Alethea's Redemption(92)
The minister started the ceremony with the usual formality. “We are gathered here today to celebrate the union —”
Lil burst out, “I do.”
A chuckle echoed through the church. The minister said, “We’re not at that part yet.”
Flushing a deep red, Lil said hastily, “I didn’t mean to say that out loud. Just keep going. I guess I’m nervous.” She looked across at Jake apologetically. “And now I’m babbling.”
“I do, too,” Jake said with quiet dignity, as if it were perfectly appropriate. Then he winked down at his bride.
Lil’s eyes filled with happy tears. “You do?” she asked.
Jake nodded solemnly and held out a hand to her. “Today. Tomorrow. Forever. I promise you, Colby, and the family we’ll make together that I will be there for you. Always.”
The minister closed his book in resignation and waited.
With a huge smile, Lil took Jake’s hand. “I promise you the same. Today. Tomorrow. Forever. I will be there for you—always.”
Rolling with the impromptu change in script, the minister asked, “Do you have the rings?”
Jake slid Lil’s on. Lil slid Jake’s on. She burst into happy tears and he pulled her to him for a deep kiss.
The minister coughed. “Okay, it looks like we’re kissing the bride now. With the power invested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He cleared his throat loudly again. “What God has brought together today, let no one separate.” As their kiss continued, the minister smacked Jake on the shoulder lightly with his Bible. “A little separation is necessary sometimes.”
With a laugh, Jake and Lil ended their kiss and turned to the people gathered.
The minister said, “I now present, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Walton.”
Lil held out her hand to Colby, who was straining to leave Abby. She came running across the altar to them. Jake gathered up his adopted daughter and held her with one hand as he took Lil’s hand in his other and they walked down the aisle together.
Dominic held out an arm to Abby. She took it and, even as she smiled, said, “Don’t think we didn’t hear you guys laughing. You’re wearing microphones, you know.”
With a half smile, Dominic threw his friend under the bus. “Richard started it. He said you ladies are plotting something.”
Abby smiled. “We are.”
“Should I worry?”
“Maddy, Lil, Alethea, and I have a bet going. First one to marry off an Andrade cousin wins.”
“Good luck with that,” Dominic said. “Victor says those boys have had a rough time.”
Abby said smugly, “I don’t need luck. I have Marie.”
“You included Alethea in on this?” Dominic whistled softly. “You’d better hope that Stephan’s family doesn’t have any skeletons in their closet.”
Abby covered her mouth with a worried hand. “I never thought of that.”
Dominic shrugged, bent, and kissed his wife’s cheek. “What’s the worst thing she could find?”
The End