Page 78 of Sinful in Scrubs

MARCUS

“Okay, seriously, Dad. You’re getting married in a hospital?” Lily stood in her bridesmaid dress with her arms folded.

“If you didn’t know this was a hospital,” I said, gesturing to the atrium around us, “you would think it was a lovely location.”

“But the hospital, really?”

I didn’t see anything wrong with where we were, and I knew that Emma found the atrium to be a calm and soothing location. After all, that was one of the reasons she picked it.

“Yes, really,” I responded. “Where else would we have found such a lovely location on such short notice?”

She shrugged.

“I think it’s pretty,” Jason said as he stood patiently while I adjusted his tie.

“It is pretty,” I agreed.

“And when you get married,” I continued, speaking to Lily, “you can pick the location.”

“I still think the hospital is a weird place to get married.”

“That just means you won’t be getting married in one.”

She rolled her eyes in typical Lily fashion. “You should get going. It’s going to start soon.”

I shooed her out of the vestibule where Jason and I finished waiting before we walked down the aisle of folded chairs. It really was a beautiful location, and it was only obvious that we were in the hospital because we knew where we were. Otherwise, it looked like we were in a park on a lovely, cloudless day.

An arch made up of balloons and flowers indicated where the officiant would stand and Emma and I would exchange vows. I hadn’t felt this nervous in a very long time.

Emma’s friend Sarah walked down the aisle first. She was all smiles and clearly happy for the two of us to be getting married. Next down the aisle was Lily.

I was so pleased when Emma asked her to be the maid of honor. It was one of those things I could have only hoped for. Their relationship had continued to heal and bloom. It made my heart light with joy to see the two of them bond.

Getting ready for the day seemed to have taken forever, and my nerves that morning in anticipation made everything drag out. But the ceremony was over before I knew it. The head chaplain at Manhattan Memorial was telling me to kiss my bride before I realized the ceremony was over, and we were officially married.

“It doesn’t exactly seem real, does it?” Emma said as we greeted our guests one at a time.

Half of our friends were still in scrubs. One of the reasons we held it at the hospital was so that people who were important to us would at least be able to see the ceremony before they had to return to their shifts at work.

The reception was small. We really had only organized to have cake and a kind of fruit punch cocktail that made me think of old ladies and church picnics. Champagne was off the menu since many of our friends and guests were technically still on duty.

The hours went by in a flash, and the next thing I knew, Emma and I were alone in the honeymoon suite at the Four Seasons. I swept her into my arms and carried her through the door. She protested through giggles the entire time.

“Put me down! You’re gonna throw out your back!”

“My back is just fine,” I said as I set her down.

“How are you feeling?” I asked as I kicked the door closed behind us.

Her morning sickness had been pretty intense in the week leading up to the ceremony.

“I feel fine. No morning sickness.” She shook her head. “I’m pretty sure that was just nerves.”

“And now?” I asked.

“Nothing to be nervous about,” she said. “We’re married, and you’re not going to get rid of me that easily.”

“Why would I want to do that?” I said as I stepped in close and slid my hand around her hips. “I’ve got you exactly where I want you.”

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