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“I’ve got it, my love,” he announces triumphantly, really surprising me by having dinner ready and letting me know he’s arranged the ceremony.
“Tell me over dinner,” I reply, relieved. I shower and change, never disappointed when Xander cooks.
He does everything so well.
Except for wedding ceremonies, I guess.
“A priest at the local church?” I repeat, having sat through two courses of him building up the suspense and giving me the big reveal over dessert.
“What do you think? Not too much?” he asks, genuinely not wanting to overdo it and really believing he’s had a breakthrough.
I take a minute to digest it, but he’s so adorable, so innocent sometimes that I have to agree it’s the best idea yet.
“I’m glad you’re happy sweetheart,” he tells me, sitting me on his lap, and kissing me on the lips.
“Sometimes I just can’t tell with you, Xander. But I’d rather a small, traditional ceremony than none at all.”
“Now all I need to do is find a caterer,” he sighs, and I can’t go through with it.
I couldn’t have another week of watching him try so hard.
“Nonna Palazzo’s,” I whisper in his ear, already following her suggestion to let him think it was his idea when the moment came.
“Of course! Why didn’t we think of it before?” he cries out, rushing to the phone and spending an hour speaking in animated Italian while I book our honeymoon.
“It’s a two-week cruise and train trip through the Rockies, Alaska, and Canada,” I tell him when he’s off the phone, holding up a warning finger and daring him to make a face before he agrees it’s a wonderful idea.
ONE MONTH AND ONE WEEK LATER…
I’m looking forward to everything, so glad it’s finally our big day. I spent the night at the Patterson’s, with Mrs. Patterson proving me wrong about her these past few months.
She not only kept me from the bridegroom last night but helped me source antique lace and materials for my dress, which she’s expertly sewed herself and mostly by hand.
“An irregular hobby. Glad to see it being put to use,” Mrs. Patterson sniffs, mumbling something about me being beautiful before she shuffles off to get ready herself.
For something old, we have the lace veil. Something borrowed and blue is a beautiful sapphire pendant I’m sure I’ll struggle to have Mrs. Patterson let me return to her.
“We just need something new,” she gasps, worrying that she’s completely forgotten that part.
“Oh, I have that covered,” I let her know, having to accept her pout when I let her know it’s a little bit of a secret for now.
“Well, do tell when you’re ready dear,” she chimes, recovering herself and flushing pink when she looks me up and down for the hundredth time.
“You do look beautiful,” she concedes, a little line of silver at the corner of her eye.
I hug her and thank her again, for everything.
“And by the way,” she whispers. “I never did thank you for the house. I don’t know how you managed to fix all those things Mr. Patterson’s never got around to doing.”
I feel myself getting misty-eyed, but she’s too efficient for that, and reminding everyone we’re already late, she bundles us all into the waiting line of local patrol cars serving as wedding cars for the day.
Something I couldn’t talk my dad, or the college campus police out of.
I left the service to Xander, and when we pull up at the church, I feel the butterflies kick in.
It’s the oldest and prettiest building in town, a converted cathedral itself, I couldn’t have wished for a nicer setting for the service.
My dad’s waiting, dressed in his full police uniform and he has to take more than a few moments before he’s ready to walk me down the aisle.
“Your mom would be so proud,” he whispers, kissing me on the cheek and nodding when I ask if he remembered the rings.
It’s the longest walk of my life, and so many people I never knew could or would care have turned out to wish us well, many more I don’t, so maybe it’s not so small a ceremony I grin. Everyone is smiling but a fair amount has a tear in their eye.
Xander’s so big and tall, he never seems far away but it seems forever before I’m by his side and we can finally face each other, my dad giving me away as well as being best man.
Despite the cathedral setting, it is a simple ceremony, just like Xander said.
Our vows are simple and from the heart, a simple ‘I do’ from each of us, but after the ring exchange, there’s another token for Xander.
A symbol of thanks.
My dad presents him with a state police medal of honor for bravery, pinning it to his lapel and saluting him along with dozens of other officers who join the ceremony before he finally kisses his bride and we’re showered with confetti and rice on our way to his waiting car to take us to Palazzo’s for the reception.
