Page 124 of Forever Fickle

“You are breathtaking, Tink,” he breathed softly.

“Dearly beloved,” the pastor began, and they both turned to listen to the words that would bind them again before God.

She felt almost ashamed that she was so distracted, so unfocused, yet it was humbling. She suddenly understood just how flawed a person could be… and still find that special someone that was created for you by a higher power. This was the ultimate gift of love and she had been blessed in spades meeting Jace.

Her sweet sentimental husband insisted that they write their own vows since they hadn’t the first time around. As she turned to Jace, she saw the sheen of tears in his eyes as he spoke.

“I don’t think there are enough words in the English language to tell you just how miraculous your love and devotion to me is. I never dreamed that this could happen, that you would happen… especially after our first meeting,” Jace chuckled and she heard several of the men do the same, remembering that phone call threatening to quit.

“… And then there you were,” Jace whispered reverently. “Your soul shining so brightly and speaking to mine, that I knew I would do anything just to have you pay attention to me.”

He dragged in his breath raggedly as the first tear fell down his cheek.

“There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Karen,” he uttered softly. “I would wear stupid jammies just to make you smile, breathing the same air as you makes me feel alive, and holding your hand in mine makes me feel connected.”

He smiled at her, brushing his face nervously as another tear fell.

“When I say that ‘I love you’… it’s not me just saying the words aloud, but rather it’s a promise, because when I say that simple sentence? It’s me, in the most basic form, telling you that I recognize what a miracle this is between us… and I love you even more for giving me a chance to earn your heart,” he paused, his next words broken. “I love you s-so m-much, Karen Marie Marks Sorensen, for as long as the tides rise and fall, Tinkerbell.”

That simple sentence was her undoing, because she remembered that moment that he first said the words aloud to her.

They had been lying in bed together, about to share their most intimate moments, when he’d admitted just how deeply he felt… and if she didn’t love him with her entire being in that moment, she certainly did from that second on.

“Karen?” the pastor urged softly, and she nodded, looking at Jace again.

“We met very strangely,” she began – and saw his beloved face crack a smile as he laughed softly, nodding. “And I will forever picture you in my mind, in that moment, standing before my car and holding up a sign that said ‘Hot Cakes’…”

She rubbed her thumb over his ring, just needing this connection between them where their hands held each other’s. She wanted to yank the veil off her head and kiss him so badly in that moment, desperately, because she felt so much love coursing through her veins for this incredible man before her.

“Then you happened,” she whispered, looking at him. “You came into my life, so full of smiles, laughter, and joy… that you made me recognize that this was supposed to be how life was, this was supposed to be what love was between two people, Jace.”

She struggled for a moment, the tears of joy almost overwhelming her as her throat didn’t want to work in that moment. His eyes were full of love, watching her as she spoke.

“You treated me with so much respect, so much tenderness, and you were the exact opposite of the man I’d been cautioned several times about,” she smiled tearfully, clearing her throat pointedly and glancing at the airmen lined up behind him.

“That was us,” Firefly grinned, pointing at himself and Alpo. “We were wrong and freely admit it… this one time.”

Jace and Karen both laughed – as well as most of the church that were there to witness their renewal of vows.

“You are everything to me,” Karen continued, speaking directly to Jace, professing her love. “You’ve taught me that love has no boundaries, knows no distance, and is forever… because I can see that forever each time you look at me.”

She dragged in her breath shakily, her voice full of emotion.

“And when I say ‘I love you’… it’s because I love the energy, the being, that soul that is housed behind those golden eyes and that incredible smile. I see the realyou, my husband, my lover, and my soulmate… and will love you until the stars fall from the sky.”

She heard the pastor speaking, but nothing could draw her focus from him as she stared, humbled, at the amount of love in his gaze in that moment.

Jace reached forward and lifted her veil, as Karen stepped closer, meeting him halfway. His arms circled around her as his lips found hers, his mouth slanting over hers possessively, pouring so much emotion into that single kiss… only to hear the pastor in the distance.

“I guess Mr. Sorensen is ready to kiss his bride.”

EPILOGUE

A few months later…

Karen was waitingat the security gate anxiously and looked up to see Jace running through the airport again. Laughing happily at his enthusiasm, she waved, grateful that there weren’t any seats for him to hurdle this time, nor anything from stopping this final flight between them.

He was home.

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