Page 103 of A Seed Of Peril

My hold on Bianca tightened as we reached the stone steps. We unlinked arms so she could help me lift my dress, and as I took my first step, it was as if Dominic secretly read my mind. He stepped forward and extended his hand. I happily slipped my clammy one inside of his. Bianca moved out of the way after we reached the top, helping another staff member tend to my veil and train.

“Who will be giving you away today?” our officiate, Janet, kindly asked me. Bianca lifted my veil, then clasped my hand back in hers.

“I will,” she lovingly declared, and then, we kissed each other’s cheeks. She lowered my veil and then took a thankfully calm Vincenzo out of my arm as Dominic and I took our positions in front of Janet, holding hands, face to face.

“Bellissima,” he greeted.

That feeling of safety and security enshrouded itself around me the longer I stood in front of my husband. Our officiate addressed the audience, but all I focused on was the father of our children. My hero and best friend. His tender, inviting smile. His cool hands.

There was nothing in the world we wanted more than right here, right now.

“Who will be handing over the rings?” Janet asked. Her question pulled me out of the tunnel vision I had trapped myself into.

Dominic and I let go of each other’s hands as I watched Dino take both rings from inside his breast pocket. He handed them to Janet, stepping back into place behind his brother. He gave a thumbs up, showing off a playful smile.

All of us shared a collective laugh.

Janet handed Dominic my ring.

“Dominic, do you take Lilith to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” Dominic declared with pride.

“Please go ahead and slip Lilith’s ring on her finger.”

He lifted my hand like it was a fragile piece of glass, sliding my ring onto my finger with ease. Like my engagement ring, it had a silver band, but instead of just having one diamond, it was set with four smaller diamonds.

Dominic kissed my knuckles, releasing me as Janet handed me his ring.

“Lilith, do you take Dominic to be your wedded husband, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him, as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” I declared, smiling.

As I slid the simple, gold band around his finger with an engraving of “To my King” on its underside, I gained enough courage to add a little something extra, keeping a firm hold of his hand.

“With this ring, I give you my heart. You’ll never walk alone.”

“I love you,” he simply whispered, reclaiming both my hands in his.

“I understand you both have written your own vows to add?” Janet asked. We both nodded, gazing into each other’s eyes. “Who would like to go first?”

“I will,” Dominic volunteered.

“Thank you,” I mouthed.

He cleared his throat.

“My love, having to put into words how much I love you, how much I’m dedicated to you… It’s impossible… But I’ll try. These past years have been a whirlwind. But the ride was easier to take with you at my side. We’ve seen and done things which one cannot fathom. We’ve been tested more times than I care to count. But I feel it has made us stronger than ever before. You’ve dealt with me at my best and certainly at my worst. You’ve proven time and time again how incredible you are. How dedicated and true you are. Just look at our son.”

I briefly flitted my eyes to his chest, smiling, and then found his eyes again.

“You’re a hell of a mother and more than I could ever ask for in a partner. As I look back, I feel everything that has transpired in my life has led me directly to you. My choices, my heartbreaks, my many regrets. Everything. And whenever you’re around me, my past seems worth it. Because if I chose to do one thing differently, I never would’ve met you. And I never would’ve understood the meaning of the word happy.”

Tears reached my eyes.

“Lilith, I can’t promise that dark clouds will never hover over our lives. I can’t promise you that tomorrow will be perfect and that this life will be easy. But what I can promise you is to forever love and cherish you. I promise my everlasting devotion and loyalty for a lifetime. I promise that I will always be here for you, to listen and to hold your hand, and to always do my best to make you happy. I’ll see and guide you through any crisis, pray with you, dream with you, build with you, and always cheer you on and encourage you. I promise that I’ll willingly be your protector, your advisor, counselor, your friend, your family. Your everything. I promise and solemnly vow to protect my family however necessary and to make sure all of you never want for anything. I’ll stand by you through the bad, the good, the sick… Whatever it is you need me to stand at your side for. God damn it, Lilith, I love you, and I promise you.”

“Wow.” I stumbled with my words, wiping away my tears. “How do I top that?” Everyone laughed. “Forgive me… I’m not great at public speaking.”

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