43.3 Katerina

Alex took a deep breath once he finished his speech. He folded the paper back up and tucked it into his breast pocket again.

"Were you aiming to make me cry today?" I asked as I sniffled, making everyone chuckle. I knew that they all had tears in their eyes as well. "I don't think I want to continue with this wedding."

He smiled and rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Sorry, love, but you missed your chance to object," he replied with a cheeky grin, making me smile and shake my head.

"Katerina, you may read your vows now," Father Gabriel said with a soft smile. I nodded, taking a deep breath as I unfolded the piece of paper that Hayden had handed me since I had nowhere to hide it.

"Alex, of all the people you've met on your journey and of all the places you've been, somehow and some way, you ended up here—with me. It is the most powerful and humbling fact that I can accept. I used to think that we met by chance, but now I know without a doubt that the universe put you in front of me because we were meant to spend our lives together." I looked up at him and saw Alex smiling. I noticed his eyes begin to water, but he blinked them back, making me smile. "You have filled my life with joy and have given me a sense of peace that I have never known. You are my best friend, my biggest supporter, and the best backup singer a girl could ask for." He chuckled, shaking his head, knowing full well that he was terrible at singing. I loved how he was always there to sing backup for me and Hayden when we started having our mini concerts in the middle of our living room while Savannah cheered with a toothy grin. "Although today marks the start of the rest of our lives, I know it will not be enough time with you. I will not take our time together for granted. Because words cannot do it, I promise to show you, for the rest of my life, how much I love you."

I paused to collect my thoughts and blinked the tears that formed in my eyes. I looked up at Alex to see that he, too, had tears in his eyes. This time, he didn't even try to blink them away as he watched me with those eyes I've fallen in love with. "I feel overwhelmingly lucky and proud to be standing beside you today. Thank you for accepting me for all that I am. Thank you for always supporting and loving me unconditionally. I know I haven't always made that easy. I love that, despite you not being fond of animals, you fell in love with Molly and Lola, my two German Shepherds, and my brother's poodle, Mandy, and loved them as if they were your own. Thank you for allowing Hayden to live with us when he was having a hard time being away from me when we moved in together."

He shook his head with a smile as he reached over and wiped yet another tear away from my cheek. "But most of all, thank you for being the best father to our baby girl and for always putting us before anything and anyone. I vow to love you without reservation or conditions. I vow to always do my best to give more than I take and not keep score. When I am with you, I am the best version of myself because I am utterly and unapologetically myself. I vow to continuously work on myself and to be the wife you want and deserve."

"Now that I think about it, I think we should have both objected," he teased, making me chuckle as I folded the paper back up again and handed it to Hayden to hold.

"You said it yourself, it's too late now," I replied, making him, our families, and friends laugh at our joke before turning to the priest, who smiled.

"Alexander De Luca and Katerina Montgomery, please join hands. Under the eyes of God, Alexander, do you take Katerina to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to support her completely and love her unconditionally, so long as you both shall live?"

Alex stalled, and I raised a brow, making him smirk. I rolled my eyes, knowing that he was just playing.

"I do," he finally replied after what felt like ages. I could hear the entire room sigh in relief, making us chuckle.

"Under the eyes of God, Katerina, do you take Alexander to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to support him completely and love him unconditionally, so long as you both shall live?" Father Gabriel asked. I tilted my head and shook my head, saying, "No."

Alex narrowed his eyes as our guests began to whisper behind us, and I grinned. "Just kidding. Of course I do."

"Katerina Elena Montgomery, that was not a very nice joke," I heard my mother's voice reprimand.

"Sorry, Mama," I mumbled, looking over at her, and she shook her head.

"It is now time to exchange the rings. The circle formed by each ring is a symbol of your love and eternal commitment to each other. May these rings remind you always of these sacred promises you've made to each other today in the company of your family and friends," Father Gabriel stated, clearing his throat from my little joke. I gave him a sheepish grin, and he shook his head with a chuckle. "Alexander, you will go first. Please repeat after me as you place the ring on the hand of your loved one."

"I, Alexander, give you, Katerina, this ring as a symbol of my love, commitment, and the eternal vows we have made today to each other. With this ring, I thee wed." Alex repeated Father Gabriel's words as he placed the diamond-encrusted wedding band next to its twin—my engagement ring.

"Katerina, your turn," the priest said as he turned to me. I grabbed the platinum wedding band from the little cushion that had carried our rings in and held Alex's left hand.

"I, Katerina, give you, Alexander, this ring as a symbol of my love, commitment, and the eternal vows we have made today to each other. With this ring, I thee wed."

I smiled, and Alex raised our linked hands up to his lips before pressing a soft kiss on my knuckles. I did the same, hearing the women in our family awe at the affection between us.

"By the power vested in me, Father Gabriel, and by St. Patrick's Cathedral, I pronounce you, Alexander and Katerina, as husband and wife, lawfully wedded before God." Alex and I grinned at each other as Father Gabriel announced us as husband and wife. "Alexander, you may now kiss your bride."

Alex smiled as he gently cupped my face in his hands and pulled my face towards his. Our lips pressed against each other in a soft yet loving kiss that stole my breath. No matter how many times we've kissed, his lips always felt like heaven to me and had my heart racing in my chest.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honor that I officially present to you Mr. and Mrs. De Luca!"