Page 100 of Retribution

The officiant reaches into his pocket and brings out a handkerchief, which I kindly accept, dotting at my face.

I look back up at Reed, his eyes also lined with tears and the fullness I feel within me is incomparable to anything I’ve ever felt before.

I take a shaky breath and straighten myself up, regaining his hands in mine.

“I think we all know that I haven’t really had chance to prepare anything, and it’s certainly not going to top that,” I explain, gaining laughs from the room.

“But all I can do, is speak the truth from my heart. I will honor you, respect you, be faithful to you and love you with my entire being. I want to venture into life blindly with you, knowing that we will always have each other to fall back on. I promise to laugh with you, to hold you and to be by your side throughout our endeavors. I will promise to honor you as your wife and to devote my life to you and to Willow. Every day I want to wake up with you both by my side and I want to return to sleep every night with a smile on my face knowing that I chose this life. Willow, I may not be your mother by blood, but I promise to love you and care for you as a mother would. Reed, I promise to be your best friend, your strength and your wife, until death do us part.” I finish, nervous if I managed it okay despite the lack of preparation.

The audience applauses whilst I peer back up at Reed, his jaw tensed whilst his eyes line with water. He’s trying to stop himself from crying and something about it makes me feel fuzzy inside. Knowing that I’ve managed to draw such a raw emotion from him, with his indifference with his own feelings makes me feel like I’ve succeeded with my vows.

“You shall wear these rings as a reminder of the vows that you have just taken.” The officiant gestures to Reed.

Reed picks up the smaller ring of the two, sliding it up my ring finger to meet my engagement ring.

I make a mental note to swap around the order they present on my fingers later.

My hand shakes as I pick up his ring, and grasp his hand to try and steady my own. It’s only then that I notice the obvious existing indent on his wedding ring finger, a reminder that a wedding ring sat there only weeks before. A wedding ring that was a reminder of his vows, to another woman.

I gulp and slide the ring further up, feeling nervous as if this is some sort of fever dream.

“I have the pleasure of pronouncing you as husband and wife! You may now kiss your bride!” The officiant announces.

Reed reaches forward and cups my face in his hands, as our lips meet the explosions spread across my skin, forming goosebumps at the physical reminder of our love and connection between each other. He wraps one hand around the back of my head and one at my waist as he leans me backwards, causing my leg with the slit in to rise in the air as I grasp onto him by wrapping my arms around his neck.

Everyone cheers and applauds as we pull away, still leaned over one another. He stares into my eyes passionately as I lick my lips, my breath fanning across his lips.

I am completely breathless and hopelessly in love with Reed Breckenridge.

* * *

It’s been several hours of celebrations in The Peachtree Club and it’s just about ending.

I found out who the mystery woman was, it was Reed’s sister Charlotte who I’ve finally had the honor to meet. She is quite literally stunning, her hair is a mousy brown and she has the same striking blue eyes as Reed. Turns out their entire family followed the law pathway after their father, who is clearly absent from the affair.

It’s quite ironic that both of us have a parent that we resent and avoid at all costs, and then a parent who died whilst we were young.

Either way, this full wedding has been parent-less.

There is a small table with a few gifts and sealed envelopes on that I can’t wait to tear into once we’re home. One of my favorite things about weddings is seeing what you receive in gifts, it can be as normal as a ‘Mr & Mrs’ mug set, or it can be as wild as a ‘Mold-a-dick’ set. Either way, I’d be happy.

Surprisingly, Britney offered to have Willow stay overnight which we were hesitant about at first considering it’s the day before the preliminary hearing, but she insisted that we get to spend the first night together as newlyweds alone.

Reed seized the opportunity and booked a chartered a flight in his firm’s jet directly to Cancun. He showed me a few images of our villa, the private pool and the ocean view and I was practically skipping out of the venue. We’ve bid our goodbyes to everyone, and we’ve made a quick pit stop at home to pack an overnight bag.

We’ve been on the flight for almost two hours now, I insisted on bringing the wedding gifts along our very brief honeymoon as I wanted to try and experience what it feels like to be a bride for as long as possible. Reed sits across from me with one of his legs crossed across his knee, his suit still crisp and clean. Whereas, my dress looks like it could do with an iron and it has a small champagne stain on the right leg.

“I’m going to open the presents.” I say excitedly as I get up from my seat and sit back down three seats away, among the gifts.

I start with the envelopes and there is many cards addressed to us both, sending their congratulations and best wishes.

I pick up the last envelope and notice it’s not addressed to the both of us, just me. I open it and immediately notice it’s completely different to the others.

The front of it says,

‘With Deepest Sympathy’.

I frown and open the card, a cursive handwriting fills the inside.

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