Page 50 of Choosing a Forever
The dress!
The bottom half of it looks like plain white satin flowing over her wide hips and down to her nude-colored flats, but the top…
Thetop.
It has long sleeves with white lace, floral beading accents on the cuffs, and beading over the bodice. The front dips down between her breasts in a way that makes me think she’s not wearing a bra.
Don’t think about that. This is a pure, happy, innocent moment. She doesn’t have to wear a bra if she doesn’t want to. Don’t be a creep.
I have to swallow the lump in my throat three times before I can finally speak, and when I finally do, it comes out hoarse. “Mack, you look…”
“It’s too much, isn’t it? I told them this was too much for a courthouse ceremony, but it was on sale and—”
I gently grab her hand, halting her rambling. “No. No, you look…breathtaking,Mack. That’s not even a strong enough word for how incredible you look.”
“Thank you,” she says breathily. “You look… really good, too.”
I’m wearing a simple black suit with a green tie that matches the shade of her ring. I look like I’m wearing casual clothes compared to her.
“EW. Can you two stop looking at each other like that?” Kinsley punctuates her question with a pretend gag.
Mack rolls her eyes.
“Get used to it, they’re going to be eye-fucking each other twenty-four-seven, kid.” Lizzie chuckles, nudging Kinsley with her elbow.
My face flames—both at the casual use of the curse word and the mental image it conjures.
Harper covers her mouth and giggles as Kinsley groans. Nathan’s face is as red as mine, and Enoch is staring at Lizzie with hearts in his brown eyes.
“Is the Monson-Thorpe party ready?” a woman at the front desk of the courthouse calls.
I offer my arm to Mack, and she places her hand on my bicep. We lead our little group towards them.
“We’re here,” I announce.
The woman glances up from her clipboard. “Great. Follow me.”
We follow her down a carpeted hallway to an open door. “Deputy Clerk Higgins will be performing your ceremony today. Who are your witnesses?”
Lizzie and Enoch step forward.
“Great, we’ll get your signatures after the ceremony.”
The room looks like your standard conference room with a big table and a few rolling chairs. At the front of the room stands a tall, gangly man with dark rectangular glasses and a very pronounced widow’s peak. He’s wearing a blue sweater over a white collared shirt and a pair of khakis. Not exactly what I imagined our officiant to be wearing, but that’s okay. All that matters is by the end of this, Mack will be my wife.
He gives a beaming smile when he sees us enter the room. “You must be the happy couple! Let’s get this going so you guys can get out of here and celebrate. Ifyou’ll just give me your full names, I can jot them down in my little speech.”
“Talmage George Monson and Mackenzie Thorpe,” I answer.
“Great!” He scribbles our names on the little paper he’s holding. “Your party can take their seats in the vacant chairs, and I’ll have you two stand here, and here.” He points to either side of him, and we all take our spots.
Mr. Higgins clears his throat. “We’re here today to witness the union of Talmage George Monson and Mackenzie Thorpe in marriage. Today, you begin a new life together, founded in love, laughter, honesty, respect, and friendship. The promises you make to each other today should not be taken lightly. A marriage is more than a ceremony or a piece of paper—it’s a lasting and lifelong commitment.”
My stomach drops. This marriage technicallyisn’tone founded in love and honesty. Mack’s lips turn down, and I know she’s thinking the same thing.
Our officiant continues, unaware of our thoughts, “The future promises many happy days ahead, filled with adventures and challenges. Through trust, love, and unwavering support for each other, you will be able to weather the inevitable ups and downs to come.
“Do you, Talmage George Monson, take Mackenzie Thorpe to be your spouse and to live as one team, to treat her with love and respect, and build a marriage that grows stronger and more loving as the years pass?”
