Page 23 of A Winter's Wedding

“That’s how it’s gonna be?” America said and crossed her arms for effect. “Okay, Leopold. I’ll play along.” She had no other choice it seemed. America watched as the high-rise buildings went from looking small through the fogged windows, to looming large overhead. In the skyscrapers’ little square windows, lights flicked on as people were beginning their days. At one red light, a dump truck with flashing yellow lights on top of the cab sprayed out a deicer all over the roadway as it went by on the cross street. A man, bundled in an orange puffy coat and black and white striped scarf wrapped around his neck and face, rode a scooter past them on the sidewalk.

Once the traffic light turned green, Leo made a right, and America’s eyes widened as she took in the scale of the Gateway Arch towering over the waking city. “It’s so pretty.” Lights shone skyward from the ground and illuminated the arch’s outer silver skin. The gleaming surface stood out against the darker backdrop of dawn.

Leo parallel parked on the street and gathered a brown paper grocery bag from the back seat, filled with something she was dying to know about. “Come on,” he said and led the way to a grassy knoll directly under the arch. From the bag, he pulled out the gifted blanket and laid it on the frost-covered ground. “This is what I was up to.” Leo handed her a small cardboard box and a cup of something steamy and hot.

She lifted the box lid, and the scent of warm sugar and sweet jelly flooded her senses. “I love this surprise,” America said and wasted no time in tearing off a piece of pastry.

Leo took the other half of America’s donut. “I was thinking about what we talked about at dinner last night, and I think that accidentally getting married and road tripping for our honeymoon is just adding stress to a time that should be easier. I know you see it like we aren’t even married yet. No official documentation seems to want to change your mind, but my heart knows.” He placed a warm hand on her knee and his eyes were wide with affection. “You are my wife, and I promise you right now, before God as my witness, that I will love you until my last breath. America, I’m nothing without you.” Leo took a sip of coffee.

She processed his words, which sounded a lot like vows, and guilt twisted in her gut that he even felt like he had to convince her in some way. The truth had been there since Saturday and there was nothing standing in her way but an expectation that she had placed too much importance on.

“Leo, I promise to love you every day of my life. I know we’ll have hard times and good times, but I also know this world is better with you by my side. There’s no one else I want to do hard things with than you. You are my everything, and I pledge to you my heart, my fidelity, and my devotion to our enduring love.”

Leo wet his lips and his breath filled the space between them. She leaned in and kissed him on the mouth. Her lips warmed under his touch, and she pressed her tongue against his. Sparks traveled down the side of her neck and stirred the butterflies in her belly, replacing the guilt that had been present a moment earlier. Tears gathered in her waterline at the new, deeper connection she felt.

There was so much honesty in their words to one another and even more in the kiss they shared. As the kiss ebbed, she cracked an eyelid open to find Leo’s eye open too. He was looking to the side at something behind her and broke away licking her taste off his lips.

“This is what I was up to. Look.”

Over her shoulder, an orange orb broke the line of the horizon to the southeast. Through the fog, the sun glowed and spread wide across her field of vision. She had seen sunrises before, but not like this one. The ripples on the surface of the Mississippi River glimmered in the brightening dawn like little heartbeats that matched the pulse of the awakening city.

Being coaxed out of bed before she was ready hadn’t been the best way to start the day but seeing as how it had still been dark out at the time, the actual morning couldn’t have been going any better. Saying their vows to each other under a giant arch was more of a wedding than one contrived of and carried out for the pleasure of others. This private moment would always be theirs to have and to hold.

Leo brushed a bit of hair behind her ear. “I know this hasn’t been how you imagined your wedding or honeymoon going, but I want this sunrise to be a fresh beginning for us.”

“I thought I needed the big ceremony and clinking champagne glasses to feel like our marriage is official, but I see now that I don’t need any of that. All of the planning and stressing over every single detail wasn’t for us at all. It was all for them. For our friends and family. I think all I needed was to properly commit myself to you out loud. No matter where that happened.”

“Does this mean…?”

She rubbed the tip of her nose up and down against his in a way to confirm his question. Biting her lips between her teeth, she was unable to stop her cheeks from nearly bursting with joy. “I’m so happy to be your wife. Thank you for bringing me here this morning, and I’m sorry it took so long for me to finally feel it.”

“It’s ok. To me, it’s not about the day, it’s about the life we’re building together. I’ve felt like you were mine since the first day I met you standing alone on the dock. I startled you and when you saw me, you weren’t scared, you were irritated. I knew from then on that I had to be with this fearless beautiful woman. I’m honored that you chose me.”

“I’ll choose you every day,” she said and touched her lips to his. “As nice as this breakfast is, I’d like to get back on the road now.”

Chapter14

Carol winced every time the slushy snow sprayed up the sides of Edwin’s blue pickup truck leaving the windows covered with grimy, wet spots. Driving in bad weather had never been something she liked to do, usually opting to just stay indoors. Today, she had no other option. With America still not back in town, it was up to her to come through for the bride. She was just glad Edwin had offered to give her a ride to meet Thandie at the floral warehouse. One more splash through a pothole at the parking lot entrance later, Edwin pulled right up to the curb at the front of the large building.

“You need me to pick you up in a little while? I don’t mind,” he offered, while sporting a grin.

She felt bad having to let the man down. “Thandie is bringing me back, but I appreciate you looking out for me,” Carol said and put her hand on the door handle. “You be careful heading back in this weather.”

“You be careful too.” Edwin got out of the truck and came around to Carol’s side. He opened the door like a gentleman and helped her alight from the truck. “These roads are gonna be a mess before too long. So, if you need me to come back, just call me. Or text.”

“You know how to text?”

“Turns out youcanteach an old soldier new tricks. And with the new cell tower,” he pointed to the top of the bluff where one had recently been installed, “we actually get pretty good service around here now.”

Carol flicked a snowflake off of Edwin’s brow as he steadied her using his hand to support her elbow longer than was necessary. “See you later.”

No sooner had Edwin left the parking lot than Thandie ran out to greet her. “Come inside and get out of this weather,” Thandie said and helped Carol take easy steps across the slick ground. “I thought I saw Pa’s truck out here. You told him I was bringing you home, right?”

Carol nodded as they made their way inside. She unfurled the knit scarf from around her neck but left her gloves on, as it was nearly as cold inside the warehouse as it was outside in the building winter storm. Having never been to a place like this one before, she hadn’t known what to wear, but it turned out to be immaterial in this case. Her heavy sweater would be just fine.

She supposed most people were like her and had never been to a floral supplier before. The warehouse was meant for businesses such as flower shops, and professional decorators to buy their items at wholesale prices. She was neither of those things, but The Foundry had an account there which allowed for this special occasion.

Since Thandie came on as director at the resort, she used her background as a botanist to bring an elegant flair to the weekly floral arrangements. Every cabin had a unique theme and the retreat itself offered a rotation of themes each week from art to wellness, and writing. Thandie was a magician at using the florals to convey the desired mood for the given week and was a true artist.

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