Page 91 of The Senator: Raphael

“Why would you think that?”

“Maybe because it’s five minutes before your wedding and you disappeared?”

“I… You know what? Never mind.” I honestly don’t know why I felt the need to check on her. Maybe because I needed to know she’s still here, that she didn’t disappear out of the blue. When someone you love dies suddenly, you don’t have time to say goodbye. You don’t have time to say anything at all, and you live in a limbo where it’s hard to find closure. When something like that happens to you, it leaves a mark you can’t erase from your heart. I needed to know she hadn’t left.

We pause for a minute outside the church to take a deep breath and compose ourselves, then we walk down the aisle surrounded by the guests we invited to the ceremony. It’s an intimate one, thirty people total, but we only wanted the people we care about. This is a moment for families, not politics.

The church is decorated in white roses, gerberas, and lavender. Simple bouquets that don’t overwhelm the simplicity of this place. We opted for a simple ceremony too, just exchanging vows and rings, nothing more. Father George is officiating it.

When I arrive at the altar and turn around to see Harrison, my best man, and the rest of the groomsmen, a lump forms in my throat.

“Don’t start crying now, or you won’t be able to stop when you see her. Keep it together until she’s here, then you can cry,” Harrison whispers to me.

“Is it that obvious?” I force the words out of my throat.

“Yeah, man.” He smiles, and it’s a genuine expression of happiness, not a joke.

As soon as the violinist we hired starts to play, I look at the entrance and see the simple lavender dress Silver chose for Roxanne, her maid of honor, and the other bridesmaids. They look stunning in their long gowns and hairdos. First to walk down the aisle is Roxanne, followed by Dakota, and I glance at Aaron’s adoring look when he sees her. Then Lola, and last, Cindy. I was surprised when Silver chose her as a bridesmaid, but she said they’d become quite close while working together on my campaign.

Cindy’s entrance becomes a blur when Silver steps through the door, accompanied by her father. Her white lace and silk dress looks painted on her, the soft gown flaring at her hips and falling delicately on her long legs down to the floor. The veil covering her face and chest gives her an angelic look. She’s breathtaking and I can’t take my eyes away from her.

“Breathe,” Harrison whispers to me.

“I can’t,” I answer and hear a soft chuckle from Father George.

Tears start to stream down my face, and I’m not one bit ashamed of it. She walks slowly toward me, her gaze never leaving mine. When she’s a few feet from me, I want to rush to her, pull her next to me and make her my wife, but I can’t. This is her moment with her father. He removes the veil from her face and a cascade of red curls peeks out from under it. He kisses her cheek and turns toward me.

“Take care of her,” he murmurs with a smile, and the only thing that my stupid emotional brain can manage right now is a nod. No words leave my lips.

My eyes return to Silver when she steps next to me. “You look gorgeous,” I whisper to her ear.

“You look handsome too,” she whispers back.

And we stand there in our little bubble, not caring about anything else happening around us until it’s time to exchange our vows. Harrison has to nudge me when it’s my turn to speak, making the guests chuckle.

I clear my throat and pray not to mess up this moment. “You have made me the happiest man in the world today, choosing to become my wife. You are the strength I didn’t know I needed and the joy I didn’t know I lacked. I’m proud to be your husband and join my life with yours. I will be there to cherish your successes and to be your partner in everything that life throws at us. I will catch you when you stumble, and I will carry you when you are too tired to walk. I promise to nurture your dreams and help you reach them. I promise to love you fiercely when the sun is shining and when the storms shake our lives. With this ring, I promise you will never have to face the world alone.” My voice breaks with emotion as I stare into Silver’s eyes filling with tears.

I put the ring on her finger and grip her hand until she’s ready for her vows.

She takes a deep breath and giggles nervously. “Okay, this is going to sound a lot like Cyndi Lauper, but I promise my words are in there too.”

I chuckle and the guests do too, but I can’t help falling more in love with this woman.

“If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me, time after time. If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting, time after time. If you are weak, you can rest and lean on me, time after time. If you are sad and your heart aches, you can confide in me, time after time. If you are worried and awake all night, I will hold you until you fall asleep, time after time. If you are afraid and can’t take a leap in the dark, I will hold your hand and jump with you, time after time.”

She takes a deep breath.

“Raphael, I put you through this bad poem not to torture you, but to tell you that there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I will be at your side every step of our journey and I’m happy and proud to have you as my husband. In putting this ring on your finger, I give you my life, my love, my forever.”

There is not a single dry eye in the room and mine are full of tears too. I never thought I could love again, but this fierce, strong woman in front of me taught me that there is more to life than surviving.

“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I now declare you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride,” Father George chimes in.

I cradle her face in my hands and lower to kiss her. Silver. My wife.

Six months ago, I walked into a café in desperate need of a wife and reluctant about finding one. Today, I’ll walk out of this church thrilled that my wife found me and taught me that you can fall in love twice in your life.

November Midterms

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