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"Yes, Dad. Declan and I work together." I say like I've done a million and one times already.
My parents still can't believe it's possible to meet a man, fall in love, and get hitched in no time. I push a hand under the veil to grab Mother's and intertwine it with mine.
"Everything is perfect, Mom. Now you have to let Father walk me down the aisle to marry Declan. All right?"
Father chuckles, he steps forward, and tugs the bright-eyed woman into his arms. I stand there, watching my father try to calm my mother down. It's a rare sight; for me. I've never seen him this affectionate with her. He's always so apathetic and well, lazy when it comes to his family-- his wife.
When we started talking a few weeks ago, I told him I wasn't going to tolerate him not trying to be there for us. My siblings are still in the house with him and will be moving away to college soon. He needs to make memories and love them like he's supposed to.
After what seems like forever, Dad pulls away, and the glow on Mother's face has amplified to a greater degree. She's now blushing from whatever he whispered to her.
"You have made me so proud, Felicity. You bulldozed your way through the storm and stood so high that-- so high that everyone is in awe of your strength. Your sisters… God, they adore you. You've been their rock, their friend. Everything they've asked for, you provided without batting an eye. You take care of us and love us irrevocably. Your father and I are more in love now because you stepped in when the timing was right. You are a star, my baby, I'll be here to watch you grow into a mother and a grandmother. I'll be here for it all, you're going to do just great."
Tears run unchecked down my face, my face twitches from smiling as Mother wraps her arms around me and pats my back gently.
"Go now, I'll be at the front to cheer you on and say Amen as you say your vows. Go."
My hand trembles a little on Father’s arm as he starts toward the door. I have no idea how many guests we have. Declan's mother and mine took care of everything. They bonded through the process of picking colors, locating a fitting venue for hundreds of guests, finding my bridal gown, and of course, sending out invitations.
"This is a whirlwind romance, right? The type that happens in the snap?" Father asks in a low voice, obviously still intrigued with the idea of me meeting a man and marrying him in the space of three months.
Blowing out my breath, I raise my head to stare at the man at the front of the church with his eyes glued to the entrance. Declan. He looks so handsome in his blue tux and white shirt. I can see the beginning of a smile forming on his lips, my nerves skitter as I watch him through my veil.
"Yes," I say to Father, nodding my head repeatedly. "It's a whirlwind romance. I don't think I would have had it any other way," I quiver, smiling through the tears spilling down my face.
I can spot Eli. He's right there with the ring box in his hands and his eyes bright, just like my mother's. I can see him rolling on his heels like he's impatient.
"I'm so proud of you, Felicity. I want to apologize again and promise you that I'll always be involved in everything you and your sisters do, that I'll love your mother with all my heart, and to make sure I show her in every way possible."
"Thanks, Dad. Just so you know; you being here, like this, with all of us, is the best wedding gift. I love you, Dad."
"I love you too."
My breath hitches as Father and I cover the few steps that separate us from Declan and the priest officiating. With a gentle squeeze of my arms, Father withdraws and steps back, but not before tilting his head to kiss my head.
My heart stops the same second the musicians trail to a stop. The priest gestures that I step in front of Declan. With slightly wobbly legs, I move to the spot and lower my head as I can't endure the intensity of Declan's burning eyes.
When he asked me to marry him the first time, a part of me shattered at the thought that it was just a sham and nothing was ever going to be real between us. My heart had been tied to his right from the very start, but I had no idea. I thought-- I thought it was mere infatuation, lust. But when it all started to make sense, I was a tad bit afraid that I'll never be able to measure up to a man of his caliber.
I mean, Declan is a formidable man, and he's way older than me. I had expected his parents to frown, but they accepted me without raising dust. Mine too.
"Hey," Declan's voice shakes a little.
Squaring my shoulders, I smile at him.
"Hey."
I'm tempted to throw myself into his arms and kiss him until the fluttering in my belly ceases. The past few hours before this moment, I've gone over our first meeting outside work, the first day I went over to his house to meet Eli, the first day he took me to his parents for dinner, the first day he kissed me in his childhood bedroom… and when he first made love to me that night at my apartment, it was more than I'd ever imagined.
"…it's been an exhilarating journey with you. Every day has been incredible, unveiling new depths of love, weaving a tapestry of cherished moments, and saturating our lives with a love that knows no bounds." Declan continues to say with a smile, his eyes seeking mine as he moves closer and raises the veil to reveal my tear-stained face. "I love you, Felicity Goleman. This day, with this ring, I vow to be the man you deserve." He winks, then slides the ring down my finger.
The whispers from the hundreds of people standing around us in the church are not enough to drown out the loud beating in my heart. When I started working for his father's company, I had no idea I'd be marrying him one day. He was someone I barely exchanged a few words with until that day Allard showed up to harass me. I don't know if I should call this fate or pure luck, maybe both. But what I do know is that I'll love Declan for the rest of my life.
"...until death do us part," I whisper, then slide the ring down his finger.
Nothing prepared me for the feelings that swirl around my insides. As Declan cups my face and tilts his head to shoot the priest a subtle glare, I feel a force binding us together and our hearts melting into one. He's mine, I am his. Till death do us part.
"You may now kiss the bride," the priest says after a short prayer, my next breath mingles with Declan's as he merges our lips, kissing me with an unfathomable passion.
"I love you so much," I say as we take a breath before he coaxes my lips apart to taste my tongue.
"I love you, a million times over," he exhales in a strained voice.
Without hesitation, I return the mind-blogging nibbles with fervor, amidst the loud cheers and the musicians playing some song about love and forever.
The End!
