He pulls me forward and I suddenly regret the tall ass red heels I picked out while channeling Aspen’s gold pumps. They might make me taller, but I’m not used to walking around this high up.
We stop in front of the employee and I chuckle at how Ryland towers over the short woman. Glad to know it’s not just me he looks like a giant next to.
“Great, I’ll start the music and you two go right in.” She clicks a button on a small remote and pulls open one of the large double doors for us.
The iconic “Here Comes the Bride” song plays in the speakers overhead and I quickly scan the crowd rather than look down to make sure I don’t trip. I count on Ryland to make sure I get to the end without falling on my ass.
The room is empty of people besides Rhea Lynn and her dark haired husband, Jimmy, who occupy the front row. Both stand as we walk down the aisle where the officiant waits for us at the end. He’s not dressed as Elvis, but I’ve been promised an Elvis serenade later. Apparently it's harder than it should be to get an actual Elvis to marry you in this town.
It’s a small room with only ten dark wooden pews between the door and the altar at the end, but it takes us forever to get there. White roses line each pew ending to sweep down the walk way. Large planters and vases placed throughout the room hold more white flowers of various types. I passed on the optional bouquet when we picked out our wedding package, but now I wish I had flowers to hold on to. Hopefully Ryland won’t let go at any point.
When we run out of aisle, we stop, the officiant in long white robes on a short raised platform in front of us. He waits for Rhea Lynn and Jimmy to sit and then clears his throat grabbing Ryland and I by a shoulder each and moving us until we’re facing one another.
He opens his Bible to a small page where a piece of paper sticks out. “Ryland and Marissa have asked me to keep it short and simple tonight. On the dawning of this new day, they set out to begin a new life with one another.”
Words continue to be spoken but only small snippets here and there make it to my ears. With Ryland in front of me, the room falls away until we’re alone. His sapphire eyes meet mine, and every worry I had before disappears. This is where I’m meant to be.
There’s no way to know what he’s thinking, but his slight grin becomes a smile as his lips turn up more. The small freckle under his left eye rises with his cheeks and I wish I could reach out and touch it.
Ryland’s grip on my hands increases. “I do.”
I can’t believe he said, “I do.” We’re doing this. Married. I'm marrying Ryland Bates. I’ll have to change my name, get a new license. Images of Ryland together as we travel the world or me cheering him on during a game in a stadium flitter in my thoughts.
“Marissa, it’s your turn.” He shakes my hands a fraction and flicks his eyes to the podium beside us.
“Oh.” Turning toward the white robed officiant. “I do.”
He smiles down at us, the Bible in his hands now resting on his round belly. “That’s it then. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Ryland doesn’t waste precious time. He drops my hands wrapping his around my back and pulling me the few spaces between us closer. I step up on tiptoes to meet him half way as he leans down and our lips meet. It’s not our first kiss, but as the seconds tick away it becomes the first kiss in a lifetime of kisses to come.
A cheer comes up from the pews as Ryland and I break apart. “That’s some kind of kiss.” Rhea Lynn stands in her row clapping as I blush and Ryland leads me down the aisle.
There are papers to sign and witnesses to thank, but we did it. Ryland and I got married. There’s no turning back from this. Now I just have to go home and tell Aspen. It’s time to face my soon-to-be-livid best friend.
