He quickly pulls her back down.

“Congrats!” Wyatt yells, slapping Marcus on the back as he passes.

“Thanks for the invite.” Landon pouts.

I laugh at them all. “We did what felt right for us, something small. After all, it doesn’t represent what we are to have a massive wedding. I don’t ask you to understand, I only ask that you support us.”

“Congratulations,” Dad says, coming over and shaking Marcus’s hand before hugging me close. “I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I whisper.

“Oh poop,” Candy yells. “Fine, come here.”

With a grin, I pull back and rush over to Candy. We hug and she slaps my ass once before squealing with delight. “Does this mean another baby soon?”

I roll my eyes. “God, Candy, give us a break.”

“We’re busy practicing.” Marcus chuckles.

“Oh, and I bet it’s good practice, too.”

I laugh and pull back. “The best.”

Candy smiles now, for real. “I’m happy for you, Kat. I really am. This is what y’all deserve.”

My bottom lip wobbles but I keep it together. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”

After more hugs are shared, I return to Marcus and look up at him. He steps forward, capturing me with his arms and pulling me close. “Feels good to do it right, honey,” he murmurs.

“Yeah, it does.”

“And about that practicing . . .”

I laugh and slap his chest. “You’ll get plenty of time for that.”

He smiles, and it’s big and beautiful. It’s a smile I’ve come to love. A smile I’ve come to expect. Marcus and I, we’re finally free. It’s been a long, dangerous journey, but we found a way to start over and pick ourselves up from the despair we’ve lived so long in. Now it’s just us, the way it always should have been.

“I have all the time in the world.”

Yes, yes he does.

THE END