Vows and Ghosts

They didn’t mean to fall asleep. But with the scent of each other still lingering on their skin and the comfort of shared silence, it happened naturally. The next morning, it hit them hard. *One week. Seven days.* The wedding was close enough to touch. Renee paced in the kitchen barefoot, her phone buzzing every ten minutes with something else she forgot to do. But instead of panicking, she found herself smiling. Jake leaned against the fridge, watching her with that familiar grin, the one that always made her forget what she was saying mid-sentence. “You keep looking at me like that,” she warned him playfully, “and I’m going to make us late to everything.” He shrugged. “We’re not late until the preacher says our names.” She laughed, walking over to steal a sip of his coffee, only for him to pull her close instead. His lips brushed her temple as he whispered, “We’re really doing this, huh?”

“Yeah,” she breathed. “We’re really doing this.” The days blurred together in a rush of planning and quiet anticipation. Renee spent her mornings with her mom and the boys, finalizing details and making sure every piece of the day reflected what they’d been through to get here. Jake’s presence was a constant anchor. No matter how busy or chaotic things became, he was always close, his hand brushing hers in passing, his calm voice grounding her when nerves tried to creep in.

Three days before the wedding, Nate and LJ came home with their suits. Nate carried his over his shoulder, trying to act unimpressed, though Renee caught the flicker of pride in his eyes when he stepped into the hallway mirror to check the fit. LJ smirked at his brother and asked, “You gonna cry when they play the music?” Nate shot him a look, but Renee laughed, pulling them both into a quick hug. “You both clean up too well for me not to cry,” she admitted. That evening, Renee found Jake out by the barn adjusting the string lights they had decided to hang over the entrance for the reception. She slipped her arms around his waist from behind, leaning her cheek against his back. “Do you realize,” she murmured, “that in a few days, you’ll officially be my husband?” Jake’s hand covered hers, his voice low and sure. “Been yours a long time, Ren. This just makes it permanent.” Two days before the wedding, a summer storm rolled in, drenching the yard in sheets of rain. Renee sat at the kitchen table, staring at the weather report while Nate leaned against the counter scrolling his phone. “Relax, Mom,” he said without looking up. “We’re not made of sugar. Nobody’s gonna melt.”

Jake came in from outside, his hair damp and his grin easy. “Rain on a wedding day’s good luck,” he said, shooting Nate a knowing look. “That’s what people say when they don’t want you to panic,” Renee muttered, chewing her lip. Jake crouched in front of her chair, tipping her face up gently. “Rain, shine, doesn’t matter. You could marry me in a thunderstorm, and it’d still be the best day of my life.” The night before the wedding, the house had gone quiet. The boys were in their rooms, music playing faintly through their doors. Renee sat on the edge of the bed, her heart beating fast. Jake stepped in, stopping in the doorway as if committing the sight of her to memory. “You okay?” he asked softly. She nodded, her voice breaking with emotion. “I just, I can’t believe this is really happening after everything.” Jake knelt in front of her, resting his forehead against her knees. “Believe it. Tomorrow, you’re mine forever.” Her fingers threaded through his hair as tears slipped down her cheeks, not from fear, but from the weight of everything they had survived to make it here.

The morning of the wedding broke with the soft patter of rain against the windows. Renee stood at the glass with coffee warming her hands, watching as droplets gathered and slid down the pane. Her stomach knotted with nerves, but not fear, just the weight of the moment. Jake’s reflection appeared behind her in the glass. He slid his arms around her waist and pressed a kiss to the curve of her neck. “Still want to do this in the rain?” he teased. “I would marry you in a hurricane,” she whispered. By the time they reached the barn, the world was softened by mist. Strings of lights glowed warmly inside, casting everything in a golden haze. When Renee stepped through the doors, she caught Jake’s eyes and for a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the room. The vows were simple and raw, full of everything they had fought to hold onto. When Jake said “I do,” it was steady and sure. When Renee whispered hers, her hands trembled, but her voice did not break.

The cheers were loud enough to drown out the rain. The first kiss as husband and wife was soft and reverent, the kind of kiss that held every promise they had ever made each other. The reception roared to life, laughter and music filling the barn. Renee slipped off her shoes halfway through, spinning barefoot in Jake’s arms while the boys snuck extra desserts from the buffet. For the first time in years, everything felt right. Until the doors swung open. The laughter dimmed to a low murmur as Mike stumbled inside with rain plastering his hair to his forehead. His eyes found hers immediately, raw and glassy. “Renee.” His voice cracked over the sound of music and rain. The room went silent. Jake’s hand tightened around hers. The silence in the barn was heavy, every eye flicking between Jake and the man dripping rain onto the wooden floor.

Jake stepped forward first, his voice low but sharp. “You should leave.” Mike’s jaw tightened, a humorless laugh slipping out. “You don’t get to tell me where I can and can’t go. I needed to see her.” Renee’s stomach knotted. “Mike…” Her voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough to make him turn to her. His gaze softened when it landed on her, but there was something wild behind his eyes. “You were my everything, Renee. I can’t pretend it doesn’t tear me apart.” Jake moved in front of her instinctively. “She didn’t invite you. You think this is love? Showing up drunk to her wedding? You don’t deserve to even say her name like that.” Mike’s fist curled at his side, and for a second Renee swore he might swing. “You don’t get it, Jake. You left her. I picked up the pieces. I held her when she broke. You can’t erase that just because you put a ring on her finger.” Jake’s voice didn’t rise, but it cut like a blade. “You’re right. You held her when she broke. And then you left her too. The difference is, I came back to stay.”

Renee finally stepped between them, her hands shaking. “Stop.” Her voice cracked, silencing them both. She looked at Mike, her heart aching at the sight of him standing there drenched and broken. “You shouldn’t have come.” Mike’s shoulders slumped as if her words had struck him harder than any punch. Jake’s arm circled Renee’s waist, grounding her as she whispered, “I loved you. I always will. But this isn’t your place anymore.” Then Mike nodded slowly, his expression shattering into something hollow. Without another word, he turned and walked back into the storm. Jake held Renee tighter, feeling her chest rise and fall against him. Her eyes stayed locked on the open barn doors long after Mike disappeared into the rain.