Page 105 of Own the Eights Gets Married
“What does that mean?” Georgie asked.
Hans shared a knowing look with his wife.
“It’s the advice the rabbi gave us fifty years ago before we married,” the man replied.
Cornelia tapped the titanium wedding rings reverently. “He told us to look at our marriage as if we were inhabiting the inside of the wedding band.”
“Often, you’re together in the center, loving and cherishing each other,” Hans continued.
“But, if your husband enrages you by eating the rest of thekäsekuchenwhile you’re sleeping,” the frau said, eyeing Hans.
“German cheesecake,” Hans translated with a chuckle.
The frau continued. “Then, you are on opposite sides of the ring. But you never leave it. You never break the bond. Yes, of course, I am not naïve enough to believe every marriage can last. But I’ll tell you this. Hans and I make it our priority to ensure the marriages we bless and facilitate are the kind that will.” She turned to Hans. “You know, I’m still mad about that cake.”
Hans took the frau’s hand and kissed it. “It was a damn good cake.”
Georgie observed the couple. “That’s beautiful.”
The frau’s expression grew thoughtful. “It was. Not too sweet and just the right firmness.”
Georgie shared a look with Jordan, expecting to find him amused. Instead, he looked guilt-ridden.
“What is it?” she asked him.
“We broke your rule, Mrs. Lieblingsschatz. The one about not…” he said, trailing off as his cheeks grew pink.
“Fornicating,” the frau supplied.
Oh no!
“Are you still telling couples that?” Hans asked.
“It worked for us, didn’t it?” the wedding frau answered.
Jordan cocked his head to the side. “That wasn’t a real rule?”
“Some rules are meant to be broken,” the frau replied.
“Good, because we broke this one. Like really, really broke it,” he answered.
“It also sounded like you made your own rules to bypass my mandate,” the frau added.
Georgie shook her head. “Then, why do you even use it?”
“A little reverse psychology. The forbidden is often the most desired,” the woman answered.
“That’s for sure,” Jordan replied, blowing out a relieved breath.
Mrs. Lieblingsschatz folded her hands in her lap. “The truth is, I was always going to plan your wedding, Georgiana.”
Georgie’s jaw dropped. “You were?”
“Yes, it’s in the contract Hans and I signed many years ago when we decided to expand our wedding planning business.”
“I don’t understand. How would you know that you were always going to plan our wedding?” Jordan asked.
A smirk pulled at the corners of Cornelia’s lips. “Not your wedding, Mr. Marks. Georgiana’s wedding. Her stepfather wrote it into our contract.”
