Notes: All three of us would like to thank you for the incredible response to the Wedding story and your ongoing support of the REAL World. We assure you they are always safe with us and we are nowhere near done telling Steve and Catherine's story.
Love is Friendship …
After the butterflies finally dispersed, taking their silent wishes with them, Catherine's cousin Laura began blowing bubbles much to the delight of her sons Caleb and Henry. Before long, many of the adults were happily blowing bubbles while the children in attendance chased them excitedly across the lawn.
A small blonde boy of about six giggled as he watched a shower of bubbles come down around Steve and Catherine.
"They're getting in your hair," he squealed as his father came up behind him.
"That's ok," Catherine smiled. "They'll come out a lot easier than gum. Isn't that right, Philip?"
"Oh geez, Cath, I'm never gonna hear the end of that, am I?" .
Catherine's eyes twinkled. "Not anytime soon."
"It was a beautiful ceremony." Philip hugged Catherine and extended his hand towards Steve. "Thanks for inviting us."
Steve smiled warmly. "Thanks for coming."
"Sure thing. I mean it isn't everyday you get invited to a wedding in paradise. Maybe later we can kick off our shoes and race a hundred yard dash on the beach, Cath, for old times sake."
"I'd still beat you even in my dress," she smirked.
Philip shared a knowing look with Steve. "You're probably right."
Boris joined the small group and asked politely if he could borrow Steve and Catherine.
"We'll talk to you later, Philip." Catherine smiled at the young boy. "Bye, Logan. Enjoy the reception."
As the two walked away she turned her full attention to the wedding coordinator.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but it's picture time," Boris said. "As you requested, the photographer will do a series of posed shots, taking about 20-30 minutes, and that will be all. The rest of the pictures will be candids snapped by your guests. I'll ask them all to send along their favorites which Gus and I will compile in a slideshow for you."
Catherine smiled. "That sounds perfect."
"You should get Grace's help for the slideshow," Steve said with a proud smile.
"I just may do that, Commander."
They made their way to a spot on the lawn that provided the perfect ocean backdrop and the photographer, who had been recommended by Boris, began arranging members of the wedding party and close family for shots.
"Not hard to get an attractive picture of you two, that's for sure," he said, smiling as he snapped several shots of Steve and Catherine alone and with Cammie.
When he was through he added Joseph and Elizabeth, along with Aunt Deb for several more shots. Then Nonna and Grandma Ang.
"You know, Steven, I think you're going to want at least one photo where you're actually looking at the camera," Danny called out after seeing his partner once more turn his head to look at Catherine right before the photo was snapped.
"Leave the boy alone, Daniel," Nonna hushed her grandson. " He's looking at his wife."
Steve's eyes never left Catherine but his smile grew. "Yeah, Daniel, listen to Nonna. Leave me alone, I'm looking at my wife."
Joan giggled from her position in Aaron's arms. "Wiiiife," she squealed, making everyone laugh.
"That's right," Steve grinned, finally taking his eyes off Catherine to look at his niece.
"Okay, let's get a few shots of the entire wedding party with the flower dog so this really well behaved girl can go home and take a nap," the photographer said as he ushered Steve and Catherine into a pose.
"No nap. Wedddding! Maw-wied!" Joan announced, and Aaron laughed, "No, pumpkin, not you, he means Cammie is going home to take her nap."
"I stay?"
"You stay." He kissed her cheek.
"Cammie bootiful." She smiled. "Pu'ple f'owers." She pointed to the collar.
"Yes, she looks very nice, doesn't she?" Mary agreed.
"I have Cammie at my house?" Joan looked at her mother hopefully.
"No, peanut, Cammie lives with Uncle Steve and Aunt Catherine." Mary threw a look at the happy couple. "They'd tackle us on our way out the door if we tried to take her."
"I have Lyssa's Cammie?" Joan tried again.
Aaron shook his head and smiled when he realized what Joan was talking about. "My sister Alyssa let her see a litter of puppies …" he explained. "She was in her glory."
Joan clapped excitedly. "So many Cammies!"
"Apparently since Uncle Steve and Aunt Catherine can do no wrong and they named their dog Cammie all dogs are now Cammie," Mary teased her brother.
"Hey, Joanie," Steve said, his arm still firmly around Catherine as he cocked an eyebrow at his sister. "Maybe Mama and Aaron will get you a puppy and you can train her just like Aunt Catherine and I trained Cammie."
"YAY!" Joan began to bounce in celebration.
Aaron laughed. "Gee, thanks for once again setting the bar high, Steve."
"My pleasure. Now let's get these pictures finished up because my wife and I have a reception to attend."
Danny elbowed John. "I'd suggest some sort of drinking game involving Steve's use of the word 'wife' but I'm afraid we'd all be under the table before dinner."
John nodded and grinned. "You got that right."
"Should I put these back on?" Mary asked as she held up Joan's shoes which the toddler had tired of halfway through the ceremony.
"No, don't bother," Catherine said.
"Alright," the photographer turned to face the group after taking pictures of the happy couple and the wedding party with Cammie. "Let's get the whole family in this one with Cammie and we'll be all set."
Cammie sat perfectly at Steve and Catherine's feet as Grace held Joan in front of Steve. Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary and Aunt Deb were positioned around the bride and groom next, followed by all the attendants.
When everyone was situated Catherine motioned Aaron into the shot. "C'mon, whole family. Let's go, Aaron, Besides, you were kinda the co-flower girl."
Aaron blushed but quickly joined the group.
Mary's smile was infectious as she looped her arm through his and they settled in beside Danny, who was flanked by Gabby and Nonna, while Grandma Ang smiled at them from where Catherine had taken her hand. Kono, Adam, Chin, Leilani, Carrie and John took their places while the Allens knelt in front.
"I love a big family shot. Everybody look here!" The photographer pointed to Jacob. "Okay buddy, you're my helper. On three, get them all to say cheese."
"Sounds like a perfect job for Cheese Dude," Jenna said, smiling at her youngest child.
"Say cheese, everybody!" Jacob called in a definite outdoor voice, which created the perfect expressions of delight on everyone's face.
As the group began to scatter, Joan continued to chant.
"Cheeeeese," she said loudly. "Cheese!"
"I think she's getting hungry," Mary joked.
Catherine stepped towards Mary and Joan, held out her arms, and the happy toddler came to her immediately. "Then let's go find you something to eat."
"YAY!" Joan gasped. She threw her arms in the air and spontaneously leaned in and gave Catherine a kiss on the lips.
The photographer, who was Boris' number one choice for a reason, raised his camera and captured the moment perfectly.
After one final shot of Grace, Joan and Cammie, Mary took Joan for a pre-meal potty break, and Catherine bent to say goodbye to Cammie.
Grace was smiling broadly as she joined her dad. "Take a picture of Auntie Cath and Cammie, Danno," she instructed, having left her phone in her purse when they gathered for photos.
Looking at it with Danny, she sighed, "Isn't that sweet? When I get married I want my dog in my wedding pictures, too."
Danny straightened. "Stop talking about your wedding right this second. Are you trying to kill me?"
"Who's killing you?" Steve joined them after saying goodbye to Cammie so Esther could run her home. He accepted a hug from his niece and placed a kiss on her head.
"Your maid of honor, here." He pointed. "If she mentions getting married again I'm telling Boris to to run me through with a cake fork."
Steve looked a little unnerved himself as Joseph's laughter reached them. "Comes faster than you think, gentlemen."
"See?" Grace grinned at her dad and Uncle Steve.
"You're not helping." Danny shook his head ,and Steve echoed the thought.
"I didn't mean tomorrow," Joseph said, placing a hand on Grace's shoulder. "You take your time. Finish school, build a solid life." He smiled and his eyes flicked from Grace to where his daughter was laughing with Kono and Mary.
Grace noded with a grin. "Promise, Uncle Joseph. Besides, any guy who gets past Danno and Uncle Steve will definitely have to pass muster. And if he doesn't, Auntie Cath will take him down."
Joseph laughed out loud while Danny and Steve followed Grace's form with their eyes as she ran to whisper something to Catherine that had them both chuckling and looking back at the men with glee.
"Oh, God." Danny ran a hand through his hair. "I'm not gonna survive her dating."
"There's still lots of time," Steve said, sounding like he was convincing himself as much as his best friend. "And she can't get married before she's commissioned …"
"You just gained points for Annapolis, my friend."
"Come, on, you two," With an amused head shake, Joseph placed a hand on each man's shoulder. "Let's go toast to having a teenager in the family."
As friends and family began to filter into the impeccably decorated reception space the first thing almost every eye landed on was the cookie table which was situated against the glass partition facing the beach.
The eight-foot banquet style table was covered with a pristine white lace cloth and laden with cookies of every shape and size. They were artfully displayed on silver trays, multi-tiered crystal stands and in beautiful hand etched glass cookie jars.
There were the standards-chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal-side by side with pizzelles, cannoli, knot cookies, spumetti, fig cookies and biscotti. Chocolate covered marshmallows and strawberries lay alongside lemon bars and ricotta cookies. The table was a festival for the eyes before anyone had even taken a bite.
"Wow, are those real?" Jacob asked in amazement as he and Dylan approached the table.
Dylan nodded his head vigorously. "Yeah, Nonna made them all."
"Realllly?" Jacob asked as Nonna and Grandma Ang came up behind them.
"Not just me, bambino. I had plenty of help. Grandma Ang and your sisters among others. Like the nice people at the hotel who allowed us to use their catering kitchen."
Jacob continued to stare. "I've never seen so many cookies in my life."
As the other children entered the room they were all drawn almost immediately to the cookie table. Nonna took the time to explain what the various cookies tasted like and patiently answered all the questions the children had.
"Can we have one?" Dylan asked the main question on every child's mind as Cody and Jess approached followed by Jadon.
Cody's first instinct was to tell his brother they needed to wait until after dinner but the memory of the cookies he'd eaten earlier in the groom's room caused him to hesitate. Nonna sensed his indecision and smiled.
She looked at her partner in spoiling the grandchildren and smiled. "What do you think, Grandma Ang? Can they have one before dinner?"
"I think that would be okay." Ang grinned. "A little something to hold them over until the meal is served. But just one. Two at the most."
"I gotta say, Ma'am," Jadon began, admiration clear in his voice. "You got some serious skills in the kitchen. And my mama is a church lady so I know what skills in the kitchen look like."
"Thank you very much, young man," Nonna smiled. "What's your name?"
"Jadon, ma'am."
"You can have an extra cookie, Jadon." Nonna winked. "You need to keep up your strength for all that charm."
He flashed her a mile-wide smile in response. "Finally, someone recognizes my charm."
Beside him, Cody snorted, but the two grandmothers just smiled knowingly.
Ten minutes later Nonna and Grandma Ang were headed for their seats when they were stopped by the sound of Danny's voice. "Hold it, ladies."
"What do you need, Daniel?" Nonna asked sweetly.
"Every kid in this place has cookies in each hand and we haven't had dinner yet. Do you know anything about that?"
Nonna shrugged. "We may."
"They're gonna ruin their appetites," Danny said with mock annoyance.
"You can have one if you want," Nonna offered.
"Oh, well then," Danny winked. "That's a different story. I saw cannoli. I want one of those."
"They never really grow up do they," Nonna chuckled.
Ang pointed across the room to Joseph savoring a knot cookie. "No, they don't."
Catherine and Steve stood greeting well-wishers as guests milled around the reception area.
During a moment alone, he said, "You look beautiful." He shook his head at himself. "I'm sorry. That shouldn't have taken me so long to say."
Catherine gave him a dazzling smile in return. "Thank you. You look very handsome."
He smiled, then his eyes danced with mirth as the swept over her form, and he leaned closer. "And I have it on good authority that under that beautiful dress is some pretty underwear."
She looked at him quizzically. "Wh–"
"Or should I say, some 'pwetty undies,'" he corrected, his lip twitching in amusement.
Catherine snorted a laugh, covering her mouth. "Oh my God, Joan?"
"She made a little announcement."
Catherine covered her face for a moment and shook her head, laughing. "To who?"
"Just me, Danny, Mary, and your mother."
"Ohh, to have seen your faaaaace at that," she said, touching his cheek with a teasing smile.
He grinned back, then his voice dropped low and he said, "So … ?" with a meaningful look.
"Patience, Commander," she replied, her voice just this side of saucy.
"I don't want to be patient," he countered. "I want to be alone with my wife."
Smiling, she rubbed a placating hand on his arm as they turned their attention to the approaching Grover family.
Catherine hugged Samantha and Cynthia warmly.
"You look beautiful, Catherine," Cynthia said. "It was a wonderful ceremony."
"Thank you so much for being here," Catherine said genuinely. She squeezed Samantha's hand. "We missed you at the bachelorette party last week."
"I know, I wish I hadn't been sick," Samantha said sadly. "But I didn't want you to catch my cold."
"That's very thoughtful, but we still missed you."
Lou shook Steve's hand, slapping his other arm and grinning. "If I hadn't seen it for myself I might not have believed it."
"Believe it," Steve said. "It's real."
"Congratulations, Steve," Lou said genuinely.
"Thank you." Steve turned and offered his hand to the young teen beside Lou. "Marcus, thank you for coming."
"Thank you for inviting me, Commander," Marcus said politely before his gaze drifted to the cookie table.
Lou laughed, shaking his son's shoulder. "He's been eyeing those cookies since we got here," he told Steve.
"You and me both," Steve said with a smile. "Nonna and her crew really outdid themselves."
"Definitely," Catherine agreed, her hand slipping around Steve's back.
"Oh, look," Samantha said, holding up her hands. "I got my nails done at that place you and I went, Catherine."
"Ohh, beautiful color," Catherine said, looking at the pale pink polish.
Samantha grinned. "Guess what it's called?"
Catherine shook her head. "No idea."
"Kiss the Bride."
Steve immediately gave Catherine a quick kiss.
She chuckled, shaking her head at him.
"What?" he asked innocently, his eyes twinkled mischievously. "That's what she said to do."
Samantha laughed. "That's what the nail polish color is called. Kiss the Bride."
Steve leaned in again, and Catherine put a hand on his chest to stop him but then shrugged, laughing, and accepted his kiss.
"You just want to avoid another discussion on the interesting names of nail polish colors," she teased.
"You mean the strange names of nail polish colors," he countered. "And no, I just want to kiss my wife."
Lou laughed. "I hope you won't begrudge me one." He leaned down and kissed the bride's cheek. "Congratulations, Catherine."
"Thanks, Lou."
"Now I think we might go check out that cookie table before dinner," he said. "Figure out a game plan for later."
"Good idea," Steve said, grinning. "I recommend the knots. Get 'em before Joseph eats them all."
With a parting wave, the Grovers headed off, leaving Steve and Catherine again momentarily alone.
He turned to her and said, "Now about those pretty–"
Laughing, she silenced him with a kiss of her own.
Jacob wove his way through the people and the tables, his bow tie askew and a cookie in each hand.
"Hey, there," Jenna said as she stepped in front of him.
"What?" Jacob looked up at her innocently. "I was using my walking feet."
"Yes, you were," Jenna smoothed down his hair, "and thank you for that, but what's going on with the cookies?"
"My grandmas said we could have two."
"I know." Jenna sat down and pulled Jacob into her lap. "But when I saw you fifteen minutes ago you had a chocolate cookie and a cannoli and now you have a lemon bar and a pizzelle. That's more than two."
Jacob looked at the cookies in his hand and seemed to understand the futility of trying to explain them away to his mother. "I'm sorry. Do you want me to put them back?"
Jenna chuckled mostly because both cookies had bites taken out of them. "No, just … no more before dinner ok?"
"Okay." Jacob grinned.
"You be good." She kissed him on the head. "We're gonna eat soon."
Kamekona smiled widely as a plate of Blackened Mahi Mahi, parmesan potatoes and fresh island vegetables was placed in front of him. "This actually looks pretty good for something that was cooked by someone who isn't me."
Esther, sitting beside him, smiled indulgently. "The roasted chicken smells incredible."
"It'll do," he grinned.
She patted his forearm supportively. "You can relax for just one night and enjoy being a guest. It's what Steve and Catherine want."
"They might change their mind later when I'm making them all look bad with my proficiency on the dance floor."
"I can't wait to see that," Jerry scoffed from his seat across the table.
"I'm surprisingly agile for a man of my size," Kamekona insisted.
"We'll see who's more agile when the music starts," Jerry countered.
Kamekona nodded. "Challenge accepted."
Joan climbed into her booster seat between Mary and Aaron and placed her new purse in her lap.
"Why don't we put that aside while we eat, pumpkin," Aaron suggested.
"Mine," Joan said as she clutched it with one hand.
"I could have told you that was gonna happen," Mary chuckled.
"See, Mama?" Joan opened the purse and held it out towards her mother.
"You have a cookie in your purse. Icing and all," Mary grimaced.
"Nummy!" Joan giggled.
"Just let her go," Aaron shrugged. "We'll clean it up later."
"Aunt Catherine, Uncle Steve," Jacob called from the end of the head table. "Are you guys having hot dogs too?"
"Not tonight, Jacob," Catherine answered.
"I'm having a hot dog. It's really good."
"That's great, buddy," Steve smiled.
"Then I'm having more cookies."
From her seat at a nearby table, Jenna sighed.
"Don't worry," Leilani chuckled. "He's burning off the sugar as fast as he's taking it in."
"Can I hold you to that if he's awake at 3:00 A.M.?"
When the meal was over and the dinner dishes were cleared away Danny stood and tapped his spoon against his glass.
"It's time for us to toast Steve and Catherine and their future and who better to start that off than the person who has known them literally since the day they met. And fyi if any of you are looking for fun stories about Steve and Catherine, do yourself a favor and get to know Carrie and her husband John."
A wave of laughter rolled across the room.
"So without further ado I present to you Catherine's Naval Academy roommate and co-maid of honor, Carrie Stagler."
Carrie stood, allowing Gus to help her clip a small microphone to her dress, and acknowledged the smattering of applause.
"As Danny said, I've known Catherine since we were roommates at the Academy. And for the record," she held up her glass and gestured towards Catherine and Steve, "I knew first." She reached for her best friend's hand and gave it a squeeze. "I knew from the minute you came back to our room and told me you agreed to do a favor for a guy before he even knew your name," she grinned, "and he repaid you with a rack of ribs."
Everyone laughed as Catherine and Steve shared a smile, and Carrie winked at Steve. "Cath and I had a lot of adventures back then and since, and I'm so happy to be stationed at Pearl and living near her for the first time in … ahem … let's just say quite a few years."
Catherine squeezed her hand to convey her own joy at having her best friend so close once again.
"I'm also happy to be here to share this day with Catherine and Steve. After all, I was there when you were 'just friends,'" she air quoted, "and I was there when you finally admitted you were more. And in between, I watched you develop a complete language of silent conversations, jokes, hand and eye gestures not even Naval Intelligence could decipher." Carrie smiled. "I also watched you develop a bond stronger than anything I've ever seen."
She looked at a slightly teary Catherine and continued, "And then when you were stationed at Pearl and living with Steve you sounded so happy and content when we'd talk." She turned to Steve. "Finally, the day Catherine called to tell me the thought of another deployment made her want to throw up, I knew that was it. She was never leaving again."
Steve's hand found Catherine's, closing his fingers over hers
"So, here's to my best friend, fellow survivor of plebe summer, roommate, my own maid of honor, and her perfect match."
As the applause died down, she looked at Steve. "Now, it wouldn't be us if I didn't say it took ya long enough, but that's some slammin' ring, McGarrett."
Steve grinned, and the crowd chuckled.
Carrie addressed the guests, "C'mon, you were all thinking it," she smiled, then sobered slightly. "Seriously, though, I know you almost as long as Catherine does. I've seen you graduate with honors, deploy the same day as my then fiance," she gave a tiny wave to John, "and love my best friend for a very, very long time. You're a good man, Steve McGarrett, and Catherine saw that from the day you met. I'm honored to stand with you both, like you did for us at our wedding. I wish you a lifetime of loving each other. And now, I would like to pass the torch to my co-maid of honor, a girl it has been my immense pleasure to get to know over the last several months, the amazing Miss Grace Williams."
Grace stood, holding a few note cards, and Carrie transferred the small microphone to her. She looked around at the guests, smiling while biting her lower lip.
"Okay, wow, there's a lot of people here," she said and took a deep breath, immediately charming the entire room. "I hope mine's not too long," she began. "When I met Uncle Steve, I was only eight. He and my dad," she glanced at Danny with a tiny grin, "had just become partners and Uncle Steve was fun right away." She turned towards him and nodded. "He started doing nice things for me before he even met me, and he always made me feel safe, like I did when I was with Danno. We didn't have any family here and then all of a sudden, we did."
She took another deep breath and looked briefly at her note card and then at Catherine. "Then I remember I was really nervous about meeting Auntie Cath. What if she didn't like me? What if I didn't get to see Uncle Steve as much? But when we got to meet she was the best. I loved her right away. She made a special lunch and cupcakes and I didn't realize it, but …" Grace smiled, "she was nervous to meet me, too!"
An 'awwww' rose up when Catherine nodded, and she and Grace exchanged a smile.
"Now Uncle Steve and my dad call us 'thick as thieves'. I love her and Uncle Steve so much, and when they told me they were getting married and she asked me to be one of her maids of honor I cried and kind of squealed a little."
When Danny interjected, "She squealed a lot," and Carrie stage whispered, "I squealed, too, it's totally okay," Grace grinned.
"Anyway, this has been the best, most exciting day ever, and me and Carrie and Auntie Kono and Mary and Kaitlyn and Casey and Joan, too, have had so much fun being in the wedding party." Grace moved to stand between her aunt and uncle and fiddled with her glass of sparkling cider. "I love you both and I knew right away you were perfect for each other because Uncle Steve smiled so much when you were here on leave. Then he smiled a lot more all the time 'cause you moved here. Uncle Steve looks at you and his eyes get … well, softer."
"Mooney eyes," Carrie said with a smirk, and Grace continued, "I hope someday someone looks at me like that."
Danny groaned and rubbed his forehead as if staving off a headache.
Grace went on, "And Uncle Steve, even if you're not looking at her, Auntie Cath smiles everytime she sees you. Even if you just went to take Cammie out and came back."
Another round of 'awww' rose up, and Grace nodded it was true.
"Anyway, I know you'll be super happy forever." She raised her glass above her head, "To Auntie Catherine and Uncle Steve."
Before she lowered the glass, both Steve and Catherine stood and pulled her into a hug. Catherine and Grace wiped at tears and Steve placed a kiss on their niece's head as a room full of phones captured the image forever.
"And now, here's Uncle Steve's best man, who also happens to be my dad."
She gave the microphone to Danny who smiled broadly as Grace took her seat. He clipped the mic to his tux and looked around.
"Now, before I start, Boris has asked me to request that, for reasons of safety, no one stand on the chairs during my standing ovation." Danny grinned at the crowd who chuckled lightly. "If you haven't met me, I'm Steve's partner, Danny. When I met him, we'd actually just drawn on each other, and true to form, he absconded with my crime scene and hijacked my job." He turned to face Steve. "Then he got me shot. Day one. And I thought 'what the hell did I get into?' "
He shook his head. "But he kinda grows on you. Not long afterward, I met Catherine. And I couldn't believe his luck." Danny raised his glass in her direction. "I still can't believe this brilliant, wonderful, beautiful person has put up with you for all these years, let alone agreed to marry you …" Danny smiled as the guests laughed. "That said, somewhere along the line, my stubborn, maniac of a partner became my best friend. I trust him with my life every day, and more importantly, I trust him to take care of my daughter Grace, which he's always done without hesitation. Even if he seems to be trying to turn her into a little soldier."
"Sailor, Danno!" Steve and Grace announced together making the room erupt in laughter.
Danny looked at Steve. "You know I consider you a brother, and I am so, so happy for you." His sincerity was in his eyes, and Steve nodded his thanks. "Actually, I'm happy for all of us, because Catherine has always made you so much more tolerable."
When the laughs died down, he looked again at the bride. "Catherine, I've considered you family right from the beginning. You've always brought light into Steve's life and you've brightened all of ours. Not the least of which, my daughter's."
Grace beamed and nodded when Catherine looked her way with a teary smile.
"For that alone, and for so much more, I love you like a sister." He raised his glass and invited everyone to do the same.
"To Catherine and Steve, a perfectly matched set."
"To Catherine and Steve!"
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, it is my extreme pleasure to introduce the father of the bride, Captain Joseph Rollins."
After accepting the microphone, Joseph took his place behind Steve and Catherine's chairs, glass in hand. He smiled at them, then looked out at the gathered guests.
"The first time I met Steve …"
Steve groaned. "Are you really gonna–"
"Let's just say it was … memorable," Joseph relented.
Steve shook his head, chuckling, and Catherine smiled, rubbing his hand.
"The fathers out there understand, when you meet the man your daughter is dating – even if they don't call it dating –" he threw them a pointed look, "you size him up. In your own way. You size him up, and if you're being completely honest with yourself, there's at least a small part of you that's hoping he comes up short. Lacking somehow. So that you can point to that and say, 'There, that … that right there, that's why he's not good enough for my daughter.' "
He looked at Catherine, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Even the most enlightened among us, who trust our daughter's judgment implicitly. Even us. You have to ask the questions. You have to make the observations … because that's your little girl. And it's your job."
Catherine smiled at him, covering his hand with hers.
"So I met Steve," Joseph continued, "and it was memorable … and we had lunch the next day, the three of us. And I left that lunch knowing Catherine had found someone special. Someone who truly sees her. Someone who wouldn't try to change her, but would make her better by loving her."
Catherine gripped her father's fingers, tears in her eyes.
"You know it never actually mattered to Elizabeth and me whether Catherine and Steve got married. We just wanted them to be happy. We wanted that for both of them, because as my very wise wife said the other night, Steve has been a son in all but name for a long time."
Steve choked back his own emotions, nodding gratefully at Joseph.
"So as I stand before you today I'm proud and I'm grateful. I'm proud of my incredible daughter Catherine and her husband Steve. I'm proud of the exceptional human beings they are and the outstanding couple they make. I'm grateful to share this day with them and with family and friends. And I'm grateful to my wife, Elizabeth, for raising such a wonderful daughter with me, and for being my partner for so many years."
From her seat, Elizabeth smiled beautifully at him.
"Please raise a glass with me," Joseph said, lifting his own. "To Catherine and Steve."
"To Catherine and Steve!" a chorus of voices echoed.
Joseph took a small drink and said, "Oh, and if you want details on that first meeting . . . see me later."
Steve's chin dropped to his chest and he shook head in amused resignation. He stood along with Catherine to thank Joseph.
"Congratulations, honey," Joseph said, hugging her. He turned to Steve, shaking his hand and giving him a strong hug as well. "Congratulations, son."
Catherine blinked at her tears. "Come along way since he was 'the SEAL,' huh, Dad?"
Joseph looked at Steve, nodding slowly. "Yes, we have," he agreed. "And I couldn't be happier."
Once the toasts were finished many of the guests drifted over to the cookie table to sample the amazing treats while the band Steve and Catherine had chose, Minkus & Milo, took their places. When most of the guests had returned to their seats Minkus, the lead vocalist, received a go-ahead nod from Boris and stepped to the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom are ready for their first dance." He motioned to the large screen on the wall above his head. "Simultaneously, there will be special slideshow of photos arranged by the co-maid of honor, Miss Grace Williams."
Grace beamed from where she stood with Danny beside her. He squeezed her shoulder proudly.
Steve, standing straight and tall, held his left hand out to Catherine, palm up. With a smile, she placed her hand in his, and they walked to the center of the dance floor together.
He turned her gently toward him and slid his right hand around her waist as the band began the opening notes of the old standard, 'Come Rain or Come Shine.' Their eyes met, and they began to sway.
Catherine's breath caught as the sudden thought flashed into her mind that she was dancing with her husband. Intellectually, she knew Steve was now her husband. He had been since they'd completed their vows in the chapel. She knew they were married, she'd felt the waves of emotions rolling through her during the ceremony and after. But the thought still made her stomach flip each time she realized it anew.
Her husband.
Steve was her husband.
And she was his wife.
They were married.
She inhaled deeply and slid her hand around the back of his shoulder, smiling as he naturally matched her movement by pulling her closer.
"Penny for 'em?" he murmured in her ear.
She smiled softly. "We're married," she said and felt him pull her imperceptibly closer in response.
Her fingers twined around his, searching out his ring, and he pulled their hands to rest against his chest. He dipped his head to kiss her knuckles before shifting back to lean his cheek against her temple.
"How is it that this feels like something we should have done a long time ago and also … like it's the exact right time?" he wondered aloud.
She swept her hand along his shoulders to run her fingers through the hairs on the back of his neck in a reassuring gesture. "I know what you mean. But this is the right time, Steve. Here in this place. Right now. With our family and our friends around us. This is right."
He exhaled a shaky breath filled with emotion and let his head drop so that he could brush his lips against the juncture of her neck and shoulder.
"This is right," he echoed in a whisper, feeling the unshed tears in his eyes. "This is so right."
She released his hand so that she could wind her arms around his neck, closing her eyes and breathing him in.
He dropped his other hand to wrap around her waist and hold her against him, still swaying to the music. "Come rain or come shine," he said quietly.
"You better believe it," she replied earnestly.
And he did. He'd told her once that everything he knew about love, about relationships, was because of her. She had opened his heart in ways he never imagined. She truly loved him like nobody had loved him, just as the song said. Through every obstacle they'd faced … his past, the long absences, the danger. She'd never wavered, even when he had for that one brief period of trying to do what was best by letting her go.
But never again. This was right. And this was forever.
He took her hand again, wanting to feel it in his, and straightened enough to press a kiss to her temple. "I love you," he whispered against her skin.
"I love you," she answered immediately. "Come rain or come shine."
From the edge of the dance floor, Grace sighed happily at the sight.
"What a nice choice of song," Elizabeth said, standing on her other side.
"I told Nonna that Uncle Steve and Auntie Cath didn't know what song they were going to dance to, and she suggested this one. She said it's perfect for them because they'll love each other no matter what happens."
Danny smiled, looking across the room at where his grandmother was sitting and happily watching the newlyweds dance. "Her favorite recording is Sarah Vaughn's, but Minkus is holding his own up there. I think Nonna approves."
Several feet away, Kathie Stagler commented, "I always said they looked so natural dancing together."
"I think they look natural doing everything together," Carrie said. "And go, Minkus & Milo, by the way. I didn't think I'd like any version better than Norah Jones and Wynton Marsalis, but … I'm lovin' this."
Kathie smiled. "Do you think that might have something to do with the fact that your best friend and her new husband are dancing to it on their wedding day?"
Carrie grinned. "It might … "
The song wound to a close, and Steve and Catherine stayed wrapped together as the guests applauded.
"Could we have the father of the bride join his daughter on the dance floor?" Minkus asked from the stage.
Joseph kissed Elizabeth's cheek, then moved to where Catherine and Steve were standing. Steve clasped his new father-in-law on the arm and smiled before finally removing his hand from Catherine's waist and stepping back to take Joseph's vacated place beside Elizabeth.
Catherine smiled at her father as he took her hand. "I hear you picked out a song for us," she said.
"I think you'll like it," he said confidently.
Her smile grew when band began to play the first few bars of the classic Beatles song 'In My Life,' a favorite of both father and daughter.
Joseph smiled, catching sight of a photo of the two of them on the screen over Catherine's head as they began to dance. He looked back at her. "Do you want to stand on my feet?"
She chuckled, knowing without looking which photo he was referring to. "I am in a white dress," she said with a bright smile.
"And you are absolutely beautiful." He smiled softly. "You've stood on your own two feet your whole life, Catherine. Through all the moves, all the changes. I really am so proud of everything you've accomplished. Of the woman you've become. I was proud of you when you were three years old, and I'm proud of you now. And I know you're nowhere near done."
She laughed. "You've got that right."
"You and Steve will continue to do great things. Individually and together."
Catherine smiled as they continued to dance through the instrumental solo. She paused, her brow knitting slightly, then said, "You know how much of that … what I've done, who I am … you know how much is because of you, right, Dad?" She bit her lip, her eyes welling with tears. "I was completely serious when I said you were my hero. You and mom both. You … you inspired me, you taught me how important it is to give everything my all. How important it is to take care of other people, to serve."
He gazed at her, touched and swelling with pride even now.
She took a shaky breath, tightening her hand around his, then said with utter conviction, "There will never be a day in my life when I'm not proud and grateful to have you as my father."
"And there will never be a day in my life when I'm not proud and grateful to be your father," he said, his normally strong voice choked with emotion and his eyes rimmed with tears. "And to have you as my daughter."
Catherine wrapped her arms around Joseph in a teary embrace. "I love you, Dad."
He hugged her back, then kissed her brow. "And I love you, my beautiful, strong little butterfly."
As the final notes of the father daughter dance played, and Catherine embraced her father, Steve stepped towards Boris and said something in the unflappable organizer's ear that caused him to move to the stage and speak to Minkus, who nodded and had a quick conference with the rest of the band before stepping to the microphone.
"The groom has requested a mother son dance," he said as the band began to play a familiar tune.
Steve held his hand out to Elizabeth. "May I have this dance?"
Grace gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, tears springing to her eyes.
With a heartfelt smile, Elizabeth took Steve's hand and followed him to the center of the dance floor.
"You've been much more of a mother to me than my own mother ever was," Steve said, his voice rough with emotion, as Minkus crooned Somewhere Over the Rainbow. "I'm not sure ... well, I just hope I've managed to let you know how much it means to me … how much you mean to me."
Elizabeth put her hand under his chin and raised his head until they were looking at each other, his watery eyes meeting hers. "It has been my extreme pleasure, Steve. Every second."
"Thank you for raising such an amazing daughter," Steve said without breaking eye contact.
"Thank you for loving my amazing daughter," Elizabeth replied.
Catherine grasped her father's hand tightly as she heard sniffles from every part of the room.
"Thanks for always being there for me," Steve said softly. "Even if I didn't always deserve it."
"You always deserved it, Steve," Elizabeth smiled softly. "You just didn't always believe that."
"Then thank you for hanging in there 'til I did."
Elizabeth looked at the assembled friends and family, not a dry eye among them. "You're more than welcome," she said as she squeezed his arm softly. "Every step of this journey has been worth it for the chance to be here today seeing you and Catherine take this step, surrounded by so many people who love and respect you. I wouldn't have missed this for the world."
Steve smiled softly, then sought out the other pair of eyes in the room that looked so much like hers.
Catherine
His new wife.
The second their gazes met he knew.
Their thoughts were exactly the same.
As Minkus sang on in the background they both smiled.
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true
END PART 1
Look for part 2 of the story, Set on Fire, tomorrow.
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