Living Again (63 page)

As Kayley finished and they looked into each other’s eyes, both filled with unshed tears, she recognized the sounds of crying from many people, including her best friends next to her. She did it. She held it together. Ben’s thumbs caressed her arms, and he mouthed the words she would never tire of.
I love you
. She mouthed it back, and she thought that at that moment he would say they were husband and wife officially and they could finally kiss. But, in true Ben fashion, he wasn’t done. The minister looked at him, and Ben let go of her hands and turned around.

“I would like my baby girl Princess, Miss Alexis, to come here please.” Kayley looked over at Alexis, whose face beamed at the mention of her name. Her mom encouraged Lexi to go, and Alexis took off for her dad. What in the world was he doing? He picked her up and faced the guests, then looked over his shoulder and indicated that Kayley should join him. She stepped up next to him, her face questioning him but her heart knowing that whatever he was about to do, it would be classical, amazing Ben.

“Most of you know that Alexis has another Daddy, who is in Heaven.” Alexis nodded, her hand rubbing Ben’s neck. “And I want to thank him for sharing her with me. He was a great man whose life ended too soon. But today, I don’t only officially get the greatest woman in the world, I also officially get my daughter. I would like to make a vow to Alexis, here in front of all of you, and her mom. Alexis, you’re so little, and you won’t understand most of this. But I want to tell you that I love you so much. You’re the greatest, most adorable little girl in the universe. I love being your daddy. I will always be there for you, even when you get big and you tell me I’m mean. You will always be Daddy’s little girl.” Ben put his arm around his new wife. “So let me introduce everyone to my wife, Kayley Nichols, and our daughter, Alexis Kayley Carson Nichols. This is my new family.”

Kayley couldn’t do it for one more second. Once she let one tear go, they all went. She leaned into Ben’s chest, her arms wrapping around him and Alexis, as the guests stood and clapped and cheered. “You’re absolutely perfect,” she whispered.

“We’re perfect together,” he whispered back. He looked back at the minister, waiting for him to finish, and Ben nodded his head. The guests quieted.

“Now, I pronounce them husband, wife, and daughter. Ben, you may kiss your bride.” Ben gripped Alexis to make sure she didn’t fall, then used his other arm to dip Kayley back, putting his lips over hers, then parting them gently with his tongue. When she opened up to him, he darted his tongue in quickly, teasing her, then stood her back up. “Now, let’s go party.” Ben smirked as her mouth made a little o. They walked down the aisle to resumed clapping and cheering. “
WE’RE MARRIED!
” Ben yelled. “
SHE’S MINE!
” Kayley laughed, raising their joined arms in the air in celebration.

After taking pictures for about forty five minutes, most of them by the water, the couple was ready to be introduced. The guests were enjoying appetizers and drinks while waiting for the bridal party to join to the party. Many of them stood around the tent, watching the pictures. A live band played music to entertain them during their wait.

“Are you guys ready to be announced?” The hotel wedding planner, Leah, asked them.

Ben nodded. “In just one moment. Can I have a minute with my bride?”

Leah smiled at the two of them and stepped away to go tell the band to get ready for the first dance. Ben pulled Kayley by the hand until they were behind some palm trees and not able to be seen. He pulled her body to his and she wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his chest. He leaned his cheek on her head, careful not to mess up her beautiful hairdo.

“I just needed a minute,” Ben said softly, caressing her bare back. “Before the rest of this crazy, fun night starts. I just wanted to be with you.” He picked up his head and pulled her back so he could see her gorgeous face in the fading sunlight. He touched her earrings, a smile of contentment on his lips. Kayley closed her eyes at his touch, relishing in this moment. They were married.

Running his fingertips along her face, he stopped at her lips, tracing the outline before he leaned over for a kiss. He was gentle and loving, taking her bottom lip into his mouth, then the top, and running his tongue gently at the opening. Her body responded with a shiver as her tongue joined his, and she breathed out. Deepening the kiss, he put his hands on the trunk of the palm tree behind them while she roamed her hands along his chest. Taking one hand and using it to pull her closer to him, he pulled away from her mouth, making her want to whimper with the loss of his heat. He kissed down her neck, then back up. “I. Love. You.”

As Kayley touched him, and they stood hidden behind this tree, she relished in the love that this man just had to show her. “I love you, husband.”

“You’re my wife.” Ben’s eyes met hers, and he looked proud.

“What you did, what you said at the ceremony, it was the most amazing thing you’ve ever said.” Kayley cupped his face with her hands. “I am so happy and proud to be your wife. Are you ready to go have our first dance?”

Ben nodded, remembering the song they had chosen. It was perfect for them, and he couldn’t wait to get out there and mold her body to his. “Let’s go.” They walked hand in hand back to the tent, where Leah saw them coming and motioned the band.

“Okay, ladies and gentleman, the moment you’ve alllllll been waiting for, they are here and ready for their first dance, Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Nichols!” The guests cheered, yelled, and cat called. Ben grinned at Kayley, holding out his hand as they made their way to the dance floor. The band started playing the song that they both loved, the opening chords always making her want to close her eyes and sway.

Ben wrapped his arms around her as the band began playing Hunter Hayes song
Wanted.
She tipped her face up to look at him, their bodies swaying to the words that meant so much to them.

“I love this song,” she whispered against his lips as he dipped down to reach her. Ben put his lips close to her ear, just like she liked, and started singing the lyrics to her. Her stomach catapulted over itself, sending the feelings shooting like rockets throughout her entire body and forcing her eyes to close as she took in all the sensations of him. She loved when he sang to her. It always reminded her of their first time, at his house. His strong hands splayed on her back, holding her as he continued making love to her with the warm, beautiful lyrics of their song. As the last notes were played, he dipped her backwards again, kissing her and making everyone in the room cheer again.

They stood up and smiled at their guests, then Ben grabbed her and swung her around, causing laughter to break out over the tent.

“How about
that
for a first dance, folks!” The lead singer teased. “Now, we’re ready for the Father/Daughter Dance. Kayley, find your dad, hon, and make your way to the dance floor.”

Dale walked out on the dance floor and held his arm out to his baby girl, now a happily married woman again. The band started playing the song they would dance to,
My Little Girl
by Tim McGraw. It wasn’t the song she danced with him to at her first wedding, but she loved this one just as much. She could see her mom standing on the sidelines, already dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

Dale wrapped his arms around Kayley and smiled. “I’m so happy for you, Kay. What an amazing man you have there.” Tears shimmered in his eyes. “You have always been my princess. Such a great kid, and my little buddy from the time you were born. I’m glad that you and Ben have each other now. And Alexis—God, I can’t believe how much he loves that little girl. It makes me cry every time I see her with him. I never thought she would have that.”

Kayley kissed her dad on the cheek. “I love you, Daddy. Thank you for loving me the way you did, and supporting me through the worst time of my life. Alexis and I are so fortunate to have Ben, but also to have you and Mom.”

The song ended, and her dad kissed her sweetly before letting her go rejoin Ben. They called next for the Mother/Son dance, and Ben kissed her quickly before heading out with his mom. His mom had picked
I Hope You Dance
by Lee Ann Womack, and as Kayley watched the two of them, Ben’s mom dabbing her eyes the entire time, she loved watching just how much he cared for the woman that had brought him life.

“How are you holding up?” Emily said, next to her.

Kayley looked at her best friend. Her face hurt from smiling so much, but she couldn’t stop. “I’m great. It’s the best day of my life.”

Emily slung her arm across her shoulders and rested her head against Kayley’s shoulder. “In case I didn’t tell you enough today, you’re absolutely stunning. And I love you.”

Kayley rested her head on Emily’s. “You’re the bestest friend anyone could ever ask for, and I love you, too.”

“Okay, ladies and gentleman, we have two special songs to do before we can bring everyone on out to dance while dinner is being served at the tables. Ben, can you come on up here?”

Kayley met Emily’s eyes. “Again?” What in the world was he doing now?

Ben took the microphone, finding Kayley immediately and locking his eyes with hers. “Thanks for coming everyone. Isn’t my wife beautiful?” Kayley blushed as everyone murmured their agreement. “See, I have a love of music, especially finding music to play for my bride. So, I have another song dedicated to you, Kayley. May I have this second dance?” He handed the microphone back, walking directly to her and taking her in his arms.

“This one’s for the wedding party, too! Get on out there and dance with the new couple.” With that, Kayley stepped into his arms again, not recognizing the song that the band was beginning to play, but knowing it would be as thoughtful and wonderful as Ben.

“It’s called
Then
by Brad Paisley,” Ben murmured in her ear as the melody started turning into words. Leaning his forehead on hers, he put his hands on either side of her face and looked her directly in the eyes, his lips barely brushing hers as they began moving with the words of the song.

Having never heard this song before, Kayley couldn’t prepare herself for the way the lyrics were going to affect her. In a few of the lines, he changed the words the band sang as he sang it against her lips. She gripped his forearms, his hands still on her face, and allowed tears to fall again. She didn’t want to waste a single moment of listening to the words coming out of his mouth. This song was so emotionally powerful. She needed to hear it, again and again and again.

As he finished singing, the music surrounded them, filling every space where they weren’t touching, and she closed her eyes. She felt giddy and like she was floating on a cloud. “Is there more?”

“More what?” His voice was so husky, she almost missed what he said. She opened her eyes, meeting his gaze and noticing the tears on his face. She touched each one as it fell.

“Happy tears?”

“Delusionally happy,” Ben nuzzled her nose with his.

“What else have you done that I don’t know about,” she teased.

“You just never know with me, baby.” Ben winked as the song ended and the guests shrieked and hollered.

“Ok Ben, come on down. You’ve got one more before you turn this entire room into a bunch of crying women.” Everyone laughed, including Ben, as he made his way back for the microphone. Kayley didn’t know if she could take one more emotional second today.

“I need my Princess. Alexis, where is Daddy’s girl?” Emily indicated that she was there with her and Cate.

“Wight hewe! Pwincess coming, Daddy!” Again, the guests awwed at her as she ran for Ben and he swung her into the air.

“Any dad’s out there that have baby girls, come on and join us. Trev, Kevin, Paul, and anyone else, come on down. This is a dance for me and my Princess.” Alexis tried to take the microphone away from him, and she smiled. “You want to talk, baby girl? Here you go.” He handed it to her, and everyone quieted, ready to listen.

“Dis my Daddy,” she said, beaming as she heard her voice go throughout the tent. “He wuv me. And my Mommy. A ho lot. He kiss us. And he yummy.” Emily snorted laughter first, followed by the entire tent full of people, but Kayley and Emily the loudest.

“That’s my girl!” Emily howled, laughing so hard that tears were flowing down her cheeks. Kayley did the same, holding her stomach at Alexis using Emily’s nickname for him.

“I think that’s Yummy Daddy to you,” Ben snickered while the room was still engulfed in laughter. “Ready to dance, Princess?” She nodded, and he motioned to the band. The music started again, this time
Cinderella
by Stephen Curtis Chapman.

“He really is too good to be true,” Rachel said, grinning. “I mean, come on. Does he do anything that you just can’t stand? Leave his underwear laying around? Fart a lot? Scratch himself in public? Give me something, Kay.”

Kayley giggled, watching Alexis lay her little head on Ben’s shoulder. She refused to cry any more tonight, so she purposely was trying to stop herself from hearing the words of the song. “He
is
pretty perfect,” she admitted. “But I’m not giving you any ammo on what his faults are. We all have them, Rach.”