Page 4 of His Bride

“Okay.”

Sasha leans in and lowers her voice. “So…I talked to Lachlan about the Tatesituation.”

I give her a look of what I’m sure is awhat are you doing?kind of alarm. “What Tatesituation?”

“Thebreakfast.”

Jeez. I roll my eyes. “I thought we agreed you were going to thank him for that perfectly lovelygesture.”

A scowl slashes across her face. “Maybe.”

“Sasha!”

“Fine, have it your way.” She winks and laughs, and at least my head isn’t spinning now. As always, my best friend knows exactly how to bring me back down toearth.

As the first strains ofJesu, Joy of Man’s Desiringfilter towards us, Hugh gestures for Sasha to turn the corner and walk down theaisle.

I listen to the music we chose so carefully, and wait formycue.

I’m getting married in a fewminutes.

Gavin is waiting for me right around thecorner.

How has it been a year since we met? He still lights me up inside. But I have no doubt I’m going to be as excited to see him thirty, forty, fifty years from now as I am at thismoment.

The cellist joins the guitarist, lifting the piece to new heights, and Hugh gestures for me to moveforward.

My heart beats faster, painfully thumping against my ribs as I turn the corner and lift my gaze to find Gavin waiting for me right dead-centre at the end of theaisle.

He looks boyishly excited, and his gaze stays glued on me as I glide towards him. I’m vaguely aware of our friends and family seated on white folding chairs, but they’re a blurry backdrop to myfiancé.

He takes my hand as I reach him, smiles, and leans in, his lips brushing the curve of my ear. “Best day of my life,Sprite.”

I squeeze his fingers and give him a tremulous smile that says I feel exactly the same way.Minetoo,Sir.

We centre ourselves in front the officiant, and she raises her hands to begin theceremony.

“Friends and family, we are gathered today to mark the most special of occasions, the marriage of Gavin and Ellie. Together, we will witness the joining in the legal state of matrimony of this couple, according to the order and the custom prevailing, and under the authority given and provided by the Province of BritishColumbia.

“This couple has given serious and careful thought to this tradition, of binding themselves to one another, as allowed by the law of the land. They come to this union freely, equally, and with common rights. Their marriage will continue thusly, as a life-longcompanionship.”

A cloud rolls by overhead, giving us a soft bit of shade for a moment. I beam at my soon-to-be husband. I’ll be his for the restoftime.

“They’ve spoken to me about their desires to raise a family together,” she continues. “To support and encourage each other in their work and personal endeavours. And they understand that to commit to one another in marriage is to share all that comeshence.”

We went back and forth on the language for this service, and as she continues, I can see Gavin anticipating what comes next. He loves a good speech, the rhythm of it, the rise and fall of the words in specific, deliberate placement for maximumeffect.

She pauses right before the last point, slowing her delivery and looking past us to connect with our guests inattendance.

Gavin loves that, and I laugh gently at the approving look onhisface.

The things a politician cares about on theirweddingday.

Next up is his sister, who knows a thing or two about delivering stirring words. She’s a renowned social scientist, an author, and a public speaker. Today, she’s reading a poem she chose with ourblessing.

It’s sweet and funny and modern and inclusive of all different kinds of love, and by the time she’s done reading, I’m close to tearsagain.

And we haven’t yet arrived at the really emotionalstuff.

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