“After what happened two weeks ago, with the doctor and the diagnosis and everything, I wanted to give up, but you wouldn’t let me. Thank you for that and a million other things.”

“Thank you for marrying me and giving me a whole lifetime to share with you.”

“I apologize in advance for the hard parts.”

“No apology needed. We’ll figure it out as we go. As long as I have you and you have me, the rest is easy.”

“You really think it’ll be that simple?” she asked, looking up at him with gorgeous brown eyes gone liquid with emotion.

“Probably not, but I really believe there’s nothing we can’t handle as long as we do it together.” He kissed the top of her head and breathed in the bewitching scent of his love, feeling the silk of her hair against his face. No matter what came their way, he would do whatever it took to protect her from hurt or disappointment. She’d already had enough of both in her life. Now was the time for happily ever after.

They were surrounded tonight and in life by the people they loved best—his parents and siblings as well as their partners, his cousins, their friends, Abby’s family and their larger island family. That community would celebrate with them during the good times and prop them up through the tough times. Adam truly believed they would successfully weather the storm of her illness, and they would find a path to parenthood, too. Maybe it wouldn’t be the conventional path, but it would be their path.

Next to them, Dan danced with Kara, Evan with Grace, Grant with Stephanie, Mac with Maddie, Joe with Janey, Shane with Katie, Tiffany with Blaine, Seamus with Carolina, Adam’s dad with his mom, his Uncle Frank with Betsy, his Uncle Kevin with Chelsea, and Luke with Sydney. Others had come and gone throughout the evening, but the core group remained and would be there for them through it all.

“What do you say we get out of here, Mrs. McCarthy?”

“Ready whenever you are.”

His reply was a not-so-subtle tug on her hand, leading her in the direction of the lobby.

“Shouldn’t we say good night to everyone?”

Adam took a look around to find all the happy couples engrossed in each other. “Nah. They’ll figure out for themselves that we split.”

“That’s kind of rude.”

“I’m kind of horny for my wife.”

“Honestly, Adam. Did I marry a man or a teenage boy?”

“I’m all man, baby. Let’s go upstairs, and I’ll show you.”