Page 29 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 4

Ann had suggested our group form a circle around us. Then she proceeded to remove items one at a time from the pocket of her navy cloak. She walked around us in the center of the circle while chanting something under her breath, then stopped abruptly when facing north.

“We honor the element Air. May your marriage move and glide with the wind, always adapting to life’s challenges.” She held up a bird’s feather and let it go. The breeze instantly lifted it up and into the sky, taking it away, destination unknown.

“Ooohhhh,” TJ said watching intently.

Ann lifted her arms as though hugging the sky as she walked to the east. Once again, she put her hand into her pocket andtransferred what looked to be flower petals into both hands. Then she walked around us dropping the petals.

“We honor the element Earth. May your marriage and love be as stable as the mountains and as grounded as the earth beneath your feet,” she said, dropping the petals. They looked like pink, red, and yellow confetti against the white snow.

“Blomst!”Flower.TJ giggled, the rest of us following his adorable lead.

Ann smiled and continued to circle us. She stopped in front of Autumn who was facing south.

“We honor the element Fire,” Ann’s voice rose as Autumn lifted her hand, holding a lighter. She flicked it, and the flame rose higher as if by magic. “May your marriage be filled with passion, long life, and boundless energy.” Autumn entered the circle and walked around Summer, TJ, and myself, the flame never going out until she made it back to her spot where she closed her eyes, whispered something then blew out the flame.

My heart started beating wildly as Ann continued her walk, finally stopping at the west.

“We honor the element Water.” She bent in half and picked up a handful of snow. “May your marriage adapt and evolve, melting like snow into the rivers, providing sustenance and growth to the family you’ve become.”

Tears filled my eyes as the realization that through all of the heartache and sacrifice I’d suffered up to this point, I was finally getting everything I’d ever dreamed of and wanted.

My own family.

As I stared into Summer’s soulful eyes and held the hand of the little boy I loved, I knew it had all been worth it.

“Hold up your hands,” Ann instructed. “You too, grandson,” Ann winked at TJ.

Summer sniffed, tears falling down her cheeks as the three of us held out our left hands while holding onto TJs much smallerone. I could hear gentle whimpers from each of the ladies around the circle, maybe even from my soul brother Erik too. I glanced at him, and sure enough, he was wiping his eyes and smiling, joy clear in his expression.

Ann reached out and grabbed a long red ribbon that her husband Bernie held aloft. I had no idea where or when she’d accumulated these items, but I surmised that my clever bride had made a plan for the evening in advance.

Ann lovingly wrapped the three of our hands, binding them together.

“Both of you repeat after me,” she instructed.

We nodded, waiting for her to start.

“Heart bound to heart, and soul bound to soul, I am my own but also yours,” she stated.

We repeated it.

“Our union grows of kindness and caring, of trust well-deserved and love unerring.”

We spoke the phrase together, our words and cadence matching exactly.

“Heart bound to heart, and soul bound to soul, this love is a home of our own.” Her voice wavered, emotion coating every syllable.

We stared into one another’s eyes repeating every word, our voices harmonizing, caught in a moment of pure love.

“As your hands are joined, so are your lives forevermore.” Ann leaned forward and kissed the top of each of our hands. “I bless this union.”

Slowly she unbound our hands. “You are now husband and wife,” Ann put her hands to her chest and bowed. “Blessed be.”

Everyone cheered, and TJ jumped up and down.

“Wait!” I croaked, everyone coming down from their highs. “I’d like to add one more thing that’s important to me and my faith.”

“Anything,” Ann whispered.

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