A Wedding and Marriage for Hessa

Chapter 4

Tessa's POV

Hardin and I are finally married. I am so happy. The long journey we have been on to get to here has been worth it. Worth it to watch the man I love be a father to our two amazing children. Hardin always used to say that he never wanted marriage, children or a relationship for that matter. The past 20 years I have spent knowing and loving this man have been a mix of good and bad. We had our struggles at the start but we found each other again. Our life together is still just beginning I think, our love only growing. My greatest strength is the family that I have built. I hope that Hardin continues to write about our story. I was angry at first when I found out that Hardin had spent the entirety of our relationship writing our story and then decided to send it off to publishers. I understand that now it was his way of showing how he felt about me. It was a tribute to the love that we shared and the long story that we were writing together. 

As I look at my husband, I think about all of the adventures that we are yet to go on, with our children and just us. I am excited for what our future holds. 

"What are you thinking about, baby?" Hardin asks me from the seat next to mine at the table. 

"Us. Our future, our past, all of the adventures we are yet to have." I tell him, smiling. I haven't stopped smiling since he slid my wedding ring onto my hand. One of the happiest moments of my life, on par with the births of our two miracles, the only two other people that I love the most. Our family of four - a family built on love and trust. 

"The past 20 years have been some of the best. I love you, Tess. More than anything. Well, almost more than anything. I love our kids more. Especially my little girl." He says, looking at our daughter and son who were having a very enthusiastic conversation with Addy. 

"That is only because they are half you." I joke with him. 

"No, darling. It's because they are half you. Half of the love of my life. They got the best of our qualities. You and them are my greatest achievements." He says. 

"You are unusually sentimental today, Mr Scott." I tell him. 

"Only when I am with you, Mrs Scott." He says, pressing his lips to mine. "Mrs Scott" - that creates a warm feeling in my heart. How does this man still have this affect on me after 20 years and two children? 

Emery and Auden then approach us. 

"Mom, Dad," Emery says, "You're not being gross, are you?" 

"Yeah, there are children present." Auden states. 

"No, my sweethearts, we are just reminiscing." I tell my children. 

"What about, Mom?" Auden asks me. 

"About our greatest achievements." I tell him. 

"Let me guess, Dad's are his books and Mom's is the wedding planning." Emery says with her usual sass. 

"No, honey. Our greatest achievements," Hardin says, putting his arm around our daughter's waist as our son comes to put his arm on my shoulders. "This family is. Your mum and the two of you are my greatest achievements. Sure, my books are a good achievement but the two of you are one of the only things that I have done that I am so exceptionally proud of." 

"Your father's right. The two of you make us proud every day even when you make mistakes, you still make us proud to be your parents. The perfect mix of the two of us." I tell the two of them. 

"Why did you wait so long to get married? You have been together for like 20 years right?" Emery asks. 

"We were waiting for the right time. Your mother was comfortable with us just being engaged for a decent amount of time before we decided to tie the knot." Hardin says. 

"We love you both. Always. No matter how old you get." Tessa says. 

"Love you too, Mom, Dad." Auden says. 

"We're going to go back to Addy, and leave you two to have your moments." Emery says. Emery kisses her dad's cheek and then mine, as does Auden. 

"Bye, my loves." I replied. 

My husband and I sit together holding hands for a few minutes more when we hear Landon announcing that it is time for Hardin and I to have our first dance as husband and wife.