As Nicole was greeting the rest of her second family into the church, Mark had other things to do. He was in the fellowship hall, asked what time church began, and when he gotten the answer he found that he only had a few minutes to ask. "Mr. George, Howard, and Charlie, I need to talk to you. Is there a room we could talk in for a few minutes?" "Sure, just head down the hall here and turn to your left. We still have about 10 minutes before we have to get ready for the service." Charlie replied as he went with the rest of the men. Mark was nervous, he was standing with some of the most important people in Nicole's life. Granted it wasn't her dad, since he passed months before they even started talking to one another, but these men knew her also.

"Son, are you alright?" George asked him with a hand on his. "No sir, um, it's really hard to ask, but you 3 are 4 of the important men in Nicole's life. I have to do this right, do I have your blessing to ask for Nicole's hand in marriage? I had thought about proposing on the beach last week, but she is so into this church, and I had to come over here to do it. I want each of you to play a part in this wedding. It may not be legal, but she will be married in front of her family, today. Howard, can you be the best man? Charlie and George, will you walk her down the aisle? I don't know where to have the wedding, but she's always talking about the lake. So the time before lunch, I will go with her and see if we can have it tonight." the 3 men nodded, George had tears in his eyes. "Yes, son, I will give you my blessing. Welcome to the family!" It was nearing 9, so they hurried out, without a word to anyone.

As the prelude played, Nicole and Mark was siting in her favorite place, right where the sun came through the window. It had always made her feel close to her dad and Mark. She was holding his hand and the preacher's wife's hand, she felt complete now, and safe. She laid her head onto his shoulder, closed her eyes as the music played. When the music stopped, it was time for the announcements. Nicole raised her hand with a smile on her face. "Yes, Nicole?" Richard ask with a smile on his face. "I know most of yall know Mark here, he's the love of my life, and I'm beyond happy he came to surprise me!" she said, as she kissed Mark's cheek. Everyone clapped and welcomed Mark into the family. Wanda was next with the announcement of game night, that Thursday. "Oh, Lord, this will be a mess" Howard said as he laughed. "Babe, what is he talking about?" Mark asked to her. "Well baby, I get a little crazy on that night, another side of me comes out." "I'm glad I'll be here for that then." he winked at her, and looked back at Howard with a thumbs up.

It was Mark's turn for the Biggest Announcement of his life, he raised his hand just before the opening prayer was about to begin. "Oh, we look like we have another announcement." "Yes Sir, may I come up there to tell it?" "Sure Mark, you don't have to ask." the preacher replied back to him. "Well, hello again to everyone. I've met some of you this morning, it's an Amazing feeling here. Yes, I gave Nicole one of the shocks to her life, but here's another one Sweetheart. I had asked some men here who knows you well, I'm dearly sorry it wasn't your dad, but I know he's looking down on this moment. My baby girl, my Nic Nic, my everything, my reason to live. You have made me the luckiest man alive for these past 4 years, the distance will no longer be for us soon, that is if you will accept this ring here to become my wife?" Mark had tears in his eyes, as he watch Nicole come to him with a tear stained face. She nodded, because that's all she could do at that moment. Her heart was racing more than ever. Mark slipped the ring on her finger, picked her up, and carried her bridal style back to their seats. Everyone applauded for the couple, with tears in their own eyes.

As the church service went on, Mark had gotten lost listening to Nicole's voice when she was singing. He remembered just last week that voice was shaky when she asked if she could sing to him. "You still have a beautiful voice." he whispered in her ear. Dammit Mark, you are making it so hard to think good today" Nicole thought in her mind. She turned to Mark and blushed, as he laughed. Nicole knew that Mark loved how every few minutes, they were standing and then sitting. She always told him, she was getting her exercise in while she was at church, now he understood what she meant.

Next was Sunday school, she had her place right in front of her pawpaw, and beside her soon to be husband. Coffee was served to each of the men with a kiss on the cheek, which made the men smile. The teacher that morning was a person that her pawpaw really didn't care for, so he was bored shitless. Nicole had started to giggle, and Mark tried not to laugh at her. She was so carefree in that moment. He had never seen her that way before, not even when she was with him. Sure, she was happy, but today she was more relaxed and calm. Nicole had taken Mark's napkin, torn it, and started thumping the little pieces to the elderly man in front of her. That went on for most of the lesson. They didn't really hear any of the "teacher's" message, because they were too busy playing.

It was now the break time, which left 30 minutes before the lunch they were having that day. "Excuse us, we have something to check on, we will be back soon." Mark had said to the group, and took Nicole's hand. "Where are we going?" she asked as they made it out the church doors. "Well, I have decided that tonight you will become my wife, we can't make it legal, but you will be married in front of your family. I know you love the lake area, and the beach, and you will have them both soon. As for tonight, you will have the lake. Now will you point me in the direction of the lake please, baby girl?" She couldn't believe her ears. What did Mark just say? Wedding tonight? So much to do, so little time! "But Mark.." "No, don't over think this Nicole," he said in a stern voice. "I know you're worried about the decorations, the dress, everything. I have people who will help. I will give you my card, you go with Mawmaw and go pick out a dress right after the lunch. Then you will go to Mrs. Kay's house to get ready and dolled up, even though you don't need to. You always look so beautiful to me!"

By the time they were through talking, they were at the lake. He wasn't sure who to talk to about having the venue set up for that night, but Nicole did. She pointed Mark the way to the man's trailer. "Hey, Bennie, I don't know if you recognize me or not." she was stopped by a hug from the elderly man. "Of course I remember you, how can I not?" Mark was now wondering who the hell this man was, and put his arms around Nicole in a protective way. "Who may this man be, that is protecting this little princess?" he joked. "Mark Calaway sir, I am planning to married this woman tonight, I just needed to know if it would be okay to rent this place for a couple of hours?" "Congratulations, and of course, let's go over here and set up the payment." the elderly man said. Mark was so happy, no amount was too much, for his dreams were about to come true.

They went back to the church with 5 minutes remaining, before lunch was served. "Damn, they do go all out for the dinners here don't they?" Mark asked. "I told you, we always have too much food!" "Well that only means more for tonight." he winked, she groaned. Mark knew that eating food was hard for her, she was trying so hard to become this fit woman who didn't eat certain things. He was proud of her, but she was over doing herself, and in his mind starving herself. "Babe, you need to eat, you know it's okay, right?" "Yes, baby, but that means 3 hours of gym tomorrow. Okay?" "Anything for you!"

"Can I have your attention please?" Mark asked the group, right before the prayer. "I have planned the wedding for tonight at 7 PM, we would love if you all could make it. Mawmaw, if it's okay to call you that, would you take Nicole to get her dress after we eat. Pawpaw, Howard, Charlie, you all will come with me. Will someone help with the decorations? I don't even have to ask about the food, since I know how big you all go out for that." everyone laughed. "Mark, I will delighted to go with her to find the dress, and of course you can call me that, we're family. Will Nicole have a place to get ready?" "Yes, if it was okay with Kay, I would like to go there, or if Wanda wouldn't mind, since she is closer." Nicole said, as the elderly ladies gotten together and said it didn't matter which house. So all that was settled, and they rounded up for the prayer. That night would become Nicole's and Mark's new life together, but would it all happen the way they had planned?