Autumn
I had just stepped into my shoes and helped Pen from the floor when there was a knock at the door.
“If that’s Emmett, I’m going to strangle him,” Kaye said. “You’ll be walking down the aisle with a corpse.”
“I’ve done that once already,” I mumbled. “My ex-husband was brain dead.”
Kaye chuckled, and Pen ran to the door as my father walked in. The two gave us some space as they went to get ready for our cues.
“Hey, Daddy.” My father stopped in his tracks and held his heart.
“You’re breathtaking, baby. You’ve got a glow about you that I haven’t seen on a woman since your mother on our wedding day.”
“Thank, Dad. Thanks for being here.”
“I should have been there the last time, and maybe things would have been different. Instead of Emmett walking you down the aisle to Jason, I should have been walking you down the aisle to Emmett.”
“Emmett and I are okay with how things turned out. We have Penelope because of it.”
“Then it was all worth it to get to this place. I can’t tell you how proud I am of you and him. He really turned out to be a fine man. The way he sacrifices for you. He’s got your best interests at heart.”
Dad’s words were so sweet, and everything seemed perfect. I walked to the mirror to check my makeup because I had started to tear up just looking at how handsome Daddy was and the fact that he was here with me this time.
Everything was perfect in a way it hadn’t been before.
Pen opened the door and peeked in. “Mama, are you ready?”
“Yes, I’m all set.” I took my father’s arm, and we walked out into the hall to wait for my music to play.
For my first wedding, I’d chosen to have a traditional wedding with a traditional wedding march, but this time, I wanted to choose something different to show that this was a new beginning. We were starting fresh in a way that we hadn’t before, as husband and wife.
Everything we’d been through had led us to this point, and I knew that the two of us were made for one another. There would be many times to come, good ones and bad, but we’d make it through them all together. I placed my hand on my stomach as my father’s words sank in. “Daddy, what did you—”
The music started playing, and I shook off the question. I’d have to ask him later. I didn’t know what Emmet had “sacrificed” for me, but that wasn’t important at the moment. I couldn’t wait to marry him.
Dad took my hand, and we walked slowly down the steps, just like we’d rehearsed the night before. When we rounded the corner, I saw Emmett dressed in his tux and looking like a million bucks.
My breath caught in my throat, and when he saw me, he held his hand over his heart and blew me a kiss, which made me smile.
I thought of how he looked in my father’s coats and ties when we were just children, back when I had wanted this day to happen and for us to live happily ever after.
When I got to the end of the aisle where Pen and Paul waited for us, both looking their best, I waited with my father.
The reverend smiled and opened his bible. “Who gives this woman to this man?”
“My granddaughter and I do.” My father winked at Penelope, and she giggled as I took Emmett’s hand.
I was so lost in the moment and I was so busy smiling and looking into his eyes that I wasn’t paying attention to a single word that the reverend was saying until it was time for my vows. I coasted through them effortlessly, unlike when I married Jason and needed Emmett’s help to get through them.
I was so excited that the ceremony was nearly over. It was funny because as important to me as my wedding was, I couldn’t wait to get to the part where I told him the good news.
Emmett got the ring from his brother, and it was the first time I’d laid eyes on it. It was my mother’s ring. Tears pooled in my eyes, and I couldn’t believe that my father had given it to us.
The reverend cleared his throat. “Do you Emmett, take Autumn to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, forsaking all others until death do you part?”
Emmett stared into my eyes. “I do.” He placed the ring on my finger, and then it was my turn. I got his ring and readied it. We’d done the ceremony our way, wanting something quick and casual.
I held the ring to his finger and waited till the reverend led me through the moment where I could slip it on.
“Do you, Autumn, take this man, Emmett, to be your husband, to have and to hold, forsaking all others until death do you part?”
“I do.” I pushed the ring over his knuckle.
The reverend finished up his speech, and before I knew it, it was time to kiss my groom. Emmett planted one on me so passionate that I was left lightheaded as everyone in attendance, including Pen, cheered.
Pen came forward and hugged our legs. Emmett picked her up and swung her around. “Daddy!” she cheered. “Now we’re all married like a real family.”
“Yes, we are.” His eyes were full of tears.
The reverend announced us as husband and wife and presented us as the Burke family. I put my arm around Emmett and pulled him close.
We were so happy to have all of our family and friends there, and I knew that this was the most special day of our lives. There was only one thing I could do for him to make it better, and I couldn’t wait to get him alone.
We walked down the aisle to the back and then headed upstairs together, where he pulled me into our room as the guests gathered in the dining room and mingled as the front room was cleared of the rented seating.
“That was both the longest and shortest moment of my life.” Emmett laughed and pulled me into his arms. “We did it, baby.”
“Yes, we did.”
Paul came to the door, and I was sad that I didn’t have enough time to give Emmett my surprise.
“Hey, man. I know this is bad timing, but I need you to come down for a second.”
“Are you kidding me?” He looked defeated, but my father walked in and asked me to help him with his tie, which was caught on something in the back of his collar.
Emmett kissed me and then made his way out with Paul. I helped my father with his tie, which was snagged on a pin he’d left in his shirt.
“You have to take the pins out of these shirts,” I said, pulling it free. He turned around and I held it up for him to see.
“No wonder it poked me.” He turned, and before he could leave, I grabbed his hand.
“What did you mean earlier when you said that Emmett had made sacrifices? Anything in particular?”
“You know, the promotion I offered him.”
“You offered him a promotion?” I asked.
My father looked confused. “Yes, I wanted him to take Hudson’s place. I thought he talked to you about it. He said he wanted to have enough time with you and Pen outside of work and that you had wanted to start a family.”
I frowned. “No, he didn’t mention it. He turned it down?”
“Yeah, I couldn’t believe it, either. I’m holding the position until Hudson leaves, in hopes that I can still talk you two into it. You should really give it some thought, Princess. It’s going to secure the future of the company for when I retire, which might not be too long now.”
“You don’t mean it?” I asked. It wasn’t a shock that he was going to retire one day, but I wasn’t ready for it anytime soon, especially since the two of us had gotten so close again.
I also couldn’t believe Emmett had turned down a huge promotion for me to start a family. After our talk, I wasn’t sure if he was going to let me have my way. He hadn’t seemed like he wanted to have kids anytime soon.
I wished that Dad would have talked to me, too, although I understood why he hadn’t. But Emmett? Emmett should have told me before he turned it down. It was a great opportunity, and that kind of position didn’t come along very often. “Thanks, Daddy. I’ll talk to him.”
I thought about the time that he’d mentioned a hypothetical promotion, and it made me sad that he hadn’t told me the truth. I had told him he didn’t need it and that I wanted things to stay the same. I was sure that was why he’d declined it. If I’d known the truth, I would have told him to go for it.
My father left, and Emmett came back in laughing. He locked the door before Paul could follow. “Sorry, baby. I had a few friends that were leaving, and they wanted to see me before they had to get back on the road.”
“It’s fine. I would have gone down if I had known.” I turned and gestured to my zipper so I could get out of the dress and into more comfortable clothes that I wanted for the reception.
“Yeah, I didn’t know what it was about.” He pulled the zipper down, and once I was free, I finally felt like I could breathe.
I stepped out of my gown, and his eyes widened with his smile. “You look beautiful, baby, in and out of that dress.” He moved forward, closing the distance and pulling me into his arms. Our lips mingled together, and I couldn’t believe that this man was my husband and mine for the rest of my life. I just hoped he wouldn’t be upset with me when I revealed my surprise.