I screw my face up at her. “I think so.”My mom and Laura help me down the stairs. We walk outside and down the steps tothe garden entrance, where my dad and Annie are waiting for us. My mom kissesmy cheek, tears in her eyes again, and then disappears into the garden. Anniehands me my bouquet, and she too goes into the garden.
I look at my dad, smiling. He just staresat me, not saying anything. His eyes glass over and then a tear spills down hischeek, but he wipes it away before it travels far. “Katherine Cook, look at you.”
I blush, turning my head.
“I am so proud to call you my daughter. Ilove you, baby girl.” He kisses my cheek.
“I love you, Daddy.” The music playingslowly changes tune.
“That’s our cue.” My dad winks, taking myarm. My heart is pounding in my chest and my palms are sweaty. My legs feelshaky and unsteady. We walk through the garden and around a corner to the startof the aisle. There Cole is, standing in the front. My husband. I have the urgeto run to him, wrap my arms around his neck, and never let go. I watch him puthis hand on his heart and then to his lips. I mimic his action. I take ananxious step, but my dad stills me.
“Not yet,” he whispers. I watch as theguests rise from their chairs. “Now.” My dad urges me forward.
I watch a beautiful, drop-dead gorgeous,tooth-paste ad smile form on Cole’s face as he watches me descend the aisle. Itseems like a lifetime ago when I watched Cole get out of his car and walk overto me, with almost the same smile on his face. Now when he smiles at me, I seelove and devotion; I see my life reflected in him. I wouldn’t change a momentof our whirlwind romance. It has brought us to this moment where we will pledgeour love to each other. Today my life begins again.
We stop at the top of the aisle. I try tomove to Cole, but my dad holds me back. “Not yet.”
“Who gives this woman to be wed?” thepreacher asks.
“Her mother and I do,” my fatherannounces. He kisses me again on the cheek and then places my hand in Cole’s.Laura takes my bouquet.
“Hi,” I whisper to Cole. My hands areshaking and I’m sure any moment my knees are going to start to knock. “I madeit down the aisle without falling on my face.” There’s a murmur of laughterfrom the guests.
“Hi back.” Cole smiles. “You’re shaking.”
“I’m nervous.”
Cole pulls me close, wrapping an armaround me; he’s about to kiss me when a hand drops in front of us.
“Sorry love birds, this isn’t Vegas.” Myjaw drops open as I realize who Cole has gotten to officiate our ceremony.
“Elvis.” Except he’s not dressed like Elvistoday. He has on a suit and tie, and he has his hair parted differently.
“Hi, little darlin’.” He winks at me.
“Ted, I can’t believe this. It—It’sperfect.” I let go of Cole, hugging Elvis, or rather Ted Reynolds. Ourwonderful, amazing, Elvis preacher who really married Cole and me in his littleElvis Chapel of Love. “Thank you, thank you so much.” I turn back to Cole.“Thank you.”
“Anything for you, Cookie.”
“Shall we begin?” Ted leans forward.
Cole and I nod.
“On behalf of Katherine and Coulter andtheir parents, I welcome you this evening. My name is Ted Reynolds, and I willbe officiating.” Our Elvis preacher talks of love and commitment, abouthonoring and cherishing; his words are sweet, reassuring and most of all, areaffirmation of something I already know that Cole loves me, I love him and weare forever. We have already been through so much together as a couple. Therest will be cake, and I do love cake.
“Katherine and Cole have chosen to saytheir own vows. If you will take each other’s hands, Kate, you first littlemamma.”
My hands still shake, but Cole squeezesthem reassuringly. “Coulter Alan Prescott-Holt, I promise to be your bestfriend, your confidant, your lover. You have my deepest love and my completedevotion. I promise to never let you have a dull moment and to always keep youon your toes. I promise to spend your money…without too much complaint. Ipromise to inspire you, to encourage you, to laugh with you and to lift you upwhen life brings you down. I promise you my unwavering, unceasing, unendinglove. You have filled my soul and made me whole. You are my one true love. I’myours forever.”
Cole lets go of my hand, cupping my face,wiping away my tear. He moves closer to me. “We are almost there,” Elvis cutsin.
“You’re killing me here,” Cole says underhis breath. He takes my hand again. Now he’s the one who has a slight tremble.“Katherine Cook, I promise to listen to everything you say without guile orprejudice. I promise to love you with my whole heart, not for my whole life butfor the whole of eternity. I promise to feed you cake when you’re sad and whenyou’re happy. I promise to hold you up when life beats you down. I promise nomatter where life leads us, I will always be there for you first and foremost.You have shown me what love is. You are my smile. My heart belongs to only you.My life became complete the moment we kissed. My world shook with uncertainty,but you took my hand and my life was whole. I love you, Kate, like a riverflows to the sea, darling. So it goes, we are meant to be.”
“Now the rings.” Kurt shuffles up to thefront, opening a book that has had the inside cut out, the rings tied inside.Cole pulls his ring off. “Now this part should be familiar.” Our officiatorwinks. “Repeat after me: with this ring, I thee wed.”
“With this ring, I thee wed.” Cole placesthe ring on my finger.
“Now your turn, little mama.” I untieCole’s ring. “Repeat after me: with this ring, I thee wed.”
