Josh smiled, thanking his father as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze and sucked in a deep breath.
“Friends and family of Josh and Avery,” the officiant began, but as he spoke, his words blurred together while I got lost in Josh’s gray eyes.
“I, Josh, promise to mend you when you’re hurting, and to make you smile when you feel like crying. I will hold you when you can’t stand on your own, and spend the rest of my days making good memories with you. I promise to tell the truth—” he glanced at Aunt Ellen “—even when it’s difficult. I promise to protect you, and respect you, and to love you and only you.” He held up the penny necklace. “And I swear to always offer a penny for your thoughts.”
Sliding the ring onto my finger, he mouthed I love you before taking the necklace and slipping it over my head.
The officiant turned his attention to me, letting me know it was my turn to speak.
“I, Avery, promise to hold your hand through trying times, to accept you for everything you are, to never pump the gas when the Dodge won’t start.” The crowd snickered with Josh. “I mean, I promise to be patient, to trust you even when I think it’s difficult, and to always offer you a penny for your thoughts.” My fingers shook as I slid the large gold band onto his finger. Once the ring was in place, I squeezed his hand tight.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Josh gently combed his fingers through my hair as he lowered his mouth to mine. His lips felt hard against mine at first, and then he relaxed, kissing me soft and slow. I squealed against his mouth when he bowed me backward, hearing the small group clap and cheer.
We stood upright, and the officiant held up his hands. “I’d like to introduce to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Josh Avery.”
“I never knew exhaustion could feel so wonderful.” I sighed, falling back onto the hand-sewn quilt atop a king-size bed.
Josh lay down next to me on his side, touching my waist with a grin on his lips. “We can sleep when we’re dead, Mrs. Avery.” Lacing his fingers in mine, he admired our wedding bands. “Right now, we are going to make love until the management of this place kicks us out.” I giggled as he pressed his lips to mine, silencing my laugh with his tongue.
I didn’t see the point of spending extra money to travel for a honeymoon when we both knew we wouldn’t see the outside of the hotel. But Josh insisted we at least leave Philadelphia for a few days.
We compromised by heading over to Lancaster, breaking from the reality of a fast-paced life in a big city hospital in exchange for a few days in the countryside.
The Altland farm was two hundred and nine years old. Fifteen acres of corn and blue skies spanned as far as my eyes could see. The home was no longer occupied by the Amish, but the family who lived here opened their property to others looking to experience a simpler life. Oil lamps offered a subtle, romantic glow to the rustic interior, and a converted one-room schoolhouse offered a honeymoon suite I’d never dreamed of.
“This is like being on another planet,” I said. I was easily distracted while Josh’s lips traveled across my collarbone.
“I bet I can make you see stars,” he teased as he slid his hand under my skirt, trailing his fingertips up my thighs toward my panties.
A loud knock at the door caused him to pause, hanging his head as he laughed once in disappointment.
“Dinner is served in the main house,” the man called from the outside.
Josh looked at me, hoping I would say no.
“I’m starving,” I admitted.
Reluctant, Josh lifted himself from my body, pouting like a little boy banished to time out.
“That’s okay,” he grumbled as he ran his hand through his hair. “It’s a little easier to live with, knowing we have the rest of forever.”
I pushed against his chest and slid off the bed. The owner of the farm was standing on the other side of the door when I pulled it open. He greeted me and then extended a handwritten menu, and I smiled.
“We look forward to seeing you at our table.” He grinned as he looked past me to Josh.
“We’ll be right over,” I said, chiming in when Josh didn’t respond. I closed the door, leaning my back against it.
I narrowed my eyes at Josh, watching him shove off the bed, unbuttoning his shirtsleeves and rolling them up his arms.
He sauntered over to me, gliding his hand over my ass and then gripping my thighs. Lifting me into the air, he wrapped my legs around his waist and pressed my back against the wooden door.
He kissed me hard, reminding me of exactly what I was missing. I gripped his shoulders as Josh yanked up my skirt, his length pressing against the apex of my thighs. He knew what he was doing, and it was working. I wondered if I could ever leave a bed with him in it again.
As quickly as it began, his lips broke free from mine. I quietly panted as he lowered me to the ground.
He took a step back from me, looking smug. “And now we’re even.” He ran the back of his thumb over his lower lip, wiping away the remnants of my gloss.
I flattened down the front of my dress, scowling at him for getting me all hot and bothered. “That was cruel, husband,” I sneered. I could pretend to be annoyed, but saying the word husband spawned a flock of butterflies in my belly.
“We have the rest of our lives to make it up to each other.” He held out his hand as a peace offering. I only hesitated for a moment before weaving my fingers between his.
He pulled open the door to our suite, and I pressed a kiss to his cheek. I tugged him forward, but he resisted.
“What are you waiting for?” I asked. “Let’s go start our forever.”
Josh lifted me into his arms, kissing and carrying me the whole way.
I covered my mouth with my hands, muffling my gasp as we stepped inside the main house. The many smiling faces of our friends and family peppered the room.
“How?”
Josh lowered me to my feet, taking my hand in his and guiding me to our seats.
“We couldn’t have them come all this way and not spend time with them.” He shrugged as he pulled out my chair.
I sat, still in shock. “But the logistics of getting them all here, and the money …”
“Don’t worry about it,” Aunt Ellen said. “Just enjoy your day.”
Josh pressed his lips to my hair, and then he took the seat next to me.
Aunt Ellen was beaming. Sitting down to eat, surrounded by everyone I loved, felt like Christmas dinner. I scanned the small group, shaking my head.
“What?” Josh asked.
“I just … I guess I don’t understand. This just seems impossible.”
“Stop,” Maggie said with a grin. “We all wanted to do it. It’s not like Josh had to organize the mass exodus of three hundred guests from Philly. We rented a car and drove Josh’s parents.”
“That was fun,” Zane grumbled.
Aunt Ellen jabbed her elbow into her son’s ribs, still smiling wide.
“Ow!” he said, rubbing his side.
Maggie lifted a flute of champagne. “To Josh and Avery.”
Everyone else followed her lead, except Zane. Aunt Ellen smacked his hand away when he reached for her glass.
“To Josh and Avery,” our family and friends said in unison.
I glanced at Mary, who lifted her flute and then set it back on the table, pushing it toward Silas. He nonchalantly placed it on his other side.
“Did you see that?” I whispered to Josh.
“She just finished thirty days of sobriety. I think she wants to start over with grandchildren.”
I looked up at him. “Then let’s give her some.”
I paced the floor until my feet ached, nearly biting my nails down to the bone.
“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor,” Quinn said with a yawn as he rested his head against the doorframe. We’d been working all night during a full moon, and I had barely dragged my tired ass through the door when my cell phone chimed.