Edith was overflowing with happiness when she at last was standing by Anthony's side in church. She had difficulties holding her voice steady when she looked up and whispered to him.
"Good afternoon".
"Good afternoon, my sweet one", he replied. But she sensed at once that something was wrong with him. He was worried, she was afraid his old worries about not being good enough for her had come back yet again. She would show him tonight how very good he was for her, but she felt he needed some reassurance right now.
So she reached out and squeezed his left hand, while looking up into his worried eyes.
"I love you so very much, Anthony", she said, in a voice that was no longer a whisper but loud enough for her Papa and everyone else around them to hear. "You make me so happy!" That seemed to calm Anthony down a little, and he gave her a little shy smile.
Then the reverend started: "Dearly beloved."
...
They had both managed to say the right things at the right times during the ceremony, and now they were pronounced husband and wife. When he bowed down to kiss her she noticed that his worries seemed to have disappeared. He seemed much more sure of himself than he had ever been in all these last months.
Edith was brimming over with happiness. It was obvious that being married to her agreed with him. Maybe it was just the fact that he couldn't change his mind any longer that had eased up his mind.
...
They spent their wedding night back at his house - their house - before they started out on their honeymoon the next day. They were a little shy that night, this was after all her first experience of the physical side of marriage and his experience was so long in the past. But they managed to get done what should be done before the morning came. Edith had thought it would be lovely, but she was quite surprised about how wonderful it all was. He was such a gentle and careful lover.
And she loved him so very, very much.
...
A/N: I needed to give them a happy ending.