Page 101 of The Calamity

He grins. "I know. Wyatt told me today."

While the ladies all went wedding dress shopping in Phoenix, the men went to Warner’s house and fished by the river, followed by a barbecue and lawn games. I hear my dad bought a new bottle of Macallan 25 for the occasion, and Wyatt finally got that glass he’d been waiting for.

My brothers have come to love Sawyer. They did the older brother thing by giving him a speech about what they would do if he ever broke my heart,yada yada, but it was perfunctory. Sawyer had already sealed himself into the folds of the family.

On my wedding day, Wes, Warner, and Wyatt come to the little room where I’m getting ready. Wyatt hugs me tightly, not shy when he tells me I’ll always be his baby sister. Warner kisses my forehead, and tells me I make a beautiful bride. Wes, generally uncomfortable with displays of emotion, gruffly says, “I love you, Cal. That’s all I have to say. I’m not good at fancy sentences like these fools.” I throw my arms around my oldest brother. His simple words are all I need.

And so, on a cool fall day, with the sun hanging high in the sky and the cottonwood leaves a bright yellow-gold, a Hayden married a Bennett.

“Wife,” Sawyer whispers, turning the word into a reverence. His gaze holds warmth and love, and it’s only a fraction of what he feels for me.

“Husband,” I respond, saying the word for the first time as a married woman.

The pastor tells Sawyer he may kiss me. Sawyer loops an arm around my lower back, a hand twining into my hair. My face tips, our lips meet, and it’s the sweetest kiss of my life.

Our family and friends cheer. Sawyer pulls away, grinning down at me. “You ready to do this?”

I’m beaming so hard it’s borderline painful. “I’ve never been so ready.”

Sawyer takes my hand, leading me down the aisle and into our future.

The End