Page 170 of Unspoken Words
He chuckled, quietly. “Want me to find some sour cream?”
Our celebrant stepped forward. “Good morning, everybody. Welcome. Please take a seat.”
I directed my attention to him, a tall man with one of those moustaches you could use to steer a motorbike. It really was impressive. I had the sudden urge to reach out and touch it, instead gripping my bouquet of pastel roses a little tighter and pressing my lips together—he reminded me of Tom Selleck crossed with the Monopoly man.
“Connor and Eloise are so glad to have you here on this beautiful summer day, to celebrate the love and devotion they share with one another and to witness their unity in marriage.”
And if they pass go, they will receive two hundred dollars.
I giggled to myself, which caught Connor’s and the celebrant’s attention.
“I’m sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t get out much.”
Our friends and family laughed, and it eased my nerves.
“Please continue.” I ran my pinched fingers across my mouth. “My lips are now sealed.”
Connor performed the same action, except backwards, unsealing them before kissing his fingertips and pressing them to my lips. I smiled, my cheeks warming at the love he so boldly showed me. Love without words.
“Very well,” the celebrant said, clearing his throat. “Love is a winding path best travelled with a person who will hold your hand at every turn. Love is discovery. It is courage and, at times, it is often pain. Love can strip you to your core and leave you euphoric, fragile, or perhaps defenceless and afraid. It is a leap we take blindly or with open eyes. And it is the everlasting bond we seek to share with a soul mate who will protect it as madly and as deeply as only two soul mates can.
“Today, in front of you: their families and friends, Connor and Eloise wish to nurture and strengthen their love with the sanctity of marriage. They believe that, in doing so, they not only promise to love today but also to love tomorrow, the next day, always and for ever after.”
Releasing my hand from Connor’s, I wiped a tear descending my cheek. He, too, collected a tear with his finger and then took my hand in his and kissed my wrist.
Unable to wait a second longer, I broke the rules and caressed his jaw, gently guiding his face to mine and kissing him softly, my eyes closed, the world closed. In that moment, it was just the two of us. No family, no friends. No hospital, no illness. Just Connor and I, his body and mine. Our precious baby between us.
“As you can see, true love cannot be harnessed. But it can be guided just as it guides.”
We pulled apart but did not look away from each other, not even for a second.
“Do you, Connor Bourke, take Eloise Mitchell to be your beloved spouse, knowing in your heart that you will be a faithful friend and give your sacred vow that you will always be with her and support her in times of sickness and health, and in times of joy and sorrow? Do you promise to love her completely, to console and comfort her, to laugh and to grieve with her? Do you promise to share her life’s simplest pleasures, to be truthful and honest, and to cherish her for as long as you both shall live?”
Connor nodded. “I do.”
“Do you, Eloise Mitchell, take Connor Bourke to be your beloved spouse, knowing in your heart that you will be a faithful friend and give your sacred vow that you will always be with him and support him in times of sickness and health, and in times of joy and sorrow? Do you promise to love him completely, to console and comfort him, to laugh and to grieve with him? Do you promise to share his life’s simplest pleasures, to be truthful and honest, and to cherish him for as long as you both shall live?”
“And after then,” I said, nodding as well. “I do. Always.”
The celebrant turned to Chris. “May I have the rings?”
“That’s us, buddy,” Chris said to Max as he picked him up and sat him on his hip.
Max waved to Connor then to me. “Hi, Dad. Hi, Ellie Head.”
We both laughed and gave him a high-five before Chris pulled our wedding rings out of his pocket and placed them in Max’s hand. “Now, give those to the man,” he directed.
“Why?”
Chris paused, one brow high, one brow low. “Because we have to,” he murmured.
“Why?”
“Because Daddy and Ellie can’t get married without them.”
“Why?”
Again, the garden erupted into laughter, apart from Chris who looked about ready to handball his soon-to-be step-nephew to his grandparents.
