To my disappointment the chapel looked closed when I arrived. Why I felt the need to return to the scene of the crime, the place where Ethan and I had drunkenly exchanged wedding vows, all for it to go to hell, was a mystery to me. But regardless, my feet had led me there. Something deep inside had me come back, like it was tugging on an invisible string, not letting go till I was outside the chapel doors.

I debated whether I wanted to go inside now that I was actually here. Would it hurt too much? But curiosity got the better of me. I had never seen it closed before, it was always brimming with love and excitement. But tonight it was devoid of the usual bustling activity. I stepped up to the doors and peered in through the stained glass. There was movement inside and someone in a coral dress was talking to the receptionist.

Shocked I did a double take and almost pressed my nose to the glass to have another look. It was April of all people. I knocked on the window and she turned to see me. She had an expression of equal surprise. She quickly said something to the receptionist and then came outside to see me.

“Peach, what are you doing here? I thought you were at work… you’re early,” April said her eyes darting away as if nervous.

“Please, don’t mention work. I just got fired.”

“Oh god, what happened? Maximo I guess? I’ll give that bastard a piece of my mind.”

“Well I kinda already did that. I told him to go to hell.”

“That’s my girl,” replied April, hugging me.

“Wait, why are you here?” I asked. “Why are you dressed like that? Don’t tell me you’re getting married, why wouldn’t you tell me that?”

“Breathe, honey. Breathe. And no, I’m not getting married.”

The receptionist was suddenly in the doorway. “You can go in now,” she said.

April nodded then smiled broadly at me. “Don’t you worry, I think things are going to be okay.” She hugged me tighter.

“What on earth is going on?” I tried to ask but April was having none of it, and shushed me.

“Just stand there and look pretty,” she demanded, and fluffed my hair. I felt like I was on candid camera, and turned to make sure there wasn’t a whole crew of people behind me.

April pushed me forward, then skirted around me to help the receptionist peel back the inner chapel doors.

What was revealed I could never have imagined, not in a million years.

Normally, I’d be greeted by the familiar sight of the ornate carved altar at the very end of the aisle, with several pews on either side guiding the way, a giddy couple, with their hands clasped together, holding on to each other. Sometimes there’d be a few people sat watching the ceremonies, invited guests watching their friends get married, or crazy kooks like me just there to soak up all the love.

However this time the place was empty of people.

Except for one man.

There down on one knee was Ethan. He held a beautiful bouquet of peonies, a variety of pastel peach shades. The look in his eyes was all I needed for my heart to swoon. But my head was still in control.

I looked around, trying to find understanding in my surroundings. My eyes were met by more peonies than I had ever seen before. They spilled from displays around the door and throughout the chapel. The whole place was decked out. Peach ribbons adorned everything, the seats, the flower displays. It was as if all the happy ceremonies I had ever seen here had combined together into one joyous occasion.

“Ethan, what are you doing?”

“Peach, my darling, I can’t—”

“Ethan. Stop. You shouldn’t be here,” I found myself saying. My words practically trying to push him out the door.

“No. This is exactly where I need to be. And I’m going to have my say whether you like it or not. You’re not going to run from me this time. They have orders to lock us in here if needs be.”

“You can’t be serious?”

“Well, no… That bit I lied about. Though I wouldn’t put it past your friend, April. But please. Stay. Listen to what I have to say?”

I sighed, and tried not to smile. “Okay… let’s hear it.”

“This is harder than I thought.” Ethan got up and took a couple of steps closer. “Peach, I know I shouldn’t have taken so long to come and find you… what happened I think caught us both off-guard, and maybe we both needed time to lick our wounds. But these past few days have been torture. I haven’t known what to do with myself… I think I nearly drove my mother and Gertie crazy.”

“Ethan—” I started, knowing the exact same feeling. Like somehow my feet had lifted off the ground, my body drifting, at the whims of the air currents, being blown to and fro without knowing how to get back down. Unable to figure out how to feel whole again.

“Right, yes. I should get to the point. Peach, I can’t live without you. I love you completely, I have from the start. I know this started as something quite different, but I think we both know it is so much more. I want to tear up that annulment document… I want you.”

“But the vineyard, your family. You can’t give that up for me.”

He took another step forward. “My family knows everything, there is nothing that can come between us ever again. I promise. I choose you.”

“Even though you found out about what I did?”

“Baby, we all have a past. I don’t care about that. All I know is that I want a future, with you. So… What do you say to starting over, doing everything for real, Mrs. Dalton? Renewing our vows?”

I gasped at his use of my married name. Then he said it again for good measure.

“Mrs. Peach Dalton, will you marry me again?”

I laughed and wiped a tear of happiness from my eye. “Yes, I say yes!”

Ethan handed me the bouquet and I managed just in time to remove it from his forward momentum, wrapping my arms around his neck, as his hand circled my waist.

“I will love you forever,” whispered Ethan, before his eyes dipped to my lips.

“Kiss me, husband,” I demanded in reply and sank into his embrace.

“Is this what our marriage will be like? You ordering me about?”

“Oh shut up, and kiss me!”

Ethan laughed then dipped me down, his lips descending upon mine for much longer than was appropriate. It was a kiss I would remember for the rest of my life.

“You know, I don’t think I could’ve planned this any better,” I joked when our lips finally parted.

“I learned from the best,” grinned Ethan, “which is something we will be talking about, my darling wife.”