Page 5 of His Bride

“Do either of you know of any legal impediment to this marriage?” the officiantasksus.

We respond in unison with three practiced words. “Wedonot.”

“There having been no reason given why this couple may not be married,” she continues, getting to Gavin’s favourite part, with the most formal language possible. “I ask you to give answer to thesequestions.”

Give answer to thesequestions.

Okay, I want to say with a giggle. But it’s his turnfirst.

“Do you, Gavin, commit to Eleanor the love of your person, the comfort of your companionship, and the patience of your understanding; and to share equally in the responsibilities of your lifetogether?”

His smile begins in his eyes, the bright, piercing blue softening to the darkest fathoms of the oceans as his pupils dilate. His mouth is the last part of his face to get there, softly curling up before he finally says, “Ido.”

“Do you, Eleanor, commit to Gavin the love of your person, the comfort of your companionship, and the patience of your understanding; and to share equally in the responsibilities of your lifetogether?”

“I do,” I breathe, meaning it with all myheart.

“Please join your right hands, and once you’re settled, Gavin, please repeat after me.” I pass my bouquet to Sasha, then the officiant lowers her voice, prompting Gavin quietly, but he knows his vows insideandout.

Webothdo.

“I, Gavin, take thee, Ellie, to be my lawful wedded spouse, to have and to hold, from this day forward, in whatever life may holdforus.”

The wind picks up, and a few strands of my hair fly loose from my up-do. Gavin gently reaches across and tucks them behind my ear. His touch steals my breath, and I need to steady myself before I can return the vows backtohim.

“I, Ellie, take thee, Gavin, to be my lawful wedded spouse, to have and to hold, from this day forward, in whatever life may holdforus.”

Behind Gavin, Max is ready with the wedding rings when the officiant turnstohim.

She holds the rings up in the air between us with a solemnity that makes my chest tight. “Inasmuch as you have made this declaration of your vows concerning one another, and have set these rings before me, we all recognize these rings as a seal and a confirmation and acceptance of the vows youhavemade.”

Again, Gavin goes first. He takes my left hand in his and sets my wedding band at the tip of my ring finger. “Ellie, you are my love and my life.” He slides the band over my knuckle, setting it at the base of my finger. “With this ring, Itheewed.”

I was good until his voice caught on wed. Now a tear is tracking down my cheek, and Gavin gently catches it with his thumb as he cups my face inhishand.

My fingers shaking, I take his ring, then carefully squeeze his hand. “Gavin, you are everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner. I love you with my whole heart.” I hold my breath as I ease his ring onto his finger. “With this ring, Itheewed.”

Time pauses, this moment stretching as we tangle our fingers together. Married. Husbandandwife.

Each other’s, for the restoftime.

“Upon the authority vested in me by the Province of British Columbia, I pronounce you dulymarried.”

A big, wide grin spreads across Gavin’s face as he cups my cheeks again, this time with both hands. He kisses me until I’m breathless, bending me backwards a bit. I lift my foot off the ground as everyone applauds, and when he finally puts me upright again, I’mblushing.

I curl my hands around his upper arms to steady myself, and he holds the kiss for a second longer beforebreakingoff.

Then I chase him for a quick repeat, because he’s my husband and I can do that withabandon.

Everyone is on their feet, cheering, as Sasha hands my bouquet back and we turn to face our guests, handinhand.

The photographer is crouched halfway down the aisle. We hold our position for moment, letting him take as many shots as he wants of our first moment as husband and wife. Then we take a step forward at thesametime.

That was fun, but what will follow—our reception, our honeymoon, and the rest of our lives—will be evenbetter.

3

Gavin

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