Page 117 of Brighter Shades of Light
Music began to play from inside, the orchestra composed of cellos, violins, and a piano. Lucy and I took our places behind Tristen, who would be walking before me. Anthony, Patrick, Tyler, and Kyle were in front of him. I moved to try to see Cody but couldn’t.
“Breathe,” Tristen said with a grin, turning to look at me. He wore his uniform, like all the other Marines in the wedding party.
“I’m trying.”
Cody walked on his cue, but I couldn’t see him through all the people in the chapel. Anthony went next, and then the others. Tristen went after them, a cocky smile in place. I didn’t see Blake anywhere.
Then, it was my turn.
I had never been one to show much emotion, but when I entered the main part of the chapel and saw Cody standing at the end of the aisle, my vision blurred with unshed tears. Wearing his dress blues, he stood with his hands joined in front of him and his back straight. My eyes didn’t leave him as I walked down the aisle.
His eyes didn’t leave mine, either.
When I reached him, Lucy kissed me on the cheek and went to stand to my right. Cody held out his hand to me, his smile bright.
I placed my hand in his, choosing him today. Choosing him always. My heart was in my throat as I stepped forward and faced him. The chaplain began the service, giving a short but beautiful speech.
“Falling in love is easy,” the chaplain said, “Staying in love is harder. Love is much more than romantic gestures and kisses under the stars. Love is coming home after a long day at work and meeting each other in the doorway for a kiss. Love is holding each other while watching too much TV. Above all, love is love; regardless of age, gender, or race. And today, we celebrate the love between Second Lieutenant Cody Miller of theSecond Combat Engineering Battalion,Second Marines and Doctor Sebastian Vale as they journey into the next stage of their lives.”
We took turns saying our vows, and when Cody teared up during his, it caused me to, as well. His hands shook as he slipped the ring on my finger, or maybe it wasmyhands that shook. I then said my vows and put the ring on his, our misty gazes locked.
“I now pronounce you partners for life.”
Cody slid his arm around my waist and kissed me. People around us cheered, and men hollered when Cody dipped me a little and deepened the kiss. I held onto him tighter before breaking the kiss with a laugh.
We held hands as we walked back down the aisle together, smiling and nodding to our friends and guests. As we departed the chapel, honor guards in their uniforms held swords in the air and created an arch with them in front of us.
“The Arch of Sabers,” Cody whispered in my ear. Delight filled his tone and reflected in his eyes.
It was military tradition for the newly-married couple to walk under the arch and complete the symbolic passage into their marriage; a custom to welcome the new spouse into the military family. I was honored to be a part of it.
We kissed before walking under the swords. People from the chapel came out to watch, cheering for us. My face hurt from how much I was smiling. As we reached the last two members of the guard in line, they lowered the swords and blocked our path. Then, one of them swatted me on the backside. I jolted, not expecting it. Usually, that was tradition for the brides; I didn’t know they would do it for us, as well.
The sword bearer who swatted me exclaimed, “Welcome to the United States Marine Corps!”
There was an echo of, “Ooh-rah!”
Cody’s smile mirrored mine as he tugged me toward him and claimed my lips again.
Cheers and people talking surrounded us, but it was as though everything became muted. I looked at Cody, admiring the freckle above his lip that I had first noticed when he was still just a student in my class.
It seemed like a different lifetime when Cody barged into the professors’ lounge, beatboxing to the sound of the printer…when I first saw him in his service uniform in class…when I first kissed him in my office…and when we said our first goodbye.
And now he’s my husband.
“Now we get to party,” Cody said, still holding my waist. “To the reception we go.”
“You’re just excited about the cake.”
His dimple flashed as his brow arched. “You caught me.”
The reception was held at Marston Pavilion, and the view was spectacular. Overlooking a part of the New River, the location was picture perfect. Cody and I took our wedding photos on the white dock, some of them with just us and others with our wedding party. Then we went inside to cut the cake.
Another military tradition was to cut the cake with a sword. I held the sword, and Cody placed his right hand over mine, and together we cut the first slice. Pictures were taken, flashes coming from everywhere. Cody, the goofball, dabbed frosting on my nose before licking it off. There were so many laughs. Some even came from me. After the cake cutting, we were finally allowed to mingle with the guests.
“Congrats, Package Daddy,” Patrick said, shaking my hand.
Kyle and Tyler hugged me at the same time with me between them, not as formal as Patrick.
