Chapter Nineteen

The garden was cast in the late day sun as everyone—or rather, the ones who mattered—crowded around Reverend Joss. It had taken me a long time to get here, to find myself standing across from Shawn, and even then as we repeated our vows, I had no idea what was coming next. But there was something so peaceful about the fact that our future could hold anything.

“Do you Shawn,” Reverend Joss spoke, “take Amanda to be your lawfully wedded wife?” Shawn looked into my eyes; mouthing the words I love you and smiling.

This had been the last thing I had expected when I came to Dalkery. I expected to read my book and cry a little, and experience that summer all at once. The last thing I had thought would be to see Shawn, or to marry him. Grams had bribed the minister with baked goods for him to perform the ceremony. In only four days, everything had been ready; a dress for me to wear, and flowers to carry. It wasn’t fancy, and it wasn’t crowded, but that didn’t matter. Dalkery was my home, the place that held all my memories. It was only right that the place Shawn and I declared our love was here, surrounded by the people who had made the story of my life. Grams and Granddad, Stacey, Shawn and Isabelle. They were my past, present, and my future all at once. Maybe things weren’t perfect, but that made it all that much better.

“I do.” There was a fluttering in my heart as he spoke, squeezing my hands. Our rings had been found at the market the morning before, custom made just for the two of us. They made not have been silver and gold but they were perfect. I looked over at Isabelle, whose eyes were lighting up. She didn’t quiet understand what was going on, but she would eventually.

“Do you Amanda take Shawn to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Reverend Joss asked.

I nodded, smiling happily as I looked into his eyes. Even after all these years Shawn was the only boy left in my heart, the only boy I needed. “I do.” Even after all these years apart, it was like nothing had changed. Our ending wasn’t perfect, but that didn’t matter, because our story wasn’t even close to over. We were just two people, in love, with the whole world in front of us. And I could only hope that in 49 years, he and I looked just as happy as my grandparents.

“You may now kiss your bride.”

Shawn leaned into me, pulling me close, and kissed me hard. An entire summer of memories filled my head, and I knew that this was right. And that this was the only way I could ever see it going.

THE END.