The officiant's voice brought her back to the present. "Camilla and Jade have chosen to write their own vows. Camilla, would you like to go first?"
Camilla took a deep breath as she unfolded the piece of paper she'd tucked into her bouquet. She had agonized over these words for weeks, wanting to perfectly capture the depth of her feelings for Jade. Now, looking into those blue eyes she loved so much, she crumpled it up and dropped it to the ground. The words in her heart were all she needed.
"Jade," she began, her voice soft but steady. "When I hired you to pretend to be my fiancée, I thought I was just solving a problem. I had no idea I was setting in motion thegreatest love story of my life. You came into my world and turned everything upside down in the most wonderful way." She paused, swallowing past the lump in her throat. "You taught me what it means to truly open my heart to someone. To be vulnerable, to be silly, to be completely and unapologetically myself. You've shown me a kind of love I never knew existed, one that makes me want to be better every day." Camilla's voice wavered slightly as she continued, "I promise to love you fiercely and completely, through all of life's ups and downs. I promise to support your dreams as if they were my own. I promise to always communicate openly and honestly, even when it's difficult. And I promise to never take for granted the incredible gift of your love."
She reached up to wipe away a tear that had escaped down Jade's cheek. "You are my best friend, my lover, my partner in every sense of the word. I love you, Jade Thompson, more than I ever thought possible. And I will spend the rest of my days showing you just how much."
There wasn't a dry eye in the gathering as Camilla finished her vows, sniffing herself. Even Theresa seemed moved, discretely dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
The officiant turned to Jade. "And now, Jade, your vows for Camilla."
Jade blew out her cheeks, her eyes never leaving Camilla's. "Camilla," she said. "When I agreed to this crazy scheme of yours, I thought I was just taking on another acting job. I had no idea I was stepping into the role of a lifetime." She laughed softly, shaking her head in wonder. "You swept me off my feet from that very first day, with your determination, your quick wit, and your beautiful heart. Even when we were just pretending, I found myself falling for you. And when our act became reality, when I realized that what we had was real... it was like coming home to a place I’d alwayssearched for." Jade's voice grew stronger as she continued, "I promise to always be there for you, to hold your hand through the good times and the bad. I promise to challenge you when you need it, to support you when you're doubting yourself, and to always, always believe in you. I promise to keep the magic alive, to never stop dating you, to find new ways to make you smile every day. I promise to be your safe harbor, your adventure buddy, your biggest fan, and your fiercest protector. I promise to love you with every fiber of my being, to cherish you, to respect you, and to grow with you as we build our life together."
Jade's voice cracked as she finished, "You are the love of my life, Camilla Parkes. The script of our love story may have started as fiction, but what we've written together is real and beautiful. I love you.
Camilla was in tears but she didn't care because the love in Jade's eyes was all that mattered. She wasn’t the only one; she could hear sobs coming from their family and friends and even the officiant seemed emotional as she continued.
“That was perfect,” she said. "May I have the rings, please?"
Jack stepped forward, proudly holding out a small velvet pillow with two simple gold bands nestled on it. Camilla and Jade each took a ring, their hands shaking with emotion.
Camilla slid the ring onto Jade's finger, still sniffing as she repeated the officiant’s words. "With this ring, I thee wed."
Jade's fingers trembled slightly as she slipped the ring onto Camilla's hand in return. "With this ring, I thee wed."
The officiant beamed at them both. "By the power vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you wife and wife. You may kiss the bride!"
Camilla and Jade needed no further encouragement. They came together in a kiss that was sweet and passionate, filled with promise and joy. The gathering erupted in cheers and applause, but for Camilla and Jade, the world had narrowed to just the two of them.
As they broke apart, both laughing and crying at the same time, a gust of wind caught Camilla's veil, wrapping it around both their heads. They both burst into giggles and fell into another kiss, more private and hidden behind the veil this time.
"Well," Jade quipped, "I guess we're literally tied together now."
Camilla held her under the veil, wanting to hold on to this moment for just a little longer. She looked at Jade, her wife, and saw in her eyes the reflection of all their tomorrows. Whatever life had in store for them, they would face it together - no longer pretending, but living their truth, one day at a time.
