

But eventually, we pulled back—breathless, laughing. And it was even better than I'd imagined.