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My best friends stand beside me, mesmerized by their stunning wives walking down the aisle. And as I look out over two-hundred people undeterred by the weather that came to see Kenni and I pledge our undying love, my heart may burst. Teammates from my youth until now, doctors and nurses from the trauma centers, and our families and friends are here to witness that love can endure all things. They are here because in one way or another their lives were touched by the tragedy that drove Kenni and I apart as teens.
Tears leak out of the corners of my eyes. Through everything—we made it.
The trumpets sound as the doors creak open. When Kenni emerges with her arm laced through her father’s, I’m left breathless. She’s the pure definition of elegance and beauty. Her gait is slow as snowflakes gracefully fall around her. When she gets closer to me, I get lost in her radiant smile that’s framed by her rosy red lips and smoky eyes.
“Who brings this woman to be married to this man?” the officiant asks.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis respond, “We do.” Her dad lowers the hood on the white cloak, kisses her on the cheek, then puts it back in place.
My bride, that used to wear her hair in French braids, now has the most intricate updo with tiny braids trailing over the loose bun in the back. My voice sounds like sandpaper. I’m so taken with her. “You are beautiful every day, but today, you are a vision. You look like a princess.”
Her face reddens. “This cloak is gorgeous. I never imagined the wedding would be this enchanting, but you made it happen. I love you.”
Our eyes swell with tears as the officiant starts the ceremony. We cut several minutes from the ceremony because the snow is supposed to get heavier soon.
It comes to the part where the reverend asks, “Who has the rings?”
I catch a mischievous glint in Jackson’s eyes, and his sly grin piques my curiosity. My bride-to-be and I exchange worried glances, sensing something unexpected is about to happen. Unaware of Jackson’s playful scheme, I reach into my pocket to retrieve the rings. Little did I know I would pull out a fake spider. My heart races for a half second and amusement dances across my face. Laughter echoes through the guests as I discover the little trickster’s clever prank.
Patrick fist bumps Jackson for a job well done.
Kenni says, “That’s my nephew.”
The tension that comes with such an important day, and the obstacles we’ve had to overcome, fade away. It’s all replaced by a shared moment of joy, courtesy of Avery and Patrick’s prank playing son who made our wedding day even more unforgettable.
“You may kiss the bride.”
In this magical moment, it’s as if time has stopped. I am hers. And she is mine.
After we’re announced as Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Shepherd, we make our way inside the castle to the dance floor. She reveals her wedding gown. The plunging neckline is made of fine, soft white lace and fits snug to her thighs, then flares out gently.
“How did I get so lucky to have you as my wife?” I whisper in her ear before twirling her back into my chest. We sway a few times, just like we practiced, before I raise my arm and she rotates into my chest.
"Where on earth did you find the cloak?" she asks with a broad smile. “It must have cost a fortune. It made me feel so beautiful, like Grace Kelly, the movie star turned princess.”
“It’s a gift to you, babe. Mrs. Chatham flew it here on the team plane and I had the rhinestones and pearls added.”
“Thank you, but I would have gotten married at the courthouse.” She laughs, throwing her head back.
I pull her in close, whispering over her ear, “I know better. I listened while you played with Barbie dolls for two years. You always, always had them getting married in the winter—at a castle.”
She playfully bats her eyes. “You loved me then?”
“Maybe not then, but I knew you were someone special in my life.”
After the toasts from Patrick and Megan, I touch my spoon against my champagne glass, clearing my throat.
“Excuse me, I’d like to say a few words.” The room falls silent. “Getting married is stressful, and our wedding wouldn’t have been possible without the help of friends and family. Life continues to erect obstacles to place in our way, but we keep hurdling each one. Our hearts have belonged to each other since we were teenagers. But life threw us a curve ball, and the distance proved to me that Kenni was still the only girl for me. Years later, I took a chance. I thought maybe together we could heal our pain, honor the past, and build a future together.” I say this very sentence every time we open a new trauma center.
“Today, the weather tried to throw us another curve, but we prevailed. Our hearts are bound by tragedy, but also by love, and that love will endure and get stronger through every passing season.”
“Thank you to our parents, who moved to Kodiak Kove to be with us daily and support us in life. Our friends… Kenni and I wouldn’t be standing here today without you. We love all of you. And to Kenni…Babe, you need to change the name of your club.”
The small line emerges above her nose and her eyes narrow. “Club?” Then her eyebrows shoot up and with rounded eyes, she asks, “The Kenni Davis Exclusive Boyfriend Club?”
Chatter amongst the guests causes Jackson to shout, “Kenni had a boyfriend club? Did you kiss her?”
I shoot my wife an ear-splitting smile. “It was exclusive, only me, and yes, I kissed her.”
