“I, Adrian Kennedy, take you, Fitz McIntyre, to be my wedded husband.”
Fitz grins. “I, Fitz McIntyre, take you, Adrian Kennedy, to be my wedded husband.”
My heart does a one-eighty as he speaks. We’re really, truly getting married.
The registrar turns to me. “Adrian, will you promise to love, respect, and cherish?”
I do already, with every breath, every heartbeat.
“Will you comfort and support him in times of need and share your laughter in times of joy?”
Always and forever.
“Will you remain loving, faithful, and true to him throughout your life together?”
“I will.”
Two simple words that are so easy to say. I will do all those things and more every day for the rest of my life.
The registrar asks Fitz the same questions. His voice is clear and true when he responds. He looks me right in the eyes, and I can tell he means it. Not that I doubted it for even a second.
“We now come to the exchange of the rings,” the registrar says. “The wedding ring is an unbroken circle, symbolising unending and everlasting love. It is the outward sign of the love you share and of the commitment you are making to each other.”
Vanessa hands me the ring I’ve bought for Fitz. He hasn’t seen it yet, and I haven’t seen the ring he’s bought for me. I hope to God he likes it. I step closer to him and slide the ring onto his finger, stopping as I reach the first joint. The ring is made of four slim bands, sealed together. The outer bands are both platinum, while the band closest to Fitz is made of pale-pink quartz, similar to the colour of cherry blossom. Next to it is a band made of cherry wood.
He stares at the ring and then lifts his gaze to mine. His eyes are dancing with unshed tears, and he has a soppy smile on his face.
“It’s beautiful,” he whispers.
“I’m your tree,” I remind him in a quiet voice. “And you’re my blossom.”
He chokes out a laugh, and his chin trembles. “You’d better get back to the script before we get into trouble.”
“It’s our wedding,” I remind him. “Can we get into trouble?”
He glances at the registrar, who is looking at me expectantly.Everyoneis staring at me, waiting for me to say scripted words. For once, I don’t care because Fitz is the only person in the room who exists for me right now. Even so, I had better get on with the wedding.
“Fitz, I give you this ring as a symbol of our marriage and as a token of my love and lasting friendship, always and forever.”
As I say the rehearsed words, I slide the ring farther down his finger until it’s nestling in the correct place. It looks perfect, not too wide so as to swamp his slender fingers. Even though it’s made of four bands, the surface of the ring is completely smooth, so it doesn’t get anything trapped in it, even though he’ll probably take it off or wear gloves while he’s baking.
Max hands a ring to Fitz.
“You’ve got me all emotional,” Fitz grumbles as he swipes at his eyes.
“Sorry,” I mouth.
“No, you’re not.”
He’s right. I’m not. I’d give him that ring again in a heartbeat if it provoked the same adorable reaction. I give him my hand, and he slips a ring onto my finger as he says the formal words. It’s a band made from several thin pieces of wood. Each one is a different type, all highly polished and lacquered. It feels sturdy and warm around my finger. I listen to his words, identical to my own, as my smile spreads wider and wider.
The registrar takes over again, summing up what’s happened during the ceremony and reminding us that we shouldn’t take our vows lightly.
“Adrian and Fitz, it gives me great pleasure to announce that from this day forward, you are now husband and husband. You can kiss.”
I pull Fitz into my arms and lean down and kiss him. His hand cups my cheek and then strokes down through my beard.
“I love you,” I whisper, rubbing my nose gently against his.
