It’s only an hour before I walk back into the house, but it’s as long as I can give her. Being away from Julie doesn’t sit right with me, but it’s even worse because she’s my bride now.

Mine.

I don’t like to think about all those thoughts I had of her before yesterday—before she was legal. So instead I push them out of my mind and go in the house to search for my wife.

I kept an eye on the cameras while I did some things outside. I felt like a jackass for destroying her phone and made sure another one would be here first thing in the...