Page 20 of The Marriage Mission

"You sure about this, man?" Fish asked as he tugged at his collar, eying the cross on the wall.

Fish had left the church years ago. That exodus had happened in the theater of war. Some service members clung to their faith after picking up arms. Others turned away from it after seeing the worst of humanity.

The minister, an elderly man with a keen, observant gaze, slid his attention over to Noah, waiting for the answer alongside Noah's only friend in the space. It wasn't the first once-over the man of the cloth had given to Noah.

It was as though the minister could sense the lie that Noah was telling. Actually, no. Not the lie. It was as though the minister could sense the truth Noah wasn't telling: that this marriage was going to be real for him despite the temporary stamp his fake fiancée was planning.

Noah shot Fish a glare that could have frozen the ocean, his expression enough to quiet any further commentary from his friend. Then Noah turned to the minister, his smile broadening. "I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life."

No truer words had ever been spoken. The minister's nod felt like a blessing, a benediction. Even though this wasn't a Catholic church. Even though Noah hadn't been inside of a church… likely since his baptism.

Didn't matter. Both he and the man of God knew he spoke the truth.

He did want this—more than he had ever wanted anything. He wanted to marry Jacqui, to be there to hold her hand through every challenge, to have the right to stand by her side not just today, but every day after.

He wanted to fight with her and see that spark. Then he wanted to taste the fire inside of her. It would be such a good burn.

"It's been two weeks," Fish continued, oblivious to the miracle happening within his friend. "I didn't even think you liked her. No one likes her."

Noah shot Fish a backhand against his chest. "That's my wife you're talking about."

Fish coughed and rubbed at his chest. "Are you sure she's not blackmailing you?"

Noah forced a laugh for the minister's benefit. "Do you think she could make a big man like me do what she wanted?"

Fish didn't even hesitate. "Yes."

Noah considered that, then canted his head. Yeah, it was accurate. His Jacqui could make him do just about anything with a curl of her lip.

His Jacqui. He liked the sound of it. Pretty soon, he'd have the right to say it out loud.

The doors at the back of the church opened, and there she was. Jacqui stood framed in the doorway, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun, looking so breathtakingly beautiful that Noah almost swallowed his tongue from want. Her dress was simple yet elegant, accentuating her figure gracefully, her hair adorned with flowers that seemed to have been picked just for this moment.

For a split second, everything else faded—the guests, the church, even the minister. There was only Jacqui, her presence pulling him like a tide. Noah felt a powerful urge to close the distance between them, to start their future together with a sprint rather than a walk. He almost stepped forward, nearly forgetting the protocol of the moment.

Out of the corner of his eye, Noah noticed the minister's stern expression soften into a smile of approval, his eyes twinkling with amusement. It was clear to anyone watching that here stood a man hopelessly, irrevocably in love. The only person who didn't see it, who couldn't see it, was the bride-to-be.

Jacqui walked down the aisle toward him, each step measured and stiff. She looked like a wild animal that would spook if touched the wrong way. Noah kept his hands behind his back. The sound of the organ swelled in a beautiful crescendo, echoing the racing of his heartbeat.

When she finally reached him, Noah unclenched his hands and held out his open palm. There was a moment where he wasn't sure if she'd take it.

She looked at his offering. Her jaw ticked. Her chest rose and fell with a deep intake of breath. And then, finally, she laid her fingertips in the palm of his hand.

Noah felt a surge of completeness, a sense that everything that had led him to this point—every decision, every doubt, every turn in his road—had been right.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses to join Noah and Jacqui in matrimony."

Noah's hands were clasped with Jacqui's, his palms slightly sweaty as he squeezed her fingers reassuringly. He felt the steady thrum of his heart, a rhythm that echoed through the very foundations of the church.

"Noah, do you take Jacqui to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," he declared, each of the two words resonating like a solemn oath sworn rather than a mere vow given. It felt as though with each syllable, he was binding his life to hers, committing to a shared future filled with unknowns yet anchored by this moment of unity.

As the minister turned to Jacqui, Noah watched her, his eyes locked on hers, searching for a sign of genuine emotion. "And do you, Jacqui, take Noah to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

Jacqui's response was clear and confident, her voice carrying through the church. Her eyes held his, and in them, he saw not just the brilliant businesswoman he respected but a woman who might indeed come to love him, as he was already sure he loved her.

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