AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A couple of my friends come over to offer congratulations, and Ty’s friends tease me about the possibility that he might leave me at the altar, but I don’t have any doubts. I might be nervous and excited, but I will be leaving here as a married man.
Like so many couples before us, we opted to use the stairs, and I know it’s time for me to take my place when the judge who presided over the court case two years prior climbs the stairs and motions for me to join her. Though she didn’t remember us, she was thrilled when we contacted her to learn that we’d met while serving on a jury in her courtroom and enthusiastically agreed to perform the ceremony.
A few of our fellow jurors from that trial are here as well. We kept in touch, have gone to dinner a few times, and knew they’d be delighted to attend. They wave at me, and David, the older man who was celebrating his forty-sixth anniversary, points me out to the woman at his side who can only be his wife. She slaps at his hand and glares at him, and I can only imagine she’s telling him that she can see me just fine. They laugh, then kiss, and I send up a prayer that Tyler and I will be just as deeply in love in fifty years as we are now.
Marney takes her place by my side, bumping my shoulder as the music begins and Ty appears preceded by his best friend, Dan, and accompanied by his parents. We’d gone back and forth on the music, and finally opted for “Love is Here to Stay.”
And then Ty is standing by my side, our hands entwined as we recite our vows and make a promise to love and cherish each other for the rest of our lives. We’re both shaking slightly as we say, “I do” and slide our wedding rings onto our fingers.
The judge takes hold of our joined hands. “Two years ago, the two of you came into my courtroom as potential jurors and swore an oath to tell the truth. Voir dire. It’s a powerful thing to ask of someone, but today, I ask you to continue to honor that oath to each other. Continue to tell each other the truth, to be honest with each other, and carry the love you have found for each other in your hearts forever.” She smiles at us. “I now pronounce you husbands. Friends, family, I present to you Mr. and Mr. Grosford-Reese.”
As our loved ones applaud, Tyler and I have our first kiss as husbands.
“I love you,” I say to him as we part.
“I love you, too,” he says. “My husband.”
Then we kiss again.
