throat and turn to face Blaire, pulling both her hands in mine. “Blaire. There’s not much I can say that you don’t already know. I never thought you and I would ever happen, and when we did, it was like a light in my life when I hadn’t even known I’d been living in darkness.”
Tears well in her eyes, and I pull one hand from hers to reach up and brush them away with my thumb.
“I’m sorry I put you through so much to get here and was such an idiot. And I’m sure I’m going to be an idiot again—many, many times over what I hope is our very long marriage.”
She giggles and nods her agreement.
“But I promise to always come home to you at night and that you will always be the one who holds my heart. I love you.” I choke back the sob threatening to climb up my throat and swallow. “And I’m so happy you’re going to be my wife.”
Blaire stares up at me, and I don’t even bother to try to catch the tears now flowing in earnest from her eyes.
Judge Allenson inclines his head toward her. “Blaire, I know you really haven’t had much time to prepare, but are you ready to say your vows?”
She nods and sucks in a deep breath before glancing at the few people in the chairs. “Well, today has certainly been full of surprises.” Her gaze returns to mine, and she grins at me. “I don’t know how you managed to pull this off. The last place I expected to be was standing on this altar with you today. But I’m so glad you finally came to your senses.”
I chuckle and squeeze her hand.
“I may not be the typical Warren bride, but like your grandmother said the other night, I might be exactly what the Warrens need. And you’re definitely what I need. So, I promise to always come home to you and that you’ll always hold my heart, too.”
“Do you have the rings?”
The judge’s question drags my attention away from Blaire, and Artemis steps forward and hands them to him. It would have been nice to have Penelope and Max here for the ceremony, but with her being in the third trimester and a cold that’s been plaguing Max the last week, travelling with Artie just wasn’t in the cards.
I take the solitaire diamond and matching wedding band and slip them onto Blaire’s finger. “This was my grandmother’s. She wanted you to have it.”
Blaire flights back a sob and glances at Grandmother.
The judge hands Blaire my simple white gold band, and she slides it on my finger. Some men might feel like getting married and wearing one of these is a burden. Something that holds you back, but to me, it feels like finally being complete.
Judge Allenson grins and raises his arms. “Without further ado, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
I take her face in my palms and tilt it up toward me. “I love you, Mrs. Warren.”
“I love you, Mister Warren.”
“I guess Christmas miracles really can happen.”
She smiles up at me, true happiness lighting her face. “I always believed they could.”
And then her lips find mine, and everything around us melts away like the snow gently falling over the castle in Central Park.
Epilogue
Two Months Later
BLAIRE
I love it here.
Standing in the sands of Cape Harmony, the cool February wind blowing in off the ocean, it reminds me of that day just a few short months ago when I left Archie with a face full of smashed cake and my broken heart at his feet.
There will be cake today, too, but we’ll be eating this one under much happier circumstances—Athena’s birthday.
It was the perfect excuse to take a much-needed break and for all of us to come to meet Artie’s and Pen’s newest addition, Persephone Maia Warren.
Born just a few weeks ago, she’s already the spitting image of her beautiful mother. And I’ve fallen in love with them both so fast.
I look down where the little bundle of joy is nestled asleep in the crook of my arm and smile.
None of this would have been possible if it hadn’t been for Athena. That beautiful, meddling girl made sure I got my fairy-tale wedding in Central Park that snowy day.
I am married to Archimedes Warren. I am Mrs. Blaire Warren.
It’s still sometimes hard to wrap my head around. It was quite a wild ride, and I wouldn’t change a single second of our