Sarah
I slip into the wedding dress, amazed that he rembered to get it sized over my baby bump. Matthew had thought of everything.
At precisely four o’clock, I make my way down to the beach, my bare feet sinking into the warm sand. In the distance, I see a white gazebo that’s decorated with flowers and flowing white fabric.
As I get closer, I see Matthew waiting, handso in a white linen suit, his face lighting up when he spots . But he’s not alone. Standing with him are Matthew’s family and Marishka. Even Josh and Rebecca is here.
"Oh my God," I breathe, tears threatening to ruin my perfect makeup.
Matthew steps forward to et , taking my hands in his.
"What is all this?" I whisper.
"A second chance," he says simply. "A new beginning for us. I wanted to see if you would marry again so I can give you a proper wedding night this ti. Sarah. Will you?"
I stare at him, tears flowing freely now. "You want to marry again?"
"Yes," Matthew says, his voice husky with emotion. "I want to erase that first night. I want to start fresh with you, Sarah. I want a renewal of our vows, but this ti with love, with truth between us."
I can hardly breathe through the tightness in my chest. All his secretive behavior suddenly makes perfect sense.
"Is this why you’ve been acting so strange?" I ask, laughing through my tears.
He nods, a sheepish smile crossing his face. "I’m terrible at surprises. I was so afraid I’d give it away."
I glance at our gathered family. Marishka is openly weeping, her hands clasped together in joy. Josh gives a thumbs up and a wink.
Matthew’s mother steps forward, taking my hands in hers. "We wanted to be here for this mont," she says warmly.
I look back at Matthew, overwheld. "When did you plan all this?"
"I’ve been working on it since... well, since everything ca out in the open," he admits. "I realized I never gave us a proper start. I was so angry, so hurt when we first married. I didn’t let myself love you the way I should have."
He takes a deep breath. "But I do love you, Sarah. I’ve loved you for longer than I was willing to admit to myself."
The words I’ve been longing to hear. The declaration I wasn’t sure would ever co.
"I love you too," I whisper, squeezing his hands.
Matthew glances at the officiant standing in the gazebo. "So, what do you say? Will you marry again?"
I nod, unable to form words around the lump in my throat.
He leads toward the gazebo, where white chairs have been set up facing the ocean.
This ti, as I stand before Matthew and repeat my vows, there are no secrets between us. No lies. Just the truth of who we are and the love we’ve fought to build.
"I, Sarah, take you, Matthew, to be my husband once more," I say, my voice steady despite my tears. "With honesty and openness, I promise to love you through whatever life brings us."
Matthew’s eyes never leave mine as he speaks his vows. "I, Matthew, take you, Sarah, to be my wife again. This ti with my whole heart, my complete trust, and all the love I have to give."
When the officiant pronounces us husband and wife, Matthew cups my face with both hands and kisses tenderly. The small gathering of our loved ones erupts in applause, but I barely hear them.
In this mont, there is only Matthew and .
"I can’t believe you did all this," I say, still in awe after several hours at the dance floor. "How did you manage to get everyone here without knowing?"
He grins, spinning gently. "Josh helped coordinate everything."
My eyes turn wide. "You let Josh help you? Are you serious? You can’t stand him!"
Matthew frowns. "Well, Rebecca and my parents helped too. Yeah, I still don’t like him, but he isn’t all that bad."
I grin. "Oh no? You don’t think he is trying to steal away from you anymore?"
Matthew chuckles, pulling closer as we sway to the music on the beach. The sun is setting, casting golden light across the water. Our small reception is intimate and perfect.
"No," he admits, his lips brushing my ear. "He can’t even if he tries. You chose . You’re carrying my child. And he..." Matthew glances over at Josh, who’s laughing with Rebecca near the bar, "he’s actually been a good friend to both of us."
I lean back to study his face, searching for any trace of jealousy. "Who are you and what have you done with my husband?"
"Very funny," he says, rolling his eyes. "People change, Sarah. I’ve changed. We both have."
I rest my head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "For the better, I hope."
"Definitely for the better."
The music shifts to sothing slower, more intimate. Matthew’s arms tighten around .
"So," he murmurs. "Are you ready for our wedding night? The proper one this ti?"
Heat rushes to my cheeks. "I think I might be."
He presses a kiss on my forehead. "Good. And this ti, I will be taking your dress off without tearing it. God knows I had a hard ti finding the exact one."
I giggle. "How did you manage it anyway?"
Matthew smiles, looking pleased with himself. "I had a little help from Marishka. She rembered the designer and style. Turns out, they still had the pattern, so I commissioned a custom one."
"But how did you know it would fit?" I ask, glancing down at my growing baby bump.
"I may have stolen one of your dresses while you were sleeping and sent your asurents," he admits with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Plus, I added a note about accommodating for a five-month pregnancy."
I laugh, shaking my head in wonder. "You thought of everything."
"I tried," he says, his expression growing serious. "I wanted today to be perfect for you. To make up for—"
I place my finger against his lips. "Don’t. We’re not looking back anymore, rember? Only forward."
He kisses my fingertip, then takes my hand in his. "You’re right."
The party continues around us, but we’re in our own little world. Marishka catches my eye from across the beach and raises her glass to , her face radiant with maternal pride. I smile back, feeling a completeness I’ve never known before.
After we finish our dance, Marishka approaches us, her eyes still bright with happy tears.
"My darling," she says, embracing tightly. "I never thought I would see this day. To be here as your mother at your wedding."
I hug her back fiercely. "I’m so glad you’re here," I whisper.
She pulls back, cupping my face with her weathered hands. "Your father... Charles...he wanted to co," she says hesitantly. "He asked to tell you."
I stiffen slightly, and Matthew’s hand finds the small of my back, steadying .
"I’m not ready to forgive him yet," I admit. "Maybe soday, but not today."
Marishka nods, understanding in her eyes. "There is ti. Healing cos slowly."
As the night deepens, our guests begin to disperse. Matthew’s parents and Hailey hug us both before retreating to their rooms.
"We’ll see you two tomorrow for brunch," his mother says, squeezing my hand. "And Sarah? Thank you for making my son happy."
Finally, it’s just Matthew and , walking barefoot along the moonlit beach.
"So," I say, swinging our joined hands between us.
"So?" He raises an eyebrow.
"I thought you were going to divorce ," I confess.
He stops abruptly, turning to face . "What? Why would you think that?"
I shrug, suddenly feeling foolish. "You were acting secretive, checking your phone constantly. And then you booked the spa appointnt under my maiden na..."
Matthew chuckles. "Sorry to disappoint, wife, but I’m never letting you go again."
I rest my head against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat matching the sound of waves lapping at the shore.
"Do you rember the first ti we were here?" I ask, looking up at him.
His eyes darken montarily. "Yes. I was so angry then."
"And now?"
"Now I’m just grateful," he says, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Grateful that despite everything... all the lies, all the pain, we found our way back to each other."
I smile, tracing the contours of his face with my fingertips. "Not just the two of us anymore."
"No," he agrees, his palm warm against my belly. "The three of us now."
Matthew kisses , slow and deep. There is no urgency, only the gentle certainty that we have all the ti in the world.
This is just the beginning of our love story.
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