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IT’S AN ABSOLUTELY beautiful day to marry my love. I’m so glad we decided to get married on the beach at Virginia Key, the location of one of our very first dates. I fell in love with her on this beach, watching her dig her toes in the sand and squealing in delight at the tiny fish riding the waves up to her toes. Life was perfect in that moment, and so is my bride-to-be.

She has her own dressing tent set up just a few hundred feet on the other side of the palm canopy. As of last night, she was still adamant about us following all of the normal ‘getting married’ traditions, so I spent the night with Thiago and Brooke and their new twins. They’re three weeks old and were up half the night feeding, it seems. I was exhausted when I first woke up this morning, but now I’m too excited to be tired.

Thiago was a trooper, helping at every moment and I had flashbacks of how he used to help Mom when Dante was born. He’s going to be a great dad; he’s already got a shit-ton of ‘hours-on-the-job’ experience that’s for sure. I can look at him and tell he’s tired with the sagging under-eye bags and the red lines streaking across his eyes, but his larger-than-life smile tells me he’s also a happy man.

I’m getting antsy pacing this 10 x 20 tent, waiting to claim my bride. I step outside into the bright sunshine, and walk out to the beach where the guests are milling about waiting, as well. A small band is playing jazz tunes, an ode to Cassee’s grandparents to make them a part of her day. She is sure they will hear the music in Heaven and dance on the clouds at her wedding.

Every detail is planned to its finest point. Cassee got overwhelmed with trying to launch her lingerie product line with Julian Chiange. So I begged her to focus on her new business opportunities while I hired a wedding planner and completed the whole process with as minimal help from Cassee as possible. She was only responsible for her dress, and Julian designed it as a wedding gift. She’s so thrilled about the finished gown, but is being very hush hush about it. She also designed her lingerie that goes with it. The only thing I know is what I’ve heard in whispered conversations with Brooke and Ava...something is gossamer.

I have another half-hour to wait, and I swear it’s going to be the longest half-hour of my life. I sit down in one of the guest chairs. It’s veiled with a white satin cover that’s wrapped in a red satin and tulle bow with long tails that are blowing in the light breeze from the Atlantic Ocean.

In the near distance over by the Carousel, I can see the waiters working like honey bees setting the tent for the main reception in an hour. It’s a large white open-air tent with a massive canopy top over the wedding party table and dance floor. From the outside, the canopy is white as well, but on the inside, it has streaks of red to match the wedding party colors.

I’m lost in thought when Thiago, Dante, and Father Thomas come looking for me. Apparently it’s time to line up for the processional. Thank God, I’m more than ready. I just want to marry my bride and get on to our honeymoon.

We line up as the music starts, and it all becomes a blur until everyone stands and Cassee appears at the end of the aisle. She decided to escort herself down the aisle, claiming that she’s strong enough to give herself and all of her love to me on her own. I couldn’t agree more.

My throat goes dry just looking at her in that champagne pink gossamer gown. It has matching floating hearts hanging from the bodice on red silk strings. Her curly hair has been tamed into a half-braid and swept to the side, allowing the curls to cascade down the front of her in a glorious waterfall of curls. She’s breathtaking, and she’s mine. I still get that daily urge to reach out and unroll one of her springs of hair and watch it bounce back into its erratic shape. Today is no exception. She’s wearing a tiara and is stunningly gorgeous. My heart does that fluttering thing it’s always done, but today— my heart is beating more wildly for her.

She walks slowly to me, smiling so wide, her eyes crinkle at the corners. This is what her happiness looks like and my heart is crazy about her. I take her hand in mine as we pray and do the preliminary blessings.

“Mateo and Cassee have written their own wedding vows and would like to share them with you, their honored guests,” Father Thomas says out loud to the guests. “You may proceed,” he whispers to us.

“Mateo, my love. From the moment we met, you’ve surprised me, distracted me, made me nervous, made me mad, and challenged me in ways I never thought I’d survive.  You’ve loved me and you’ve left me, but something about our love was stronger than the will to not give it a try. Please be assured that I’ll choose you over and over, every time, and every single day from daybreak to nightfall and back again in every season for every reason. I always want to be by your side living our crazy life. I love you,” she recites in that Southern accent that I’m madly in love with. Her voice is strong and clear, and a fat tear rolls down my cheek. I don’t even bother wiping it away.

“Cassee, my love. From the moment you walked up the stairs watching every step you took, I knew you were headed straight for my heart. You’ve been patient, genuine and completely bull-headed when it came to our love and I’m forever grateful for those attributes. I love the fire within you and I promise to stoke it every day so that it keeps burning between us. Everything in my life has led me to finding you, and I promise to give you the best of myself on this crazy journey together. I love you,” I recite. Her eyes are watering and I know she’s fighting a hard battle to not let them fall.

We exchange wedding bands, and are pronounced husband and wife. I have finally become one with the love of my life. I bend down to kiss my bride and her perfume wafts up reminding me again of my mother. At that moment, I know she’s here with us, and my heart is overflowing today.

And so we begin...

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