“You got one hour and remember what I told you.”
“We got this bodyguard. Jeesh.”
While they pretty her up, I head into town to find my two groomsmen.
Later, in the church parking lot, Lucky slaps me on the back. “She give ya any grief, mate?”
“Nope. When I left, she was all smiles.”
Slate raises his brows. “Odd female.”
“One of a kind.”
Even though it’s early, I grab a couple beers from a cooler, and we tailgate, listening to the girls laughing inside.
Father O’Connell arrives next, driven by a younger priest because I insisted. The man’s got to be close to ninety.
“How did you get a license without her knowing?” Lucky joins me as I wave them in.
“Easy. We needed one for the big wedding next year. I said I wanted to do it now so I wouldn’t forget.”
“Nicely done.” Slate nods, finishes his draft, then tosses the bottle in the car. “Let’s do this.”
I check the time, my palms sweaty. What if I’m not enough for her? What if I can’t keep her safe? Should I really be doing this?
My SEAL pal, a man who knows me better than anyone on the planet, chuckles. “Chickening out?”
“No, well, maybe a couple second thoughts.”
“Perfectly normal. She’s an amazing woman and fucking adores you.” He slaps me so hard on the back, I stumble.
Slate grins. “Need a cup of coffee to sober up?”
“No. Shut up. Both of you. I’m fine.” In the bathroom downstairs, I change into my best dark suit, with a new shirt and tie.
Back upstairs, Rose pins a purple flower onto my lapel and sends me to the front of the church. I read in a brochure it was built somewhere in the seventeen hundreds and restored a few years back. All I know is when the door opens, the smell of sweet grass blows in on the breeze, and I figure this is as good as life gets.
But I’m wrong.
My beautiful bride steps into the arch under a stained glass window and the sun creates a halo around her head. The girls have done up her hair in a braid, laced with little white flowers and a few of them daisies. There’s even more of them in her hands, along with the same kind of purple number I got on my jacket.
The breeze blows and I swear, a choir of angels sing. I must be grinning because my face hurts but all I know for sure is the drumming of my heart. This is it. I’m going to marry her and never let her go.
A cellist, I hadn’t even noticed, bows across the low strings. She playsHere Comes the Bride,and Slate walks Sam down the aisle. It’s fucking perfect.
She takes a step forward, our eyes meet, and her face fills with joy, for me.
Damned if that don’t beat all. Never thought I’d fall but I am so in love my heart’s about to explode.
The church has only a few pews so the walking doesn’t take long. Then, we all gather near the altar while her preacher man blesses us. When he asks for the ring, I panic but Lucky snickers, punches me, and places it in my open hand.
“I do.” Her lips move but I don’t hear anything but the pounding in my ears.
Ah, sugar.My hand shakes as I slide the thin piece of gold onto her finger.
Father O’Connell says some words about marriage and love but nothing registers until he says, “You may now kiss the bride.”
I press my mouth to hers, take her into my arms and lift her high off the ground, circling her around and around.
