Page 82 of Deserving Ryleigh
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Ry stood in front of Tiny, his arms wrapped around her, his chin on her shoulder as they watched Brick and Alaska enter the lodge. Brunch that morning had been lively, everyone in excellent moods. Robert had a huge spread ready and waiting when they’d all wandered up to the lodge. Spirits were high, and Ry hadn’t felt as relaxed as she was now in years.
Her dad was behind bars, Tiny had made long slow love to her the night before, and not only was she watching one of her friends marry the man she’d been in love with forever, she herself was basically engaged.
The latter was hard to believe. Actually, as far as Ry was concerned, it was a miracle.
The furniture had all been pushed to the side, and Brick and Alaska had bucked tradition and entered the lodge together, walking toward where Owl was standing. Since he’d gotten certified to marry Cora and Pipe, Brick had asked if he’d marry him and Alaska as well.
Alaska was wearing a white floor-length dress with capsleeves. It skimmed her torso and flared out at her hips. It wasn’t a wedding dress, per se, but was completely appropriate in Ry’s eyes. Even if it wasn’t, no one would’ve cared. She could’ve worn a hot-pink dress with orange polka dots and no one would’ve blinked. This was her day, her wedding, and she could wear whatever she wanted.
Her shoulder-length brown hair was pulled back in a simple upsweep, her makeup was modest yet elegant…and she looked radiant. The smile on her face was bigger than Ry had ever seen.
And Brick looked just as happy. He had on a pair of pristine black jeans and a white button-down shirt with no tie. He looked relaxed and confident, and he couldn’t take his gaze off of Alaska.
Brick’s mom had tears in her eyes as she watched her son walk toward Owl with Alaska by his side. From what Ry had heard, she was the one who’d fished the cross-stitch Alaska had made for Brick out of the trash all those years ago, giving it to him before he’d headed off to boot camp. A high school graduation gift that he’d kept with him for nearly two decades, until tragedy had brought him and Alaska together again.
And now, several more years later…here they were.
“Welcome to all the friends and family who’ve come together today to celebrate the joining of Drake Vandine and Alaska Stein,” Owl said with a smile. “This isn’t the start of a new relationship, but a continuation of many years of support and love they’ve both given to each other. Alaska and Brick have spent decades getting to know each other as friends, and we all get to witness how they’ve come full circle to stand before us today.
“Out of all the owners of The Refuge, Brick has trulybeen our leader. Our rock. He was the one who had a grand vision for this place. Who encouraged us to keep going forward when we wanted to quit. Who always had the utmost confidence that we’d succeed. Honestly, it was kind of annoying.”
Everyone in the room chuckled. Ry looked back at Tiny. “Is that true?” she whispered.
“One hundred percent,” he said. “He was always positive. We wanted to throw him off Table Rock sometimes.”
Ry giggled, then turned her attention back to the ceremony.
“But you know what? He was right,” Owl said. “The Refuge became so much more than any of us could’ve imagined. More than a business. More than a money-making venture. It became our home. Our own refuge from a world that seemed overwhelming and too harsh at times. It was a place for us to heal our own wounds while we did the same for those who trusted us enough to come all the way to our small corner of New Mexico, to see what The Refuge could do for them.
“But honestly, it wasn’t until Alaska arrived that we realized something had been missing from this place. We built it, kept it going, hired the best people we could to help it run like a well-oiled machine…but it lacked heart. Love. And Alaska brought that tenfold when she arrived. She not only worked her way into Brick’s heart—which wasn’t hard, because the man had been a goner for her ever since she’d brought him back from the brink of death in that hospital in Germany—but she embedded herself into all of our hardened hearts too.
“Alaska, Brick. You two are the backbone of this place. You’ve unselfishly let some of us have our weddingceremonies here, while putting off your own. You’ve celebrated our successes, and suffered with us through our trials and tribulations. I can’t imagine a more perfect start for your marriage than this one. Than standing before our family and friends, surrounded by everything we’ve all built. I have no doubt your marriage will be just like the trees around us…steadfast and strong. Blowing in the wind, but never breaking.”
Ry’s eyes filled with tears. She had no idea Owl had such a way with words. What he’d said was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Alaska obviously thought so too, because she sniffed and turned to Brick. “I need a tissue. I’m about to snot all over myself.”
Everyone laughed at that, mostly because just about all the other women in the room were crying, as well. Once Alaska got herself under control, she nodded at Owl.
He smiled at her and said, “Brick and Alaska will mark their transition to a married couple by celebrating the love between them, but they also want to acknowledge the love that surrounds us today. The love of between couples, siblings, old friends, and new friends.
“They’d decided to exchange their own vows…so ladies, keep those tissues handy because I have a feeling we’re all going to be a little teary-eyed by the time they’re done.”
Once again, everyone chuckled.
Brick turned to Alaska and took her hands in his. “Hi, Al,” he said with a small grin.
She beamed up at him.
“To be honest, I planned out in my head this long speech about how much you mean to me, and how I’m the luckiest guy in the world, but standing here before you today, I realize that’s not true. Seeing all our friends andfamily here with us, I know they all thinkthey’rethe luckiest people in the world too. And that’s amazing to me.
“We’ve all found partners who see beyond our faults. See beyond our warts and the parts of ourselves that we hate. We all deserve to be loved like that, to love someone like that in return. And with you, I can be exactly who I am. I don’t have to pretend to love broccoli, or like wearing ties, just because it’s what’s good for me or what society thinks I should do. You’ve set me free to be the man I’ve always been, but a better version of myself.
“With you, I’m not the decorated Navy SEAL, I’m not the guy everyone looks to for answers, I’m not a problem solver, or the garbage-taker-outer, I’m simply Drake. The man you love. Who you’ve always loved. I’m not sure I’ll ever feel as if I deserve tohaveyour love, but I’m not giving it back.
“I promise to always love you. To cherish you. To come when you need me, whether that need is a glass of water because you’re thirsty, or because you’re locked in a speeding train in a country thousands of miles away. You own me, Al. You’ve owned me since I was a kid.
“During the long years when we were apart, every morning I’d look at the gift you gave me when we were eighteen, and I felt grounded. When my world was shifting around me, all it took was seeing that cross-stitch, knowing how much effort you put into it, forme, and I was able to find my purpose again. I feel like that every morning now, when I wake up and see you lying next to me. You’re my purpose, Alaska, and in sickness and health, good times and bad, richer and poorer, I give myself to you. Today and every day that follows for the rest of our lives.”
