Page 111 of Love and Other Trials
Was he thinking it was the best idea ever to simply get hitched with Jeffrey as their only two-legged witness?
The park was quiet as everyone took their places and photos were taken, Sherlock brightening up when the photographer called out, “Cheese.”
This was the other best thing—not a hint of the Deverell wedding curse hung in the air as the minister started the ceremony.
Then again, neither she nor Dax would have allowed that. Okay, Jeffrey too, since he’d volunteered to plan the wedding.
The Charleston hurricane center she was working at had even confirmed the weather was going to be terrific, a favor they’d granted without her asking just because they loved her and Sherlock so much. She understood. She was totally crazy about her co-workers too.
The great weather was supposed to continue for the rest of the day, which was terrific since she and Dax were hosting their first fish fry at their home in Folly Beach. She, Dax, and Davey had fished for hours to pull in enough fish for their shindig, wanting to make it special. Besides select co-workers, family would be coming—his and hers—but no one knew they were going to show up as husband and wife.
That was perfectly fine with them, although she knew her mother would probably have an opinion like usual, and the Three Tornadoes would undoubtedly make a fuss. Although Tiffany might not, since she and Ariel had found a new appreciation for each other. Last year’s wedding might have been a near disaster in some ways, but Tiffany was taking her second chance at both being a wife and mother seriously, along with her relationship with Ariel.
She’d even gone so far as to apologize to Dax, and when she had visited with Rob and the new baby girl they’d named Audrey, she’d made an extra effort to talk to him about his new job. Marshall, of course, had glared at them for nearly the whole visit since they’d busted him, although Rob had stepped in once or twice about it, but you couldn’t have everything.
Well, Ariel thought she could. With Dax.
Which was why they had both wanted to take this next step together.
When she’d visited her grandma’s grave before the ceremony a few days ago to finalize her vows and lay her favorite camellia blooms on the gravestone, she’d smiled and said softly in the sacred reverence owed to a graveyard, “You know, Grandma, love with Dax is actually all about love. No disasters so far. Knock on wood.”
But truthfully, she didn’t see any circling in the sky. Or pelicans looking for koi, thank God. Life was easy with him. They laughed a lot. They didn’t really fight. Dax said it was what he was used to.
Ariel thought it was a downright miracle.
She couldn’t help but enjoy the simplicity of the ceremony as she took Dax’s hands, her heart beating solidly in her chest. She got a little choked up hearing he was going to love, honor, and cherish her. Her whole being seemed to rise up off the ground as his green gaze found hers. When he took a fortifying breath, she smiled.
“Ariel,” he began in a deep, strong voice, “you know how much I love you. The minute I saw you, I wanted you. I loved being with you. Some people might think it happened too fast, but like I told you, you can get a pilot’s license and fly an airplane in forty hours. Why would love need to be more complicated than that?”
Emotion clogged her throat, and she tightened her grip on his hands, always wanting to remember how he looked right now. The light in his beautiful green eyes. The tenderness in his broad smile.
“Ariel, you make me happier than I’ve ever been. Sherlock too. And I was pretty happy before I met you. Yes, my family is great, and I know ours is going to be too. Because we love and respect each other. Because we treat each other as equals. And because we’re a team. You’re my eternal wing woman, and I’m yours. For the rest of our lives. Thank you for being in my life. Thank you for being you. I love you, and I’m so happy you’re going to be my wife, and we get to do this thing called life together.”
She smiled through tears and felt Sherlock nudge her side. They both put a hand on the dog, and she felt that click, knowing they were a family.
Then it was time for her to say her vows, the ones she’d agonized over before finally realizing it was all so simple.
She felt his strong, warm hands tighten around hers. “Dax, I love you so much. From the first day we met, we’ve never been apart really. We thought it might be smart to do the normal thing and live apart, but it just didn’t work. We missed each other too much. And I know why. I found home with you.”
His green eyes got a little misty then, and she couldn’t speak for a second. But she took a breath and found her voice. Because she could always tell him how she felt.
“I want you to know how happy you make me. How much I love laughing with you. And making important life decisions together. Because those are really easy too. I wake up every day with a smile on my face, and I know it’s always going to be like that. Oh, and thank God I love your family.”
He started laughing then, and so did Jeffrey. Only the minister seemed puzzled by that comment, which had her laughing for a second too.
“But most of all…” God, she was feeling the burn of tears start. “I want you to know how grateful I am to learn that love can be great and happy. Fun even. No disasters or tornadoes necessary.”
His mouth pursed then, and he tightened his grip on her. She sniffed, feeling her heart swell so big she was sure her chest couldn’t contain it.
“I promise to love you and make you laugh and listen to you. To support you. Every day of my life.” Wiping a stray tear from her eye, she lowered her voice. “I love you, Stephan.”
“Oh, Elizabeth, you slay me,” he whispered.
The minister leaned forward, his brow slamming together. “Who’s Elizabeth?”
They both tried not to laugh.
“No one.” Dax cleared his throat. “Please go on, Reverend.”
