Married and Bright

Andrew looks at me. "You really want to do this, babe?"

I nod. "My grandma gave me her wedding dress yesterday. She just got it dry-cleaned." I laugh. "I mean, it kind of feels like fate, doesn't it?"

Andrew smiles, pulling me in for a kiss. "Yes, Angel. It does feel like fate. And more than that, it feels like love."

"So it's decided," Carol says, cutting off our romantic moment. "A Christmas wedding tomorrow before presents?"

Andrew nods. "Yes, Mom. You can go downstairs and tell the family. Angel and I are getting married tomorrow on Christmas Day. Can you manage to get us a marriage license by then, Dad?"

Bill nods. "I'll see what I can do, son."

I look up at my husband to be. "Tomorrow, we're going to be husband and wife."

Andrew laughs and he picks me up, swinging me into his arms. "In that case, wifey… Dad, could you give me and my bride a moment alone?"

Andrew's parents leave, shutting the door behind us, and Andrew and I fall back into that twin bed, kissing until we're called down to Christmas Eve dinner.

EPILOGUE

ANDREW

I've always been the guy behind the camera, but today there is no camera around my neck. The only thing I'm holding is a handkerchief and, damn, I'm the one wiping tears from my eyes as I watch Angel walk down the staircase of my parents' home toward me, where I stand next to the blazing fire and the Christmas tree.

Dad is here holding the Bible and my whole family is around us, sitting on the couches and chairs, everyone in their Christmas best, their velvet dresses and their taffeta skirts. Boys in khakis and collared shirts. Thankfully, we always do a formal Christmas dinner, and so everyone's put on their finest clothes.

We've had flowers and poinsettias scattered around the house because my mom does Christmas right here, and it means the whole house is twinkling with Christmas lights and holly.

It all looks perfect. The scene has been set, but nothing holds a candle to Angel when she walks down the staircase in her grandmother's wedding gown, looking like a Christmas angel herself. My nieces and nephews all gasp when they see her and I know my mom is wiping tears from her eyes. My sisters are too. Angel's grandma is smiling brightly.

And my dad looks at me. "You're a lucky man, son." And I know he is right. I am more than lucky though. I am privileged. I am honored. I am going to spend the rest of my life making Angel happy, making sure she knows how cherished she is, how above all else, she is the true gift.

When she joins me in front of my dad and we say our vows, I offer her the handkerchief and she smiles, taking it from me and dabbing her eyes.

"I love you," I tell her.

"I love you more," she says.

To have and to hold till death do us part, the vows, they seem easy.

I know they'll be hard to put into practice at times, and some things will be more difficult than others.

But in this moment, the promises we make feel right because I want to be the man Angel needs from this day forward.

When my father asks me to kiss the bride, I lift her veil and I kiss her without hesitation.

Our family claps and you can literally feel the love in the room.

I draw my wife to me knowing she is the best Christmas gift in the whole world.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." Husband and wife. She is my wife.

There's no reception to head to, but there are presents to unwrap and children who are eager to see what Santa has brought them. My mom has made another incredible Christmas meal and Grandma Sue has helped in the kitchen.

We have an amazing day with my family, her family, our family, and every chance I get, I pull her close.

I look into her eyes, repeating the words, I love you. I love you. I love you.

"I love you more," she says.

"No regrets?" I ask her that night as we fall into bed.

"None at all," she says. "I feel like the luckiest bride in the whole world. All my Christmas wishes came true.”

I wrap my arms around her, laughing at the fact our wedding night bed is an air mattress on the floor of my childhood bedroom.

But it's better than the twin-sized bed that was our alternative. And I kiss her again and again, knowing I'm the luckiest man because I get to kiss this girl forever.

"I love you," I say for the 100th time today.

And when we fall asleep, it's with joy in our hearts, snow falling outside, knowing we are married and bright.