Page 122 of Resisting the Fall

The humming of voices quieted, and Tom lifted the microphone again, forcing our attention back to him. “Thank you all for being here to celebrate this special occasion with us. Ben and Maven have given me the great honor of officiating their renewal of vows ceremony, though I have been kindly instructed to keep it short and sweet.” Laughter echoed through the barn. “The first time these two stood before each other to make their vows, they were young and full of hope. Today, they stand before all of us with a certainty that comes through hardship and sacrifice and a knowledge of what it truly means to love someone. Of what it takes to make a relationship endure. And the absolute resolve to do it.” His smile shifted to us. “From time to time, I think we’re all in need of a second chance, but I can’t think of anyone who deserves that chance more than these two.”

A round of applause sounded, and I gave Tom a hug. “Thank you,” I whispered.

“We’re so glad we get to keep you in this family,” he whispered back before handing me the microphone and pulling my prepared vows from his pocket.

With so many eyes on me, I suddenly didn’t feel as calm as I had a few minutes ago. My hands shook slightly as I unfolded the paper, but I was determined not to cry in front of so many people. “First,” I said as I looked out at the full tables, “I want to thank you all for being here to celebrate with me and Ben. For the love and support you’ve given us over the years—both when we were together and when we weren’t. It has meant more than you’ll ever know. Especially considering, thanks to so many of you, we not only pulled together today’s celebration, but Ben and I also have a fully finished and functioning house to live in weeks before we’d planned on it being ready. So thank you.”

In my periphery, Ben nodded his agreement before my eyes locked with his. “And to you.” I drew in a slow, calming breath. “I used to assume love was supposed to be loud. That love came with bold declarations and grand gestures. But it turns out the greatest love I’ve ever known wasn’t loud at all. It was quiet. But it was constant, and it was fierce. It came in an unyielding desire to support me. To sacrifice for me. It was every call you made to hear my voice. Every concert you attended. And every piece of classical music you played when we were apart.”

My voice wavered slightly, but I set my gaze back on my paper, forcing down my emotions. “It was the way you loved me with all the miles between us. And how you cheered me on in every dream I chased, even those that took me farther away from you. It was never loud or showy. It was perfectly you. And every day, for the rest of forever, I promise to cherish and support you. I promise to put you first and to love you without reservation—the man who quietly and faithfully”—I sent him a teasing grin—“and sometimes even regrettably loved me through every version of myself.” Ben smiled, and I paused briefly as light laughter filtered through the room. “The man who never gave up on us. The man who built a house I could come home to. The man I never stopped loving. So thank you for forcing me to remember that you are the dream, Ben. I will never again forget it.”

Ben gave a hard swallow, his smile quivering ever so slightly. “I love you,” he mouthed.

I handed him the microphone, but instead of receiving a paper from his dad as I had, he took my hand in his.

“Maven.” He blew out a breath and shook his head, clearly attempting to get ahold of his emotions. In all our years together, I’d never seen him so close to tears, and it made my own tears threaten to surface. “I’m not good with words and declarations, as you so eloquently just hinted at”—he gave a small smirk—“but I have had a really, really aggravatingly long time to think about all the things I’d say to you if I ever had another chance to say them.”

His voice hitched with emotion, and he cleared his throat. “I have loved you for so long, I can’t remember what life was like before. You are in all of my top memories. All of my favorite things involve you. Every dream I ever dreamed has you at the center. And despite all my failings and poorly judged sacrifices, my heart has always been yours. I’ve loved you when you were by my side, and I’ve loved you from hundreds of miles away. On our best days, I’ve loved you. And on those days I thought I’d lost you forever, I still loved you. Because, it turns out, loving you was never a choice. It’s as instinctive to me as breathing.”

I could no longer stop my tears.

“You are my favorite person and my best friend. You are the one that makes me laugh and my greatest adventure. The first person I want to share news with.” He gave a teasing smile. “Even if you still share your news with Carson and your mom before me.”

I shook my head, smiling even though tears were now running down my cheeks.

His expression grew serious again, the warmth of his brown eyes speaking right to my soul. “Maven, you are the love of my life. You always have been, and you always will be. So today, I promise that no matter where life takes us, you won’t face it alone ever again.” Ben gave another clearing of his throat, but not before a tear escaped, and he quickly wiped it away. He took a second to regain his composure, pressing his thumb and fingers against the bridge of his nose and drawing in a few slow breaths before clasping my hand again. “I will be here to love and support you. I know I won’t do it perfectly, but I promise to always choose us. To listen instead of making assumptions. Because somehow, after all these years and all the heartache I put us both through, you still look at me like I’m the best thing that has ever happened in your life. And I will work every day to make it true. I love you, Maven.”

He handed his dad the microphone, and without waiting for any sort of prompt, I slid my hands behind Ben’s neck, pulled his head to mine, and kissed him to the laughter and cheers of all those present.

“So, that just happened” I whispered against his lips, smiling up at him. I’d remember this moment—the words he’d said—for the rest of forever. “And it was so worth it.”

Ben took hold of my face and wiped my lingering tears with his thumbs. “I’m just relieved that moving forward, there won’t be an audience when I profess my love to you.” His gaze softened as his eyes held mine. “But, yes, this was absolutely worth all the trouble.”

With the way he looked at me, I wasn’t sure if he was talking about exchanging our vows in front of everyone or how we’d gotten here. I supposed it was probably a little of both. My smile couldn’t have been bigger with the realization, and I couldn’t help but kiss him again.

Bennett

Five Years Later

Our small group of Maven’s biggest fan club members waited for her in the concert hall lobby. Penny followed Aria as she toddled around while I was locked in on her four-year-old brother, Tommy. That kid could find trouble quicker than anyone I knew, besides his mama.

When he attempted to climb a pole intended for roping off lines, he made it a few inches up before sliding back down with a hard thump on his backside. He winced and looked in my direction.

“You’re okay.” I dusted off his navy pants and tried to tame his sandy brown hair for the tenth time. When it came to appearance, he was a good mix between Maven and me, whereas Aria was my little twin with her dark brown hair and more olive skin. Though she had Maven’s big green eyes, which made saying no to her one of life’s greatest challenges. How I loved them both!

Tommy glanced over his shoulder to where Uncle Carson stood, talking to Sharon, Cassandra, and my parents. He hurried toward his uncle, reaching up one of his pudgy little hands for another fruity Tic Tac. Carson dropped one into the palm of his hand, sending me an apologetic smile. I’m pretty sure that kid had cleaned out his uncle’s whole Tic Tac supply during the length of one concert. In hindsight, I probably should have found someone to watch them, but being that Penny was our usual babysitter and she’d insisted on coming, I’d brought the kids along. Besides, I knew Maven enjoyed exposing the kids to the arts early, even if it meant half of the concert would be spent in the lobby.

To see Maven play, it was worth the sacrifice.

After some convincing, I’d talked Maven into joining a community orchestra in Burlington. Between her full-time-mom life, occasionally performing at weddings and events, a handful of private violin students—Penny being among her most accomplished—and producing some of her own violin recordings, one night a week and a few concerts a year had turned out to be the perfect level of commitment. She also was the go-to sub for the new high school orchestra teacher. So, needless to say, her life was full.

“Mommy!” Tommy said, causing all of us to glance toward the doors that led backstage. Maven set down her violin case just in time for Tommy to throw himself into her arms. “I ate Tic Tacs.”

She smiled, taking my breath away with her beauty. “Did you?”

“Two full packages, if I had to guess.” I grabbed her violin case and placed a kiss on her cheek. “But it kept him quiet.”

“It’s a good thing your uncle is a dentist,” she said to Tommy, sending Carson a pointed grin.