Part 6
Lucas walked back to his place at the right of the altar, shaking a bit with relief, himself. Not wanting to give anything else the time to develop, the wedding party took their places there as well. Across from him again were Jeannie, Stephany, Belle, Cassie and Billie, giggling among themselves and tugging at a sleeve here, a bodice there. Ranged with Lucas were Tony, Will, Andrew, Phillip and Mike, just as busily checking themselves out.
"Looks like we're good to go." Billie stage-whispered to Todd, and the young priest gestured to his sister in the choir loft. The time honored music began again, and this time Sami was obviously clinging even harder to John's strong right arm. And in her arms was a bouquet that brought more than one smiling tear to the watcher's eyes. It was made of baby's breath, incredibly pale pink and cream colored roses, and completely out of season lilacs. And it had been Kate's gift to the bride.
"You may have trouble believing me when I say this." Kate told Sami when she brought the flowers into the bride's room earlier, "But I think there's a chance you may be good for my older son."
"I-I hope so." was all Sami could manage to say.
"Well, you've helped him stay sober through all we've been through lately. And that's something I could never do. And you and Will seem to anchor Lucas as nothing else ever could."
"Well, that's because he knows I'll take him apart if he starts chasing skirts again." Sami laughed. "And he loves Will so much. I guess that should have given me a clue ... shouldn't it?"
"Maybe, maybe not. Sami, I'm no more of a plaster saint than anyone in Salem, and I'll tell you what I should have realized a long time ago. Children need and deserve anything and everything we can give them. They deserve all the love and care the people in their life have to give. And that's what I realize you gave Will, and what I already knew I tried to give Lucas. You and I ... well, I've been thinking about this a lot and I think we fought for years because we're too much alike. No, wait, I need you to hear me out before I cave on this:
We are the kind of mothers, both of us who would do anything in her power, and grab as much power as she could with both hands to protect our kids.
And we're the kind of people who have perfect 20/20 vision unless and until the blinders go on and we can't see anything but a threat to those same kids. And because we respect, but don't really like that about ourselves, we hate it in each other. The ends don't justify the means and we both know it. But we've spent most of Will's lifetime acting as if they did. I don't want to do that anymore, Sami But I think that's a pretty fair assessment, and by the way, so does John."
"You've been talking to John, about me?" Sami asked. "Why?"
"Because I wanted to know what a man who helped to raise you would say I needed to do to make the truce we called last summer permanent." Kate told her.
"And he told you ...what?"
"That the past died last summer and it was time and past time to bury it. And I agree. So the question is, do you?"
"He said ... Damn, that's just what Lucas ..." " Sami shook her head, "Kate, I agree, but on one condition."
"Sami, what?"
"That you and I make sure we keep our guys from conspiring against us this way." Sami laughed. "Deal?"
Kate grinned and nodded. "Deal. Wait, does that count Antony, Mike Horton and Will?"
"Especially Will!" Sami agreed. "And his new little brothers if that's what appears in late June or early July next year."
"Omigd," Kate's hazel eyes widened with mock horror. "In that case I'm starting right now to pray for girls!"
"Me too!" Sami laughed, and smiled again as the music swelled and she walked towards the altar on John's arm.
This time they made it all the way down the aisle and the sigh of relief through the congregation was audible, making everyone laugh. But Todd Curtis had been officiating in another parish for several years now, and he knew how to quiet a rowdy crowd almost as well as his mother. He walked down the steps in front of the altar and smiled calmly, gesturing for them to sit down again and let the ceremony proceed.
John walked Sami up to stand at Lucas' left hand, and waited until Todd asked the traditional question: "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
"Her father, her mother and her stepfather, which is me." John answered, and kissed Sami softly. Then he went back to sit with Carrie, Kim and Kayla in the first pew on the bride's side of the aisle.
"I love you." Sami whispered as he bent to kiss her, and smiled tearily.
Then, as they had agreed and rehearsed, Todd continued, turning to glance at Lucas and the other side of the church.
"Who gives this man to be married to this woman?"
"His father and I do." Kate responded, walking up to embrace Lucas for a moment.
"Mom ..." Lucas started to say, his throat closing on him. "Mom thanks, I love you."
He said nothing more but glanced over at Tony, not everyone in St Mark's today was privy to their relationship. The bride and groom and their respective parents agreed that everyone coming to the wedding didn't need to know Kate was referring to someone other than the late Bill Horton.
As the liturgy proceeded, Todd indicated that the bride and groom could take their places on a brocade covered bench to one side. They held a liturgy guide together, but neither Lucas nor Sami even glanced at it. They were too excited and too much focused on each other.
Todd gave another signal and Mimi walked slowly up to take her part in the ceremony, a reading chosen for its sentiment and its brevity.
"A reading from the writings of Thomas Merton," she began:
" To say that I am made
in the image of G-d,
is to say
that love is the reason for my existence
for G-d is love."
Blushing prettily, Mimi walked back into the congregation, to sit back next to Rex, on the groom's side of the aisle.
After an Epistle and more blessings were given, Mike Horton stood up and walked to the top edge of the step.
"A reading from The Centering Book, by MC Richards. "He read, and smiled at his gathered friends and family.
"This is why
love is in the strictest sense, necessary.
It must be present
in order for life to happen freely
It is the other face of freedom.
One gives up all one has for this
This is the love that resides in the self
the self love
out of which all love pours,
the fountain, the source
At the center.
one gives up all the treasured sorrow
and self mistrust
all the precious loathing and suspicion
One bends in the wind
There are many disciplines that strengthen
One's athleticism for love
It takes all one's strength."
Mike walked back to his place between Andrew and Will, and grinned as he and everyone saw Sami leaning in to whisper something and then kiss her groom warmly.
"Sami, everyone's staring at me!" Lucas protested weakly, "There are 472 people here and you've got them all staring at me, and wondering what I'm doing up here."
"No," Sami laughed, shaking her head, loving the feeling of her hair loosed to her shoulders. "Those 472 people, not counting our wedding party, are all staring at me, cos I'm the bride here, and they're asking two questions? They want to know who is that devilishly gorgeous guy sitting next to Sami Brady of all people, and how did she get him to the altar? And the answers are Lucas Desmond Roberts, because he said yes!"
Immediately after the midpoint of the liturgy, the bride and groom, the wedding party and anyone else who wished, was welcomed to walk into the sanctuary and take Communion. Helping Todd out as servers were Carrie Brady, Phillip Collier, Laura Horton, Joshua Fallon in place of his nearly six months pregnant wife, Jessica, and Doug and Julie Williams. And when all was said and done, Sami and Lucas were kneeling on a prie-deu in front of Todd in front of the main altar, nodding their answer when he asked if they were ready to go on.
"Dear friends and family of these two young people," Todd began, "We are here today for the best reasons in the world, for love of them, for love of each other and for the celebration of Sami and Lucas' love for one another. It's been a long and winding road for these two, and I'm sure they are happily amazed to have reached this destination.
It took a lot of pain and grief, a lot of compassion and forgiveness, a lot of joy and understanding to get our bride and groom here today, and I have to say the credit goes almost as much to their sheer determination, as it does to their faith. They've won the good fight, or at least the hardest skirmish yet. And that is well worth celebrating. Marriage, as so many of you know, is believed in our faith to be an institution established of G-d. It is not to be entered into frivolously or lightly, It is a sacred bond that echoes the ties between our G-d and His church. And that is why we are here today, to witness and acknowledge and honor the bond that has brought our young friends here before us. And that is why we must begin by asking this question of both of you, Sami and Lucas." Todd paused and both groom and bride met his gaze unwaveringly. "Have you come here today to give yourselves to each other freely, of your own desire, without coercion, hesitation, or any purpose of evasion?"
"We have." they chorused.
"Do you know of any reason, or if you do not, does anyone here present know of any reason these two may not be lawfully joined in the sacred bonds of matrimony?"
The whole church fell silent. And for a moment that silence deepened, as Sami's eyes widened and Lucas held her hand as if for dear life. They both swallowed hard, in order to answer 'no'. to the traditionally, legally required question. Then Will piped up before anyone could stop him.
"No, nobody does. No way!"
"Well said." Todd chuckled. "That's settled then. We'll go on with the vows. Put your left hands together and Lucas first, then Sami, repeat after me:
I, Lucas Desmond Roberts,"
"I, Lucas D-desmond Roberts," Lucas repeated, turning his gaze back to Sami.
"Take you, Samantha Gene Brady,"
"take you, Samantha Gene Brady." His eyes were alight with wonder, Sami thought.
"to be my wife, my partner in life, and my one, true love."
"to be my wife, my partner in .. life, and my one true love." Lucas was saying the words Sami felt she'd waited her lifetime to hear.
"I will cherish our friendship, and love you"
"I will cherish our friendship and love you." She knew she was weeping now, and didn't really care. "today, tomorrow and for all the days of our life."
"today, tomorrow and for all the days of our life." Lucas looked so somber as he spoke that Sami thought at one time she would have been sure he was playing her. But not today.
"I will trust you and honor you"
"I will trust you and honor you." Can you really trust me, Lucas? Sami asked him with her eyes.
"I will laugh with you and cry with you."
"I will laugh with you and cry with you." Enough crying, lets have time to laugh.
"I will love you faithfully."
I will love you faithfully." Well, at least I know you won't go chasing after our sisters Lucas Roberts, if you could read my mind right now you'd want to smack me for that one. Sami thought.
"Through the best and the worst. Through the difficult and the easy."
"Through the best and the worst. Through the difficult and the easy." It will have to get easier now, don't you think, General?
"Whatever may come I will always be here."
"Whatever may come, I will always be here." I should have known that by now. You always were.
"As I have given you my hand to hold,"
"As I have given you my hand to hold." And what a kind, strong hand it turned out to be.
"So I give you my life to keep"
"So I give you my life to keep." Lucas' expression was unreadable to her now, yet the depth of emotion in his face threatened to overwhelm her.
"So help me God. Amen."
"So help me, God. Amen."
"Now your turn, Sami. Just like we practiced." Todd encouraged her." I, Samantha Gene Brady,"
"I, Samantha Gene Brady. take you, Lucas Desmond Roberts, to be my husband."
Sami tried to slow down for Todd but her excitement was pumping adrenalin like mad. Lucas grinned and nodded encouragement, his throat aching with regret that they hadn't made this happen long since.
"Okay, okay, take a deep breath now, we're more than halfway through. I will cherish our friendship and love you, today, tomorrow and for all the days of our life." Todd chuckled.
"I will cherish our friendship, and love you today, tomorrow and for all the days of our life." Sami echoed. Omgd she really does mean that. Sami, we were always best friends. I won't let anything or anyone change that. Lucas told her, without saying a word aloud.
"I will trust you and honor you"
"I will trust you and honor you." Please believe me, Sami. I trust you with my life and what matter's more, our kid's lives.
"I will laugh with you and cry with you."
"I will laugh with you and cry with you." I don't ever want to see you cry again, Sami, not for anything but joy, at least. But wow, it sure makes your eyes bright.
"I will love you faithfully"
"I will love you faithfully." Well, I didn't think you were going to go chasing after Phillip or Rex. I know you, brat, you're a one man at a time, woman.
"Through the best and the worst, Through the difficult and the easy."
"Through the best and the worst, Through the difficult and the easy." Easy? You call that easy? Lucas swallowed a laugh and nodded at her.
"Whatever may come I will always be here"
"Whatever may come I will always be here." Sami pointed to Lucas' heart and smiled back.
."As I have given you my hand to hold"
"As I have given you my hand to hold." You've been working in the kitchen too much, Sami, you've got a new callous on your Cuisinart button pushing finger. I love your hands.
"So I give you my life to keep"
"So I give you my life to keep." Every minute of every hour for every day we're given.
"So help me God. Amen."
"So help me God. Amen."
"And now together, the verse Sami and Lucas have chosen is from the book of Ruth." Todd told the congregation.
"Entreat me not to leave you,
or to return from following after you,
For where you go I will go,
and where you stay I will stay
Your people will be my people,
and your God will be my God.
And where you die,
I will die and there I will be buried.
May the Lord do with me and more
if anything but death parts you from me."
"And now, not surprisingly, these two have asked to add something further of their own choice, to say to each other, and to everyone who loves them. Sami, your turn to go first, this time." Todd smiled at the bride. Sami stood up and turned to face Lucas again, taking both his hands in her own.
"I want you and everyone to know that I found this poem in some keepsakes my mother got, quite awhile ago on a trip to the Smoky Mountains.
It's called The Conditions by a woman named Bennie Lee Sinclair.
Don't ask a vow of obedience
or try to do my thinking for me.
In this century the cause has been
that I might greet you as an equal.
Ask instead
If I will sleep in the crook of your arm
spend free hours with you
carry children yours and mine
beneath my heart
Then perhaps we can learn
if there are strong things
and sweet things
for which no battle need be fought."
Now Lucas shook his head, wanting to clear his eyes so that he had nothing between them and the cream and satin and lace vision named Sami facing him.
"A very good friend of ours suggested this ... promise to me, and I liked it and I think you will like it. So, thanks, Rivka. Thanks a lot.
I promise to share with you in times of joy
as in times of trouble,
to talk and to listen,
to honor and appreciate you
to provide for and support you
in trust and in love."
Sami took a moment to glance in the direction of Rivka Cooper, which young woman was sitting towards the back of the church, wearing her patented innocent expression, and a white embroidered yarmulke. Then the bride turned back to her groom and they both turned back to Todd.
"Will, you're on." the young priest called out softly. bringing the boy at a near-canter to stand between his parents. In each hand he held one of their wedding rings, and these were safely conveyed to Todd for the blessing. After that, Will endured his parents embrace as long as possible, and left them for the relative safety of Andrew and Phillip.
"The wedding ring," Todd began. "is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two loyal hearts in endless love. It is a seal of the vows Lucas and Samantha have made to one another. Bless O God these rings, that Samantha and Lucas who give them and who wear them, may ever abide in thy peace. Living together in unity, love and happiness for the rest of their lives."
Now Todd turned towards Lucas and Sami, and handed one simple gold band to each. Nodding, instead of speaking to prompt the groom, Todd smiled and Lucas took up his part.
"Samantha, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. With this ring, I thee wed." Lucas slid the ring he'd been sent by his grandmother, Daphne Dimera, a white gold band that shone, he thought, like Sami's golden hair, onto his bride's left ring finger.
Sami knew she was shaking like a leaf, fear of the past and the present trying to drown her voice. But she took a deep breath and resolved to make this ceremony and what followed the best of her life.
"Lucas, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. With this ring, I thee wed." Then she slid Roman's gleaming wedding ring onto her groom's left ring finger.
That was Todd's cue and he took it up without missing a beat.
"In as much as you have each pledged to the other your lifelong commitment, love and devotion, and shown that by the giving and recieving of these rings, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder. You may kiss." Before he'd even finished that permission, the new marrieds were kissing and laughing, embracing and blushing and shedding a waterfall of happy tears. Letting them be, Todd Curtis turned to the congregation and said.
"I'm happy to present to you a new made family: Mr and Mrs Lucas and Sami Brady-Roberts, and their son, William."