Chapter 47: Sawyer

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this wedding. Sure, I watched the town come together and create something out of a wedding magazine, but it didn’t feel real until right now. The lake that freezes over every winter and I practiced on through my young years is melted even though we attempted to get it to freeze over. I guess mother nature doesn’t care about weddings all that much. Anyway, when I walk out of the house in my all white outfit that my soon to be father-in-law picked for me, I’m shocked how nice everything turned out.

There are two sections of chairs, all covered with white see through material and all sorts of flowers. The arch Poppy wanted looks professional, and it is also covered in white flowers. There is a small stage in front of it for me and Bryn to stand on and a mic set up for us to say our vows into.

“Ready, bro?” Zach grabs me by the shoulder and shakes me. “There is no going back once you take her hand. You know Poppy will kick your ass if you break her sister’s heart and we may be family, but I’ll let her.”

I laugh. “Don’t worry, brother. She’s my girl, always has been. There is no way I’m going to let another man have her.”

“That’s the spirit. I guess we are brothers.”

He isn’t wrong. We’re both whipped for the Raven girls.

“Come on. Let’s get up there.” He moves past me and walks toward the arch.

People start to file into the seats and it doesn’t take long for it to fill up. I’m standing next to my brother, waiting to see Bryn walk down the aisle. You would think I’d be nervous or scared, but this moment is everything I didn’t know I wanted.

Music starts from out of nowhere and I see Poppy walking out of her family home with Milly in her arms. Both of them are wearing light purple dresses. When I look over at Zach, he’s got tears in his eyes like this is his wedding day. I scoff at him because he’s acting like this is his wedding. It’s common for grooms to cry when they see their bride, but I spent this morning wrapped up in Bryn, so I don’t think I’ll manage a tear. Not that I don’t think she’ll be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in a white dress, but because I never cry.

Not since I was a kid.

Bryn’s mom comes out of the house next with her arm linked with my mom. They are both wearing a different shade of purple and I catch my mom whining away a tear. I bet she never thought I would be doing this, so I bet those are only the first tears she’ll be shedding today. They take their seats in the front and my mom gives me a huge smile. She mouths, “I’m proud of you.”

Then the music changes. I’m not sure who’s in control of that, by the way, and I get my first glimpse of Bryn. My heart stops at the sight of her. Her dad leads her out of the house, by my eyes are fixed on her. This may sound cheesy as fuck, but she looks like an angel being gifted to me by god himself. Her dress hits her mid thigh and looks a lot like a ballerina kind of thing but white and the top is form fitting with one sleeve across her chest, leaving one of her shoulders bare. Her veil is short and attached to a band of white flowers on top of her head.

She looks more than an angel; she looks like s snow fairy coming toward me.
“She looks stunning, bro.” My brother says and I let out a laugh.

He’s not wrong.

Her dad stops in front of me and takes her hand to hand it to me. She’s wearing lace see through gloves that make her hands soft in mine. I help her up onto the small stage and face her fully.

“Did you fall from heaven?” I ask her, making her laugh.

“Depends. Did you wish for me?” She asks.

I smile down at her. “Every night.”

She reaches up and brushes there thumb across my cheek. It’s then that I realize I’m crying.

“Are these happy tears?” She asks.

I nod. She has tears in her eyes too, but is doing a better job of holding them back.

“Are we really doing this?” She asks. “This isn’t a dream?”

“Did you dream of marrying me, Little Bee?” I ask her with a cocky smile.

She doesn’t scowl or scoff. No, she smiles brightly at me. “Every night.”

“Then let’s make both our dreams a reality.” I look over at her dad and signal for him to start.

He takes out some papers from his shirt pocket and unfolds them.

“Welcome everyone to the wedding of Sawyer and my beautiful daughter. To say I am surprised to see these two standing together today, I would be lying. All of us knew from the moment my daughters met the Beckett boys that they were meant to be together. Sawyer just needed a little time to catch up, and he finally has. Although no one will ever be good enough for my Bryn, I’m glad to hand her over to someone I can trust. Sawyer may be a wild thing, but Bryn is a solid rock and will ground him. Now, I can say a lot about these two, but I believe Sawyer has something he would like to say.” He signals me to speak and I look at Bryn and take both of her hands.

“Little Bee. I’m sorry it took me so long to get my head out of my ass and marry you, but here we are finally. You coming back into my life was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. I was lost without you and did a lot of shit I’m not proud of, but you didn’t judge me. You forgave me for hurting you all those years ago when I was an idiot for not telling you I loved you. You are the only girl I could ever love, and I want to show the world that no one else could be mine. I couldn’t imagine my life without you in it, and I plan on spending the rest of my life showing you how much I need you.” I tell her with all the sincerity in the world because I mean every word.

She laughs and lifts her hand to wipe away a few tears.

“Would you like to say anything, cupcake?” Her dad asks.

“Sure.” she says without looking away from me. “Sawyer, I knew the first time I saw you I would only ever love you. I was happy to watch you live your life and never look back, but we still ended up together. It was as if fate was determined to have us find our way back to each other. When I first saw you, I wanted to run and wrap my arms around you, but I played mad, so I didn’t seem weak. No matter what you do, I could never truly hate you, and now I don’t think I could ever stop loving you. I can’t believe I’m standing here with you, and I’m not convinced this isn’t a dream, but if it is…it’s the best one I’ve ever had. Marrying you is everything I ever wanted.”

“Well, said you two. Let’s not linger any long, huh? Do you Sawyer Beckett take Bryn Raven to be your wife through sickness and health, for richer and poorer?”

“I do.” I say without hesitation.

“And do you, Bryn Raven, take Sawyer Beckett to be your husband through sickness and health, for richer and poorer?”

“I do.”

“Then I pronounce you man and wife. You may- “

I wrap my arm around Bryn’s waist and push her little veil out of the way so I can kiss her. Everyone starts cheering and laughing as I kiss the hell out of my new wife.

Wife. Holy shit! Bryn is my wife now. This is going to change everything.

There is flashing going off somewhere, but I know it’s my mom trying to catch every moment of today. She’s big on capturing memories and will no doubt fill an entire scrapbook for this day.

“Alright. Break it up you two,” Bryn’s dad says making Bryn laugh against my lips.

I give her some space but keep my arm around her waist. I’m not ready to let her go yet.

“I now present to you, Mr. And Mrs. Raven.” He says, and the shock on everyone’s face is priceless.

See, tradition says that a woman should take her husband's name when they get married. Well, fuck that shit! I’ll happily take my girl’s name and do it with pride.