Page 10 of Entwined

As she walks toward me, a vision incarnate of all I've ever needed or wanted, my eyes capture and hold hers, silently telling her of my undying love and admiration, while my mind travels back to the beginning of our journey… reminding me of how I, we, got to this exact moment.

'Hey. I'm Dane. Nice to meet you both.'

I'd said “both.” I was talking to Laney, and only Laney.

'Laney… Walker, nice to meet you, Dane.'

Right then, I knew, something big, different and undeniable was happening. That I better pay attention, because my every sense noticed and was drawn to her on a level the likes of which I'd never experienced. And I was sure I’d never experience again.

She'd dragged Bennett to the bathroom to insist she pull her shit together, yes, we could hear their every “whisper,” then emerged, and spoke directly to me, as if no one else existed, in my language.

'Soooo love this song.'

'Oh yeah, what's it called?' I'd asked.

'“End of All Time.”'

'Very nice.'

That was it. Mine. At any and all costs.

And now, she stands just inches from me, in wedding white — ready to willingly complete me, forever.

“Who gives this woman to be married?” the preacher asks.

“Her mother says she and I do, but you do anything wrong,” Jeff Walker shrinks me on the spot with a lethal glare of promise, “and I will take her back.”

“Of course,” I nod.

He lets out a defeated sigh and places her hand in mine.

I squeeze it and give her a wink. “Ready, baby?”

“More than,” she whispers, seizing my heart all over again.

I simply stare at her, taking in every nuance that makes her who she is, while the preacher drones about whatever the hell he's saying… until it's time for our vows. I'm up first, and wrote them in “Laney Talk” so she'll be sure to absorb their full, unfathomable gravity.

“Once upon a time, there was an ordinary guy, meandering through a mundane life, unaware that fairy tales could come true.” She's already crying, her penchant for such stories, and my penchant for her, tugging at her whimsical heart. “Until one day, a feisty, witty, funny, gorgeous princess with locks the color of the sun and eyes of coffee, the flavor of which she likes in ice cream and candy but not the actual drink,” she laughs mildly, “walked in the room, awakening every dormant feeling within this not so ordinary guy, rather a prince, finally called upon to fulfill his destiny — to love, and cherish this princess. To believe in magic. To rescue, and be rescued. She challenged him physically,” I groan, earning a small wave of laughter from our audience, “mentally, musically, and creatively. How to woo her, he asked himself. Make her see that she was his 'one.' Constantly coming up with new ways to surprise, delight and show her he’d stop at nothing to make her his. Which I plan to do forever, because… I’m addicted to that smile. Laney, you are the most beautiful, fascinating, mesmerizing woman in all the land, and I am, and will be, madly, endlessly in love with you for the rest of my life. My baby. My Disney. My Wife. I begin and end, with you.”

“Laney?” The minister prompts her.

Out of my periphery, I see Whitley do some awkward hand gestures — looks like Laney taught her how to signal a batter to bunt — and softly, our song, “Collide” by Howie Day begins to play.

“Michael Dane Kendrick, my Caveman, we definitely collided, with a forceful impact from which I haven't, nor do I ever wish to, recover. I thought Jerry Maguire was scattered and boring, but, you did, in fact, have me at hello.” The onlookers laugh again. “I didn't plan on you, and honestly, it took me a while to realize the depth of what I felt for you and what it meant. Our immediate, overwhelming connection was so powerful, I couldn't believe it was real, that such a love could actually exist. You bring out parts of me that only come alive foryou. And I love them, almost as much as I love you. I am yours, completely, and you are mine,” she growls with a coy grin, stealing my line, “forever.”

When the man with the Bible says I can kiss her — as if I need his permission — I do so like nobody's watching, especially her parents. And when I’ve tasted my fill, for now, we walk hand in hand back down the aisle as man and wife, “Collide” playing louder.

The second we make it out of the sanctuary, cathedral… whatever it's called, I scoop her up in my arms and speed my steps to double-time.

“Babe, what are you doing?” She giggles.

“Starting our wedding night.”

“Caveman, stop running and put me down.”

“Why?”

She laughs heartily now, head tossed back, squirming to get out of my arms. “First of all, it's the middle of the afternoon. Far from our wedding night. See that big, bright thing in the sky?” She points. “That's thesun, best known for appearing during the day. And, our Crew and family are waiting to do the procession, walk through their line of sparklers thing, then we have a reception. So again, put me down.”

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