Page 171 of Unspoken Words
“Because they are magical rings of love,” I explained.
“Cool! Do dey shoot lasers or fire?” He pointed them at our guests and made action sound effects with his lips and mouth as he pretended to fire the rings while bouncing in Chris’s arms.
“NO!” Connor exclaimed, taking them from Max and handing them to the celebrant. He then grabbed Max’s chubby cheeks and kissed his forehead. “They don’t shoot anything.”
Max crossed his arms over his chest. “Dey are stoopid.”
Chris stepped back to the side of the garden. “Come here, you little wiggle worm.”
“I not a worm. I Iron Man.”
“Okay, yes, you’re Iron Man.”
“And you the Hulk.”
“Shush.”
“Okay.”
Biting my lip, I couldn’t help but giggle again, especially because Connor’s eyes were closed and he appeared to be counting.
“Ellie and Connor have chosen to write their own vows—”
“We have?” I exclaimed. “That’s news to me.”
Connor burst into laughter. “Yeah, sorry ‘bout that.”
I gave him a friendly nudge. “It’s okay. You’re forgiven. I’m sure I can whip something up.”
The celebrant continued where he’d left off. “Connor, and now Ellie,” he said, gesturing to me, “have chosen to say their own vows and give each other these rings, a symbol of their unbroken circle of love.”
“Heart,” I stated, interrupting him again. “Sorry. But we’re an unbroken heart not a circle.”
“An unbroken heart it is.” He handed Connor my ring and nodded for him to start.
“Ellie McWife Head.” Connor slid the ring onto my finger, and I burst into laughter. “The very day I met you by the river, a piece of my soul broke free and attached itself to you. Of course, I didn’t know it at the time. All I knew was that the colourful goddess of giant hair bows and emerald eyes did exist, and she was loud, proud, and could somehow speak for me when I couldn’t. Ever since that day, you’ve radiated warmth when I was cold, projected joy and happiness when I was sad and angry, and when you weren’t near, I felt incomplete and utterly lost.” He lifted my hand and pressed it to his heart then placed his hand over my heart. “We’ve hurt. We’ve cried. We’ve said our goodbyes. We’ve set each other free only to fight our way back, because that’s where we belong, together, for ever … after.”
I nodded, tears streaming down my face.
“Ellie, you’re my world, you’re my soul. And together with Max and Christina,” he said, dropping his hand to caress my tummy. “You’re all I know and want. We both know the road ahead is rocky and steep, but if you’ve taught me anything it’s to travel it regardless, to enjoy and appreciate each step because each step is a gift. So that’s what we’ll do, baby. We’ll take each step together, one at a time. We’ll face anything and everything before us, and we’ll do it together.”
Nodding like a crying car dashboard bobblehead, I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tight, terrified for what lay ahead, for the uncertainty of not knowing when or how. I’d been bottling up that fear because I needed to be strong for Connor, for my family, and for our unborn baby. I needed to pretend to be strong for me, because I didn’t know what else to do. But fear feeds off loneliness, and to fight it alone only amplifies its strength. I wasn’t alone. I never had been, and I never would be.
“Connor McHusband Head,” I said, releasing him and stepping back. I took his ring from the celebrant and slid it onto his finger. “That day by the river when I first heard your voice, you spoke to me on a level I didn’t know existed. All I knew was that there was a boy whose smile lit me up from the inside out, whose words were unspoken and, yet, I could hear them. I could feel them. I shared them.
“Connor, you’re everything I’ve ever wanted and needed. You’re the air I breathe, the tears I cry, the words I write. You’re the reason I smile every day, and soon, very soon, you’ll give me the greatest gift I’ll ever know—our daughter.”
I reached up and cupped his tear-streaked face. “For most of my life, you’ve been one half of who I am. You’ve laughed when I’ve laughed, cried when I’ve cried, and hurt when I’ve hurt. You’ve taught me that no matter what happens in life, we can find a way to love and move on, a way that only we know how and, because of that, I know that with whatever lies ahead, we’ll be okay, because we have each other, for ever … after.”
“Connor and Ellie have shown to you all the love they have for one another. They have pledged to be what the other needs in good times and in bad times, and I have faith in going forward that they will hold true to the commitment they have made today. So, by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Connor bent forward and cupped my face in his hands, his glossy grey eyes twinkling like stars as he pressed his lips to mine, so soft and sensual. I sunk into his kiss, my world fading, my knees buckling just as he slid his arm behind them and gently lifted me into his arms.
“I’ve got you, Mrs Bourke.”
And he did. Then, now, always.
Chapter Forty-Three
