Page 109 of Holding On

Especially my man waiting for me at the end of the aisle.

Wells likes to call Jack the Ice Man, but consider him officially melted, and he isn’t even trying to hide the tears that trail down his face. He isn’t sad, no, my man is radiating happiness, which is appropriate because that’s what he makes me feel every single day.

Jack asked Max to officiate, in part because he wanted his brothers to stand up for him, and in part because we wanted to keep the guest list as small as possible, so when we had a role we needed, we looked at the people we had coming and tried to fill it. Willa and Stacy are taking pictures for us, and despite not being able to be here in person, Sophia walked Liam through how to set up the room to get it all on video without us even noticing the cameras. Cami and Cara helped coordinate all the food and whatever additional catering we needed beyond their insane skills. Lauren helped herd the cousins and babies. The men were the manual labor to clear Murphy’s family room, dining room furniture, and set up the chairs for the ceremony. It has been two days of organized chaos—perfect organized chaos.

“The bride and groom have chosen to say their own vows, and Jack is going to now share those with Tinsley.” Max—steady and true, Max—has even been crying today. We are all lost causes and I love it.

Jack hums as he takes my hands, lifting my right one and noticing Savannah’s ring that I borrowed for today. His eyes glisten as he hums in approval, bringing it to his lips and softly kissing it, before briefly closing his eyes to keep the tear from falling. I squeeze his fingers that are intertwined in mine in support, holding back my own tears at the amount of love that I can feel encompassing us in this moment.

“Hey, you’re skipping stuff!” Finn calls out as people laugh, myself included, bringing some levity to the moment.

Jack slowly turns his head to his brother, before extending his arm around my waist, and pulling me into him. I squeak as he kisses my forehead, as our friends and family cheer us on. “Tinsley Saoirse, you may be stealing my last name today, but it’s not really theft when every ounce of who I am, everything I have or could build, is all already yours. You own me completely. I promise to be your shelter from the storms of life from this moment forward. I will always be your safe space, just like you are my home.” He reaches up to wipe away a tear with his thumb that escaped.

“I promise to love, honor, and cherish you. I promise that I will cheer the loudest for you in any crowd and have your back in any room. I will always put you first and do my best to help you achieve each and every one of your dreams. I promise to always show up for you and to love you with every fiber of my being. Your love has changed me on a level that I didn’t know was possible, and I cannot imagine my life without you. You are the love of my life, the light in my life, and I am incredibly honored and proud that after today, I also get to call you my wife. I love you, Red.”

“Well...” I swipe my tears as he helps with a few. “As Vivian would say, crap on a cracker!” We laugh as I try to compose myself.

“It’s okay, Tinsley, whenever you’re ready. Jack’s not going anywhere, and I think he wants to hear your vows to him.” Max’s gentle smile is the encouragement I need, along with finding my breath, something I do as I meet Cami’s eyes and she nods as though she can read my thoughts.

Come back to your breath. Let the nerves flow away and focus on your breath.

“If someone had told me I would be here one day, I would’ve told them it was a dream. But today is proof that dreams can and do come true. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, Jack.” I swallow, trying to fight back the emotions, but it’s a losing battle. Savannah can’t be too mad at me for messing up my makeup—she’s crying like a baby herself. “I promise to be a soft place for you to exhale and recharge. When the demands of our lives are overwhelming, I will do everything in my power to be your place of peace and comfort. You may be my shelter, but I will be your refuge.” Jack audibly gulps and I know that means everything to him. Sometimes, I feel like our relationship is unbalanced because he seems to do so much for me, but he swears that I do just as much for him, and bring peace for him unlike anyone else ever has, and that’s something I want to do for him for the rest of our lives.

“I vow to be faithful and true, to you and what we have built together, and what we will build together in the future. I promise that I will always have your back and support you in any way I can. I promise to respect, honor, and love you with every breath in my lungs. I promise to follow your lead when we slow dance, hold your hand when we walk together through challenging times, and lead the way when you need to pause and rest. I will protect you and your heart. You are everything I could have ever hoped for, all that I wished for, and I will spend the rest of my life showing you how lucky I am to be loved by you. I am so proud to officially claim you for all to see, and I know that together, we really do have everything.”

“Aw, it’s like the song!” someone in the audience says, making us both smile.

“Your love set me free, and I'm keeping you forever, Jack Callahan. I love you.” I reach up and it’s my turn to wipe his tears now with my thumb. Jack grabs my wrist, pulling it to his mouth and kissing the inside of it before lowering it so he can hold both of my hands. We exchange rings, and after a few more formalities, Max finally says the words I’ve been waiting since I was a thirteen-year-old girl with a crush to hear … but it’s so much more than that. When I had a crush on him, that crush was on the idea of Jack Callahan. But now? Now, I’m head over heels in love with the man, the sometimes-growly, overprotective, attentive, loyal, beautiful man that stands before me. I thought I loved him then, but I had no idea how much better the real version of him was compared to the fantasy in my head.

I am also still so grateful that some wishes do in fact come true.

“By the power vested in me by the State of Tennessee and some random website Sophia made me register on, and more importantly, by your own power of choice today, in your futures, and in each other, I pronounce you husband and wife. Jack, kiss your bride, man!”

“My absolute pleasure,” Jack replies. With our friends and family hollering and cheering, Jack wraps one arm around my waist, pulling me to him, and the other along my jaw and into my hair. He then twists me into a back dip, which would have knocked the socks off of me if I were wearing any, but I was too distracted by the gentle kiss that demanded my full attention. Jack’s lips softly meet mine, pressing just enough to be a claiming kiss, and then he surprises me again by running his tongue along my lips, and who am I to disappoint my husband? I open as he groans with his delight and deepens the kiss. As he holds me against his body, Jack kisses me in a way that I didn’t even know was possible, and I think he may have touched my actual soul. Slowly bringing me back until I’m upright but keeping me pressed against his body, he slows the kiss, leaving our foreheads touching as the cheering continues.

“Mmm. Happy New Year’s, husband,” I tell him with a grin.

He smiles before giving me one more quick kiss. “Happy New Year’s, indeed, wife.” Grinning like loons, we turn to face our friends and family and join them in celebrating our marriage.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Callahan!” Max announces as music streams from somewhere and white and pale pink rose petals start floating down and around us like some kind of fairy tale. I squeal as I look up and see Jack’s nieces Olivia, Emily, Lucy, Eloise, and Gigi throwing petals over the banister from the upper level.

Everyone really did have a job today, and it was perfect.

It wasn’t just a dream come true—it was everything.

EPILOGUE

ELEVEN MONTHS LATER

I can’t believe tonight is finally here.

Tinsley has been touring for over fourteen months, and tonight is her last show on The Freedom Tour. After the last four months in Europe, she had her final four shows in the states, and tonight, she’s closing it out in Orlando.

She sold out every single concert, even those that were added as additional dates to cities that sold out insanely quick and performed one hundred and three times for over seven million people after kicking it off in Nashville a year ago in September. But what Tinsley would argue is more important is that The Freedom Tour raised enough money for The Skye Network to not only build their headquarters, but also four additional locations and extend their services to a regional effort—something the non-profit was hoping to be able to do in the next five to ten years, Tinsley made it possible in just over a year. When her album drops from the tour next month, those funds will allow The Skye Network to help so many domestic violence victims find safety, hope, and hopefully break the cycle for the next generation.

I watch most of the concert from our suite—we thought it was poetic to have three suites at her final show for the tour. I like that for this one we’re closer to the stage too so I can see my girl better and I know that she can see me, and her entire family that’s here to support her. I pass my snoozing niece off to her mama, thankful that ear protection comes small enough for a four-month-old. I smile at the thought of the sound protection not being quite small enough for my youngest niece though—Walker and Vivian’s little girl arrived early yesterday morning. But if her four-week early arrival is any indication, then Margot Cameron Bennett is going to keep them on their toes. With three kids under two, Davis and Henry will ensure chaos is a constant in that household anyway, and it’s fantastic.

I sent my jet to get Walker’s mama and his brothers’ wives last night, so between them and Savannah, the Bennetts are in good hands. Vivian insisted Cami come today, which I’m sure Tinsley would’ve understood when Vivi went and named their baby after her, but Vivi knows that Red needs Cami here today too.