Page 56 of Still The One

‘Like I’m caught in the joyous chaos of a downpour of swirling confetti, and I want to remember every single second of it.’

‘Wow,’ she says with a smile. ‘That was beautiful.’

It’s beautiful because I left out being only the slightest bit terrified that I’m making a huge mistake. I’m 99.99 per cent sure I love this man. But marriage is forever and that is a long,longtime to spend with a guy I’ve known thirty days.

Long deep breaths, Eve. This is real. You’re marrying Guy Foster – the sweetest, kindest, most dedicated, most handsome man you’ve ever met. Remember every moment.

I take the flowers from Rosie, holding them delicately in one hand and lifting them for a sniff only once, after remembering daisies smell a little like dirt – which is fitting considering my about-to-be-husband’s life.

‘You look beautiful,’ Foster says.

‘Stunning,’ Evangeline adds.

‘Thank you. I feel beautiful. And you were right, your handsome self really did wear the perfect shirt,’ I say to Foster, laughing at his tuxedo-print T-shirt that he insisted on wearing, even though he knew we were only coming in for a license today. He wanted to ‘dress the part’.

‘It’s completely kismet,’ he says, pretending to straighten his printed-on tie.

‘Are you ready?’ Judge Ashford asks, glancing at the two of us.

Foster grins widely at me, his hand reaching for mine. ‘More than ready.’

The judge clears his throat before reading out of a book in his hand. ‘Marriage is a shimmering vision, like a mirage in a desert. It’s a path that is seen clearly only by two people and appears to glow with the light of love, leading to an unknown yet exciting lifelong destination with your best friend.’

His voice is gentle yet powerful and I can tell this isn’t the first time he’s made this speech.

‘Over the years, my Evie and I have learned that love can be like trying to hold onto smoke, ethereal and elusive, constantlyshifting and changing, yet always present and powerful. It’s a dance between two souls, a language spoken without words, a feeling that consumes every fiber of your being. I can see exactly that when I watch the way you two look at each other.’

We glance at each other nervously. He can see all that?

Foster squeezes my hand reassuringly as the judge continues.

‘Marriage is not just a legal union, but a promise to stand together through all the storms and sunshine life may bring. It’s a commitment to love, respect, and support each other, no matter what challenges may arise – love should be enough.’

‘It will be,’ Foster says, his gaze so intent I feel it.

‘For sure,’ I agree.

‘Do you, Guy,’ he reads Foster’s name off our paperwork, ‘take the lovely Eve to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?’

Foster’s eyes never leave mine as he answers confidently, ‘I absolutely do.’

‘And Eve, do you take your handsome Guy here to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?’

Our witnesses giggle at his name pun as I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of his words. This is it, the moment that seals our fates together, forever intertwined – until death do us part.

‘I do,’ I say, looking into Foster’s warm gaze, feeling a sense of calm wash over me like the gentle waves on a serene beach.

‘By the power vested in me by the state of Oregon, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.’

Foster doesn’t waste a second, pulling me into his embrace and capturing my lips in a kiss that speaks of promises, passion, and a love that knows no bounds. The room fills with applause from our witnesses Rosie and Evie and we break apart, breathless and giddy with the weight of our new-found commitment.

The judge shakes Foster’s hand and then mine, congratulating us once again as we exchange smiles with our witnesses.

‘Let’s just get this paperwork signed,’ the judge says, handing us the pen one by one.

Once we’ve signed, Foster turns me toward him, his hands on my waist. ‘Well hello there, my beautiful wife,’ he whispers, his voice full of wonder and happiness.

‘Hi, my gorgeous husband,’ I reply softly, a smile breaking through my tears.

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