Surrendering Series Box Set

“It’s important,” I said.

He chuckled, but did as I asked, affixing the sticky note to the left side of my dress, where you’d normally put a nametag.

“Ready now? I think they’re waiting on us, but I’m sure if anyone can hold this show up, it’s you.” We hugged and he was careful not to crush me.

“I’m so happy for you,” he said in my ear.

“Thanks, Daddy.” He kissed my cheek and then we were off. I was getting married.

Twenty-Three

Spoiler alert: I cried as I walked down the aisle. There were dozens of people watching me and Dad was next to me, but all I could see was my man with red hair and a red bowtie with the biggest, most unbelievable smile on his face. And he was waiting for me.

I took him in and then I really started to cry.

On his chest, on the left side above his pocket was a yellow sticky note that said GROOM.

He saw my note and started laughing. I was still walking, but I lost it, laughing and crying at the same time.

Dad and I reached Lucah, and he did the handoff.

Pastor Todd beamed at us and asked for everyone to be seated as I handed my bouquet off to Sloane. She winked at me and I turned to take Lucah’s hands.

I didn’t remember much after that. Pastor Todd said some things and then it was time for the vows. Lucah went first and I almost expected him to pull out a piece of paper to read from, but he didn’t.

“I remember what you were wearing. I remember every word you said. I remember how irritated you were with me. I remember how you smelled. I remember wanting to kiss you. I will remember every single detail of the first moment I saw you, in your office at Clarke Enterprises. You were completely beautiful and completely off-limits.” A laugh rippled through the church. I’d completely forgotten there were other people here.

The light coming from his eyes was nothing short of breathtaking and I wished this was another moment I could save and seal away forever.

“I also knew that I wanted to be around you, be with you. I’m sure you remember that I didn’t keep that a secret.” More laughter.

“I remember pursuing you, but never thinking the lovely creature standing before me would ever be mine. But here we are, standing in front of all these people and declaring that we belong to each other. I will remember this day and this moment for the rest of my life and hopefully beyond that. I believe that your soul and my soul are inseparable. So today, I pledge to you that I will love you, honor you, cherish you, make love with you, fight with you, support you and adore you, all the days of our lives.”

It was hard to see him through the film of tears in my eyes. I blinked and he took the red fabric folded and arranged in his pocket and wiped my eyes.

“Your turn,” he whispered.

“Rory?” Pastor Todd said, turning to me.

“Well now I’m wishing I copied something from the Internet,” I said and there was more laughter.

“When you walked into my life, I thought you were the most irritating, arrogant, attractive bastard I’d ever seen. I wanted to get rid of you because you drove me crazy and also because I wanted you so much. It’s that chin dimple, I swear. I can’t resist it.” We both chuckled.

“I’m really messing this up. Ah, okay. I don’t have much to say, but that I love you. I love you today and I loved you yesterday and I’ll love you tomorrow. Even if I’m mad at you. Even if you’re annoying me. Even if you leave the toilet seat up, or eat the last piece of cake, or ruin my clothes in the wash. Nothing could make me stop loving you. Nothing. I’m yours and you’re mine and that’s all that matters. I’ll always be your Sunshine.”

Now there were tears in his eyes and I wanted to kiss him so bad that I clenched his hands to stop myself from doing it. Wasn’t time yet.

Pastor Todd said some more things about love and marriage that I ignored and then it was time for the rings. Lucah’s hands shook as he slid the ring onto my hand and repeated the simple vows. Then it was my turn to have shaking hands and I was paranoid I was going to put the ring on the wrong finger, but Lucah helped me out.

With a trembling voice, I repeated my vows and then… we were man and wife.

“You my kiss the bride.”

A roar burst from the crowd as Lucah hoisted me into the air and sealed his mouth to mine.

Man and wife.

~*~*~