Page 115 of Liberating Bells
I squeeze her hand in mine and then give a slight nod to the officiant. He smiles at us and then he begins the ceremony. My ears are buzzing, and I can barely make out what he’s saying. All I can focus on is Izabel beaming up at me.
“Ryan, Izabel,” the officiant says, pulling me out of my daydream of my wife-to-be. “Now is a chance for you to share your vows with each other.”
Bells passes her bouquet off to Juliet, and then takes my other hand in hers. When we’re facing each other, I give her hands an encouraging squeeze. The officiant gives Bells the go-ahead.
Her eyes don’t leave mine, but she squeezes my hands right back. “Ryan Miller. I can’t believe that I’m here right now, getting ready to profess my love for you and to commit myself to be your wife. If eighteen-year-old me was told thatyouwould be the man standing up with me today, I probably would have keeled over and died,” she says. A soft murmur of chuckles rises from our guests in the pews. I grin at her.
“You, Ryan Miller, were the utter bane of my existence. And Iloathedyou. You were so arrogant and confident and handsome all at the same time. I couldn’t imagine that you would have any other interest in me other than to make fun of me and ruin my summers.
“But then I got to know you. Therealyou. And I saw the man who is now standing right before me: the kind, strong protector of a man who I would eventually choose to build my life with. You have proven to me time and time again how much you love me and how much you’re willing to sacrifice for me.
“I can’t think of anyone else I would want to grow old with. When I think of my future and every dream coming true, I always see you standing next to me, cheering me on, supporting me through thick and thin. I can’t wait to start our lives together as husband and wife. I promise to honor you, cherish, and appreciate everything you do as my husband and the father to my children.
“Iloatheyou, Ryan Miller. But I also love you, more than I ever thought was humanly possible.”
The officiant says a quick thank you to Bells, and then acknowledges me to give my vows.
“Izabel,” I address her, and then make a quick adjustment. “Bells, I knew from the first time I watched you step off that bus at camp that you were going to play a big part in my life. Little did I know that you would turn out to be a massive pain in my ass.
“When I think back to our camp days, I have to roll my eyes at teenage me. I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was that this gorgeous, witty, brilliant girl was driving me nuts, and I had to figure out how to stop her. I had to regain control over the situation.” I chuckle and shake my head.
“We sure did have a lot of fun at camp, didn’t we?” Izabel snorts, and the place erupts in laughter. “Okay, well, maybe not. But I would go back and do it all over again. I’d hang your underwear up on that flagpole for everyone to see a million times over because, in the long run, it brought us together.
“I’ve lived a life without you, and I can honestly say that I’d rather die than do that again. Throughout all those years we were apart, I always felt like a piece of me was missing. You’re my second half, Bells. My equal. I never want to experience life without you. Because without you, I’m not me. For the rest of my life, I promise to be a good husband. You are my whole world. And I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that you smile like thisevery day of our lives together,” I say as I reach up to brush my fingers against her cheek. A tear slips out of her eye and falls against my hand.
“Izabel Sanders, I love you with everything in me. And I can’t wait to be your husband, for now, for eternity.”
“Thank you, Ryan,” the officiant says. “We’ll now do the exchanging of the rings.” Josie steps to my side and gives me the ring she’s been keeping for me. Juliet does the same for Bells.
The officiant has Izabel go first. She repeats the phrases he says to her. “Ryan, I give you this ring as a sign of our love and commitment to each other, signifying a bond that is stronger than any obstacle.” Izabel’s lower lip trembles as she slips the wedding band onto my left ring finger and finishes off the vows. “I promise to love, support, and stand beside you for all the days of our lives.”
“Ryan, please place your ring onto Izabel’s finger and then repeat after me,” the officiant says before launching into my promises to Izabel.
“Bells, I give you this ring as a sign of our love and commitment to each other and as a symbol of our united strength,” I say as I put the wedding band on her finger, where it will stay forever. I try to keep my voice as level as possible, but I hear the emotion thick in my tone. “There is nothing that we can’t conquer as long as we face it together. I promise to love, support, and stand beside you for all the days of our lives.”
Once our rings are in place, we grip each other’s hands tightly. I trace her face with my eyes, committing this moment to memory. It looks like she’s doing the same thing. The church is silent for a moment, in reverence of the intimate promises we just made to each other.
“Love is when two people touch each other’s souls,” the officiant says a beat later. “Love is honesty and trust. Love is helping and respecting one another and being there when theother has fallen. Love is differences that can always be worked out. Love is reaching your dreams together.
“Ryan and Izabel, I hope you always remember the promises you made to each other today and hold this moment close to your hearts. It is with great pleasure that I now announce you husband and wife. Ryan, you may now kiss your bride.”
Finally, I think as I pull Izabel toward me, my hands holding tightly to hers so she doesn’t fall over. I raise one hand up and settle it against where her jaw and her neck collide. Then, in one swift movement, I have my lips pressed against hers.
I hear the cheers and hoots of our guests and our friends. I kiss Izabel as if it’s the very first and last time, combined into one. Izabel presses her body up against mine as my mouth moves with hers.
When we finally break apart, her cheeks are flushed, and her lips swollen. Those sapphire blue eyes are sparkling with unbridled joy, and I feel my heart rate increase.
Izabel Miller. My wife.
Izabel’s face lights up as she meets my eyes with hers. “It all went flawlessly, didn’t it?”
“I think so. We still have the whole evening left. I’m sure someone will find a way to cause trouble.”
Izabel urges toward me, wrapping her arms around my middle and resting her head against my chest. “I hope not. Today is just too perfect. I never want it to end.”
I bend my head and press a kiss to the top of her hair. “Me neither, but we have a whole life of perfect days to look forward to.”
All of our guests are still cheering and clapping as we make our way down the aisle. I wave at my mom and Derek, who are sitting in the front row. My mom has tears in her eyes as she watches me walk with my new wife down the aisle. It’s something that means so much that she’s able to be here with us.Her latest follow-up with her doctor was nothing but good news, which was such a relief. It’s crazy to think that there was a time where we wondered how long we’d get to have her with us. And always by my mother’s side, Derek gives me a thumbs-up as we pass, his face beaming with pride.
