I was able to finally peer around my dad to see who else objected. My eyes widened in shock as I saw Mr. Walton.

He did not look happy in the slightest.

"Dad?" Eric asked, clearly confused as to why his own father was objecting to our wedding.

Mr. Walton walked in with the same power Ryan did, and everyone there parted to make way for him as he approached me. Ryan laced his hand with mine, reminding me that he was there for me.

"Vicky, I am deeply sorry for the pain my son and Donna caused you," he began. "I had no idea what they were doing until your father spoke with me about it last night."

Reverend Daniels cleared his throat to grab everyone's attention. "Ladies and gentlemen. To get through this process swiftly, I'd like to get to the matter at hand to see if we can proceed with this marriage or not." He scanned the faces of everyone. I could see him taking note of my hand laced with Ryan's while Eric stood off to the side, unaffected. "Mr. Ashcroft. As the father of the bride, will you kindly expand on your objection?"

My father nodded. "It was brought to my attention last night that my daughter was coerced by Donna into marrying Eric after she tried to end the relationship."

Reverend Daniels looked at me with deep concern. "Vicky, is this severe accusation true?"

Gripping Ryan's hand tighter, I nodded. "It is."

Mr. Walton turned to face Eric. "Explain yourself! Now!"

Eric looked to the ground. "When Vicky and I broke up the first time, I told mother about it. She insisted it would be bad for the family's reputation if the wedding was canceled. So she convinced me to get back with her. When Vicky ended it the second time, mother said it was too close to the day to allow that to happen. So she took matters into her own hands, and that's when she threatened Vicky that she'd ruin her career and her father's business if she didn't marry me."

Everyone stared at Eric and his father in silence for a minute. Mr. Walton looked mortified. Then he turned to me, softening his expression. "Vicky, I can assure you that nothing will happen to you, your career, or your father's marina. You do not have to marry my son today."

Tears started streaming down my face, unable to keep them bottled up any longer, no matter how hard I tried. Though they were tears of relief. I turned to Ryan and hugged him so tightly, which he responded with the same force.

"Well, I will announce to the congregation that the wedding has been canceled," Reverend Daniels said calmly.

"Actually," Ryan spoke up, separating from me. "We were hoping you'd marry us today instead."

He studied Ryan and me carefully. "While I could marry you under God's eyes, you would not be lawfully married unless you have a valid marriage license."

Ryan extended his hand to Adam, who pulled out a folded paper from his jacket pocket and gave it to his brother. "We have one."

He handed the paper to Reverend Daniels, who studied it carefully. Then he looked back up at us and scanned the group. "Well, this is new for me, for sure. Before we proceed back to the altar, I'll just ask the question now. Does anyone here object to the union of Ryan and Victoria? Or if any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now, or else forever hold your peace."

No one spoke up or objected, not even Eric or his father. I wiped my tears and beamed at Ryan.

"Let's go get married." Ryan took my hand once again.

"But what about Mrs. Walton?" I asked, suddenly realizing she wasn't there with Eric or Mr. Walton. "What if she calls 'her people' when she sees us standing on the altar instead of me and Eric?"

"Don't you worry about Donna," Mr. Walton insisted. "I've confiscated her phone. Plus, we'll be leaving too, so you can enjoy your wedding in peace with all your friends and family."

Mr. Herman took a step forward towards Mr. Walton. "Greg! You are our family's friend. Are you sure you won't stay?"

Mr. Walton shook his head with a grateful grin. "Thank you for the invitation, Hugh. But let's let this day be about Ryan and Vicky now. I think it's best if Donna, Eric, and I leave."

With that, Mr. Walton shook Ryan by the hand and hugged me before directing Eric out of the chapel.

As soon as they were gone, I felt an instant weight lifted and nothing but pure joy filling my soul.

Reverend Daniels smiled at us and then turned, leading us back to the altar to complete the ceremony. But this time it was with Ryan.

********

While everyone was confused at seeing Ryan standing next to me at the altar and not Eric, no one said anything. Reverend Daniels explained briefly what occurred without giving too much away.

Then we turned and focused on him as he proceeded to start the ceremony over again.

I couldn't stop smiling when he turned to me and looked at me with all seriousness. "Victoria Rae Ashcroft, will you take this man to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"

I looked at Ryan with all the love in my heart. "I will."

Then the reverend quickly glanced at his book before turning his attention to the man of my dreams. "Ryan," he paused to glance at Ryan's name that was scribbled on a piece of paper. "Patrick Herman, will you take this woman to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

Ryan's eyes were even more magnetic as he looked at me and said, "I will."

The reverend looked to the congregation. "Will all of you witnessing these promises do all that's in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?"

They all responded in chorus, "We will."

It made my heart so happy. I couldn't take my eyes off Ryan for the rest of the ceremony.

When it was time to exchange our rings, Adam and Sasha placed the rings Ryan bought for us on the Bible the reverend was holding. Reverend Daniels smiled and requested Ryan to take my hand in his. Then he leaned in closer so it would just be us hearing what he had to say. "Ryan, do you have vows of your own? Or would you like me to proceed with the more traditional vows?"

Ryan smiled knowingly. "I have my own."

I couldn't help but blush.

"Victoria, Vicky, Ms. Ashcroft," he began with a wink. My blush deepened with every variation of my name that came from his lips. "I knew from the very moment I laid eyes on you that you were mine forever. Someway, somehow, I was determined to make you mine. When I am with you, I am the best version of myself, and from this day forward, my heart, mind, and body are entirely yours.

"I promise to laugh with you, cry with you, and grow old with you. I promise to forever support your dreams and ambitions. To always respect our differences. To love you and be by your side through all the days and nights of our lives."

I couldn't help the tears. Again! I laughed lightly as I wiped them away with my free hand.

Reverend Daniels then had our hands come apart, only to have him direct me to take Ryan's hand this time in mine. Then without asking me, he gave me a nod to speak from the heart too.

I locked eyes with Ryan once more. "Ryan, Rye, Mr. Herman," I teased with a wink, which made him laugh lightly. "I was drawn to you from the day we met. Your captivating eyes and your magnetic smile are only the tip of the iceberg. The more I got to know you, both good and bad, the more I understood why the universe put you in my life. It was because I was meant to be with someone who challenged me. Loved me. Knew me and stood by me no matter what.

"I too, promise to laugh with you, cry with you, and grow old with you. I will always care for you, stand beside you, and share all that life has to offer."

I could hear my bridesmaids sniffling behind me, as Reverend Daniels proceeded to bless the rings. He extended out his book to allow Ryan to take my ring first. He took my hand and smiled, repeating the lines that Reverend Daniels recited to him. "Victoria, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you."

Then he slid the ring over my knuckle to the base. It sat so beautifully on my finger. I had to take a brief moment to admire its sparkle and simplicity.

Then I took the other band that sat on the book and said the same thing. "Ryan, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you."

Once Ryan's solid white-gold band sat perfectly on his finger, Reverend Daniels smiled to the congregation. "Now that Ryan and Victoria have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of a ring, I pronounce that they are husband and wife!" Then he turned his attention to Ryan and me. "You may now seal your union with a kiss."

I don't recall who reacted first, but before I knew it, I was wrapped in Ryan's arms, and our lips met. Every kiss before was beautiful, but this kiss was the one we'd been waiting for. It was not over the top in any way. It was not full of lust. Well, it was, but not enough to make my grandparents uncomfortable. It was completely filled with a pure, everlasting love.

It wasn't until we parted moments later that I realized everyone was clapping and cheering and that the organ had begun playing music again.

We led the procession out of the main church, back to the corridor, where it all began not long ago. Once we got back to the Bridal Suite, Ryan shut the door behind us and pinned me up against the door. Without hesitation, our lips found each other again.

*******

Later that evening, we were all enjoying the reception dinner at Old Asia New Asia. Most of the time, I spent it by Ryan's side, going practically guest to guest, explaining in one way or another what exactly happened. Of course, we kept it vague enough to not ruin the Walton's reputation. As much as I hated what they did, I didn't want to stoop to their level and ruin their lives.

I especially enjoyed talking to Barbara and Harry Upton again. Mrs. Upton hugged Ryan first when we approached, while Mr. Upton hugged me.

He chuckled. "Well, we must admit that we weren't surprised that you two turned out to be a thing."

Ryan and I glanced at each other briefly then back to them.

"Really?" I asked.

"Of course!" Barbara added. "The chemistry I saw between the two of you when you fell into his lap on the plane was my first clue."

I blushed, thinking about the memory.

"And seeing both of your reactions when Eric showed up was my first clue," Harry admitted. "Then, when I brought it up to Barb, she mentioned she sensed the same thing. And then we both confirmed our suspicions when we were all playing pool on your last night."

"But, we didn't flirt or anything with each other then," I said as I tried to think back on the event and what signs could have given it away.

"It was actually the lack of verbal communication that you two had, that made it that much more obvious to us. We've been married for so long and have seen many couples come and go from our vineyards, that we could add on a matchmaking service if we wanted to." Harry gave a hearty belly laugh.

We all couldn't help but laugh with him. It was funny, and his laughter was contagious.

"We're just very happy for you two," Barbara continued as her laughter calmed down. "We wish you nothing but a happy life together. Of course, you're always welcome back to our vineyard anytime."

"Thank you so much, Barbara." I hugged her.

Just then, Sasha came scurrying over to me and whispered in my ear. "Eric's outside! He wants to talk to you and Ryan."

*******

Ryan stormed out the front of the restaurant, looking tense, with clenched fists ready to fight Eric if needed.

"You've got some nerve showing up again!" Ryan stopped only a nose away from Eric.

He held up both his hands. "I promise, I am not here to cause a scene."

Standing behind Ryan, I placed a gentle hand on my now-husband's shoulder, hoping that my touch would help calm him down.

"Then say what you have to say and get out of here!" Ryan ordered and took a step back to stand next to me, lacing my hand with his.

Eric nodded and reached around to his back pants pocket. He had changed into more casual clothing since I saw him last at the wedding. He produced a square folded piece of paper.

"What is it?" I asked, staring at his outstretched hand.

Ryan snatched the paper from him and unfolded it. We both looked at it. It was the honeymoon reservations to Rome.

"This is my wedding gift to you and Ryan." He smiled sadly. "And an apology for all the pain I caused you. I am truly sorry for how I've been towards you since my mother got involved. You are a great woman, Vicky. I really did care for you, and I wish you both nothing but happiness."

Looking closer at the reservation details, I noticed that Ryan's name was on it instead of Eric's. I looked back up at him and smiled gratefully.

Releasing my hand from Ryan's, I embraced Eric with a hug. "Thank you, Eric! You don't know how much this really means to me." I released my hold from him and moved to stand back next to Ryan again. "I know you'll find someone who will give you the world and make you very happy."

Eric smiled and extended his hand out to Ryan. "Congratulations, old friend."

I watched Ryan look at his hand, thoughtfully for a moment before accepting it. "Thanks."

******

The next day, Ryan and I boarded the plane and took our seats in First Class. Moments later, the flight attendant brought us two glasses filled with champagne. "Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Herman."

I grinned like a Cheshire cat hearing my new name. "Thank you."

She smiled and left us to go back to her station.

Ryan and I stared at each other and clinked our glasses together. I sipped my drink. "Victoria Herman. I love the sound of my new name."

"My, Victoria Herman." Ryan placed his drink on the mini-table attached to the armrest, then took mine from me and put it next to his. He gently placed his hand on the side of my face, caressing my cheek lightly with his thumb. "I am so lucky to be married to the woman of my dreams. I love you more than any words can express."

"Then show me." I smiled a come-hither smile.

He methodically guided my lips to meet his.

FIREWORKS!

....THE END...

**********************************************************************************

Author's Note

DEAR READER,

If you are reading this, you have read the whole story, and as Ryan said, "I love you more than words can express."

The support you've shown me has meant the world to me. Thank you for going on this journey with Vicky, Ryan, and even Eric! I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

I will be adding a small Epilogue, so you can get a glimpse into what the future holds for our favorite couple. So, stay tuned for that!

Again, thank you so much for all the support and encouragement. I would never have been able to complete this story without you.

Sincerely,

Carrie Melendez