Page 50 of Bride for Keeps

She surveyed the rest of the group. Jess and Lina were huddled together laughing about something. Her parents were together on a bench, talking to each other and laughing. They looked relaxed and happy, more so than she was used to seeing them. That was nice. A reassurance of sorts. Sometimes she hadn’t figured her parents loved each other very much, but she saw it clear as day now. Maybe they’d had their own problems, but had worked through them. Just as she and Carter had.

Sierra smiled at the thought and glanced over to where Dr. and Mrs. McArthur sat on two lawn chairs, somewhat removed from the group. They weren’t talking to each other. Instead they were looking around imperiously.

Sierra almost felt sorry for them, but then Carter turned around and his easy smile widened when his gaze met hers. After that, she didn’t think about anything or anyone else except the man who crossed to her.

She held him off as he approached. “Don’t you dare kiss me when my makeup is perfect.”

He leaned forward, though didn’t kiss her as she’d half feared, half hoped. Instead, he lowered his mouth to her ear. “Well, I’ll save messing it up for later, then.”

It sent a delightful shiver through her and then he was grinning down at her, which just made her feel soft, and happy. She’d noted that they both smiled a lot more lately. It wasn’t all joy and happiness, like she’d originally thought marriage should be, but it was a lot easier to be happy when you were talking than when you weren’t. It even managed to make the normal happy a little brighter.

“Ready?” he asked, excitement clear as day on his face.

She nodded as Carter slipped his arm around her waist, his excitement almost settling most of her nerves.

“Everyone? If I could have your attention here for a few moments.”

Slowly the small group of McArthurs and Shullers quieted and turned their attention to Carter.

“We want to thank you all for coming,” Carter said, his arm firm around her waist. She leaned into him, always so impressed at how good he was in front of a crowd. “I know we billed this as an anniversary party, but it’s a little bit more than that.”

The small group of their family murmured amongst themselves, and Sierra was glad they’d done it this way. Keeping to themselves over the past month, wanting to really build their foundation. But they were ready to start spending more time outside themselves, and especially make strides with both their families to build workable, respectful relationships.

“Sierra and I didn’t just want to celebrate the first year of our marriage, we wanted to recommit ourselves to it. Symbolically. In front of all of you, in our home. So, we’re going to have a short renewal of vows ceremony, and while we considered doing it just the two of us, we really wanted our families to be a part of it. Most of you know because you’re doing it yourselves, but marriage isn’t easy, and having a supportive family is so much of what got us through the past few months.”

“I would have been lost without my mom, Jess, Lina, and most especially Kaitlin,” Sierra said, feeling oddly teary. She’d never expected her thank you to make her cry, but it was hard to put into words how much it meant that she’d been able to turn to all four women and find the woman she wanted to be in the midst of it. “You four supported me, gave me amazing advice, and were just there when I needed it. It means the world to me.”

“And I have to do something I never thought I’d do, which is credit my younger brother’s advice and my little sister’s help with waking me up from a very insular, selfish space. Cole, Lina, thank you. I’d be lost without you.”

The people being thanked looked on, a wide variety of expressions, though they all registered some amount of shock and quite a bit of pride.

Carter cleared his throat. “So, if you’ll all find a seat.” He gestured for the officiant and Sierra and Carter moved to the place they’d practiced earlier. Carter took her hands as they faced each other, and the officiant began.

“Carter, Sierra, you’ve decided to renew your vows on this beautiful evening, not making new promises to each other, but repeating old ones with better knowledge of what they mean. In front of your families, friends, and God, do you recommit to each other, promise to love, cherish, communicate, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” Carter said, smiling and squeezing her hands.

“I do, too,” Sierra echoed, giving his hands a squeeze back. It was simple, but it was all she’d wanted. A little symbol for them to carry around in their hearts, and love surrounding them while they did it.

They turned back to the crowd who gave an enthusiastic round of applause with a few cheers and whistles.

Carter cleared his throat. “There’s just one more thing.”

Everyone paused in their moves to congratulate the happy couple.

“Since we’re celebrating love and futures, we want to announce…” Carter turned his gaze to her so she brought her hand to her stomach.

“We will be a family of three come November.”

“I knew it,” Mom yelled, delighted and making everyone else laugh. Then it was a throng, everyone coming up with hugs and congratulations. Mom cried all over her and even Dad seemed emotional. Jess and Lina chatted excitedly and hugged her a few million times.

When Dr. McArthur and Mrs. McArthur came up to them, Sierra braced herself for… Well, something unpleasant.

“Congratulations, Carter,” Dr. McArthur said holding out his hand.

Carter shook it. “Thank you. And congratulations to you too, Grandpa.”

Dr. McArthur looked almost taken aback for a second. He quickly recovered himself, but Sierra felt something close to warmth from the cold man for the first time. Maybe it was a sign of things to come.

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