SIX MONTHS LATER

Thinking back through this last year, it’s funny to think how everything started. I didn’t think twice when I saw the banner go up for the ice cream festival. I’m not sure I’ll be trying anymore “Cold Sweat” ice cream, but maybe we can at least try a few others this year.

“Do you know this is only the second time I’ve gone to this festival since I was a kid?” Austin says.

“What is wrong with you?” I ask him. “It’s ice cream. Who would avoid this?”

“I’ve got a busy life,” he says.

“The hospital is two blocks away, and you have breaks. It’s ice cream, don’t act inhuman.”

We’re making our way up and down the rows, looking for flavors that spark our attention. We agreed not to start a battle of who can be tougher tonight, so I’m curiously looking for something that might actually taste good.

“Mr. Austin,” I hear a young girl’s voice. “Do you remember me?”

Austin turns around, finding a girl who must be around ten years old. “Of course, I remember you. Candace. How is that arm of yours? The burns must have all healed up by now, right?”

“Yes, sir,” she says, smiling shyly. “I saw you over here and I just wanted to thank you for helping me last year.”

“You are very welcome, I tell her. Hopefully, you’ve avoided sneaking out at night since then,” Austin says, smiling at her with a wink.

Her mother places an arm around her daughter’s shoulder. “Oh those windows have been bolted shut,” she says with a laugh. “It’s nice to see you, Austin. Candace talked about you for weeks after the accident.”

“I’m glad she's better now,” he tells her.

“Have a good night,” the mother says.

Once they’re out of hearing range, Austin smiles. “That’s why I love what I do.”

“That’s why I love you,” I tell him. “You’re amazing.”

“I know, I know. It’s hard to compete with me,” he laments.

I roll my eyes and spot a booth with chocolate and strawberry puree. “I think I’ll try that one,” I tell Austin.

Just as I make it up to the booth, all the lights in the square go dark. Uhh. “Austin?”

“I’m here.”

“Is there a power outage?” I ask him.

“It must be. That’s odd. It’s not raining or anything.”

There’s a lot of commotion, but I’m not moving because I literally can’t see a foot in front of me. I reach into my back pocket for my cell phone so I can turn the flashlight on. It takes me a second, but I find it and flip the light on, holding it out in front of me and looking around. “Austin?”

By the time I spot him, my heart is in my throat and I’m not sure I could breathe if I tried. “Scarlett,” he says.

“What are you doing?” I don’t know why I just asked that, but it’s a natural reaction, for me, anyway.

“Scarlett,” he says again. I’m holding the flashlight on him, shaking. “Will you marry me tonight?”

I nod, feeling my throat tighten a little more. Tears fill my eyes, knowing I’ve found someone who understands me and respects my crazy wants and needs. “I will marry you,” I tell him. “For whatever forever means, I will be that with you, and I will walk next to you so you don’t have to ever look back or even look ahead.”

He places a beautiful ring on my finger and leans forward, placing his lips against my ear. “The courthouse over the border in Georgia is waiting for us. There is no waiting period for a marriage license there.”

“You love me this much?” I ask him.

“I love you more than that,” he says.

Running past the applauding people and shouts of congratulations, I have tunnel vision for a future that will start today. Today is the best time to start everything and anything.

It only takes us a half hour to cross the state border and arrive at the courthouse. We walk in, and to my utter shock, the place is decked out with flowers, tea lights, and rows of seats filled with everyone we love. Daisy pops out of one of the rows as I’m trying to take in what’s happening. “Come with me,” she says.

I’m still spinning in a haze as she tears my clothes off and drapes me in a beautiful white dress. “You’re easy to turn into a bride.” She whips out a tube of lipstick and curling iron. “I just need five minutes, and you’ll be ready to go.”

“Is this crazy?” I ask her.

“Yeah, that’s putting it mildly, but you know what? I like the way you think. You know how to live. More people could learn from that mentality. You’ll never have to wonder if you’re going to miss out on something.”

I’ve always thought I was nuts with the way I think, but thinking about the future stresses me out. I know I’m happy today, and I don’t want to tarnish that with the thought of possibly not being happy tomorrow. I don’t know if I was bred to think that way because of the way Mom and Dad were or if it’s just something that’s part of my brain, but it works for me, and it hasn’t failed me.

“Austin is lucky,” Clara says as she walks into the bathroom. “I couldn’t be happier for you two. He needed you. He’s always needed you.”

“That means a lot to me,” I tell her.

“You look beautiful.” I turn to look in the mirror, still unable to wrap my head around this, but it’s how I always dreamed my wedding day would be. Unplanned, but perfect.

“Let’s go,” Daisy says.

She pulls me out of the bathroom and before I know it, I’m standing at the bottom of the aisle, staring at Austin, who managed to get into a tux faster than I was able to slip into a dress.

Brendan steps out from the last row of people and he hands me a large bouquet of roses. “I couldn’t miss walking my best girl down the aisle, he says, placing a kiss on my cheek.”

“I can’t believe you’re here,” I whisper, trying not to choke up.

“I can’t believe you’d think I wouldn’t be here for this. I couldn’t be happier for your, Scarlett. Without a doubt, he’s your one.” 

I swallow the lump in my throat as Brendan slips his arm through mine, walking me slowly—the way Austin likes, the way I’m not used to—down the aisle. I pace myself with deep breaths, having no doubts in my mind. Mom stands up in front of Austin with tears in her eyes and reaches for my hands. “I could learn a thing or two from you,” she says. “You are going to have a perfect life, Scarlett. I’m proud of you.” She kisses me on the cheek and passes my hand over to Austin’s.

I’m lost in his eyes, wanting to pinch myself to make sure I’m not asleep, but the words floating around us are real. The promises he’s making are clear, and the promises floating freely from my mouth are purely instinctual.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride,” the judge says.

Austin’s hands cup my cheeks and just before he touches his lips to mine, he says, “Could you have walked any slower down that aisle?”

“No,” I tell him before leaning in to kiss him.

“I love you,” he whispers to me. “I needed a strong woman to handle me, and I’m grateful I found you.”

“Some men just need to find the perfect man handler, and I’m happy to be that person in your life, Austin Trace.”

“We’ll discuss that title of yours a little later, okay?”

“You won’t complain when the conversation … comes … back up,” I whisper.