Title: A Pair of Hearts - Chapter 8
Author: Romantique (The Original)
Classification: Gary/Marissa Romance Adventure
Rating: T
Summary: This fic takes place immediately after my Early Edition fic, "Hearts."
Legal: These characters do not belong to me. I'm just a fan and have not made a dime. Please email me to obtain permission to post.
A/N: At the suggestion of several reviewers to write another Gary/Marissa fic.
I need to take a little break from fic writing so I can have a surgery. Won't be able to keyboard to write/post for hopefully only a short time. Will be back to write more chapters to 'A Pair of Hearts' as soon as I can.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Now that everyone was accounted for, the clerk walked over to the side door and gave a little knock. Judge Hunsaker entered, wearing his black robe and asked everyone to take their places. The music was turned off, and the judge conducted the ceremony.
Gary Hobson and Marissa Clark. Today you celebrate one of life's greatest moments and give recognition to the worth and beauties of love, as you join together in the vows of marriage.
Gary? Do you take Marissa to be your wife?
Gary clearly spoke. "I do."
Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only onto her?
Gary repeated, "I do."
Marissa? Do you take Gary to be your husband?
"I do," Marissa clearly spoke.
Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only onto him?
"I do," she repeated.
And now, for the Exchange of Rings. May I have the rings, please?
Bernie pulled the rings out of his pocket and handed them to the judge. Marissa's mother walked up to her daughter, took her bouquet, and returned to her seat.
The judge then instructed the couple to face one another and join hands.
Gary? Repeat after me. I, Gary,
"I, Gary."
Take thee, Marissa.
"Take thee, Marissa."
To be my wife.
"To be my wife."
To have and to hold.
"To have and to hold."
In sickness and in health.
"In sickness and in health."
For richer or poorer.
"For richer or poorer."
And I promise my love to you.
"And I promise to love you."
Then, Judge Hunsaker handed Gary Marissa's beautiful ring,
With this ring.
"With this ring."
I thee wed.
"I thee wed."
And with his hands shaking a little, Gary slipped the beautiful ring on Marissa's finger.
Then, the judge turned his attention to Marissa.
Marissa? Repeat after me. I, Marissa.
"I, Marissa."
Take thee, Gary.
"Take thee, Gary."
To be my husband.
"To be my husband."
To have and to hold.
"To have and to hold."
In sickness and in health.
"In sickness and in health."
For richer or poorer.
"For richer or poorer."
And I promise my love to you.
"And I promise my love to you."
The judge placed Gary's ring in Marissa's hands. She transferred it to her right hand.
With this ring.
"With this ring."
I thee wed.
"I thee wed," she repeated.
Gary held out his ring finger, and Marissa slid the matching gold band over his knuckle until it was secure.
The two then securely rejoined their hands.
Gary and Marissa. Just as two different threads woven in opposite directions can form a beautiful tapestry, so can your two lives merge together to form a very beautiful marriage. To make your marriage work will take love. Love should be the core of your marriage, love is the reason you are here. But it also will take trust – to know in your hearts you want the best for each other. It will take dedication – to stay open to one another; to learn and to grow together even when this is not always easy to do. It will take faith, to be willing to go forward tomorrow, never really knowing what tomorrow will bring. In addition, it will take commitment, to hold true to the journey, you both now pledge to share together.
Gary and Marissa, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised to love each other by these vows, by the power vested in my by the State of Illinois, I now declare you to be Husband and Wife. You may kiss your bride.
Gary reached out and held Marissa, drawing her closer to him and kissed her.
When their lips finally parted, Judge Hunsaker said, Ladies and gentleman, may I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Hobson.
The couple turned to their families and smiled as they received love and congratulations all around. After a few minutes, the clerk came in and had their Application for Marriage Certificate witnessed. They chose Bernie and Aunt Hattie to be their witnesses.
When all the signatures were in their proper place, Best Man Bernie suggested, "How about I pull the car around and meet you all out front?"
"Thanks, Dad." Gary was still smiling with his arm around his bride.
As the group walked out of the judge's chambers and towards the elevators, Lois gushed. "Oh, Marissa. Your dress is just beautiful! And you are a beautiful bride!"
"Thank you," Marissa blushed.
Before Bernie left, the group was directed to go to a photographer who lined them up on either side of Gary or Marissa. After a moment for a few makeup touch ups from the ladies, the photographer took several group pictures and some of just the couple. When the photographer was all finished, Bernie took the claim ticket for safe keeping and headed for the elevator before the rest of the group.
As the rest of the group leisurely made their way to the elevators, with two or three conversations going on at once, Lois decided she needed to visit the restroom, and Lucille and Aunt Hattie followed.
"Alone at last," Gary said in a low voice, his bride in his arms.
Left in the hallway, they were alone.
"I can't believe we're married," Marissa said in astonishment. "I am so happy."
"I'm so happy, too," Gary mirrored and kissed his bride again.
"Mmmmmm," they uttered as they kissed more deeply.
Gary held her tight. "My God, I love you."
"I love you," Marissa mirrored his feelings, smiling.
Hearing the clip-clop of high heels echoing down the hall, Gary reached down and took Marissa's hand.
"How do I look?" Marissa asked, keeping her voice down. "My makeup?"
"You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," Gary gushed.
Marissa beamed in the reflection of her new husband's love.
"I meant my lip gloss," she said softly. "Did we kiss it all off?"
"Mmmmmm." Gary studied her face. "Maybe you could use just a little touch up on the lip gloss. Sorry."
"I'm not," she smiled. "Mama can help me with it in the car."
"Gary, just don't stand there," Lois chimed approaching them. "Hit the elevator button."
"Oh," he said and reached over and pressed the button.
"Awwwww," Aunt Hattie said. "These two newlyweds are distracted with one another."
"Can you blame us?" Gary asked, sheepishly.
"Not at all, young man," Aunt Hattie answered with approval.
Soon, the elevated car arrived to go down, and they all piled in.
Once on the Plaza level, when the doors opened, they could see Bernie outside the window, waiting for them in the McGinty's vehicle.
As the wedding party made their way into the vehicle, the ladies being careful not to wrinkle their dresses, Bernie stepped out of the car.
"Gary," he said, motioning over his son. "I don't get it. The Paper's got nothing. Don't you find that strange?"
"I know, Dad," Gary nodded. "It's like The Paper is allowing us the time to have this wedding. I can't explain it. But I'll take it. And you should, too. I liked having you here."
"Yeah. Me, too, son," Bernie said, and got back behind the wheel.
Once inside, he turned to his son who was seated the back seat with is bride and mother-in-law.
"Where to?" Bernie asked.
Gary directed his father on the short drive to Trattoria's. Gary asked his dad to let the valet park the car.
"Fancy Schmancy!" Bernie exclaimed. He then put his arm around Lois and said, "I only take you to finest places."
"Stop it," Lois playfully hit her husband on the arm.
To Gary, he asked, "And you're telling me that this place has the best gnocchi I've ever had?"
"I'll let you be the judge," Gary responded and ushered their wedding party inside.
"Hobson Party," Gary said to the maître d'.
"Yes, we're all ready for you," the gentleman announced. "Follow me, please."
The maître d' led them to the back of the almost empty restaurant to a reserved table in the back of the room. It was tastefully decorated in white and gold.
"For you, Sir," the gentlemen pulled out a chair in the middle of the table. "And for you Madame," he motioned to Marissa and placed her right next to her husband.
As the others found their seats, a waiter appeared. "Could I start you all off with some celebratory champagne?"
And he passed Gary a wine list and pointed to a mid-priced domestic champagne. Gary nodded with approval.
A few minutes later, the waiter returned with a chilled bottle and popped the cord, pouring glasses for the couple first, and then the wedding party.
"I'd like to propose a toast," Bernie announced, as he was the Best Man. "To my son Gary. A chip off the old block. A wonderful son, friend, and an all-around good man. Marissa? You got yourself one of the good guys in my boy. There is no one truer and bluer than Gary Hobson. I know how much my boy loves you. Lois and I welcome you into our family. Here's to Gary and Marissa!"
"Cheers," Lois echoed, and there was glass clinking all around.
Next, Lucille wanted to toast. "My baby girl, Marissa, has always been the bright spot in any room. She has a quiet elegance about her that beams far beyond her small frame. She is good and kind, sweet and thoughtful. But she is also strong and fierce. She has a strength and courage that comes from overcoming obstacles in a sighted world. And she handles it all with such grace. Gary, my new son, you've done well by marrying my daughter. She is a special as they come. A beacon of light and hope. I know you will cherish her light. Welcome to our family, Gary. Here's to Marissa and Gary!"
"Here, here!" Bernie cheered.
And the glass clinking began all over again.
"Thank you," Gary spoke. "Thank you all for coming and being a part of our special day. I know I speak for Marissa in saying that having you all here with us means more to us than you'll ever know. We're both happy and proud that our families could come together, on such short notice, in celebration of our wedding day. We love you all."
"Here, here!" cheered Marissa, so proud of the words spoken by her new husband.
Two waiters appeared with appetizers of calamari, stuffed mussels, and gazpacho shooters. Gary ordered a couple of bottles of the same wine he and Marissa enjoyed the other night.
Appetizer plates and forks were placed in front of each patron, and the waiters passed the different tastes down each end of the table. Soon, everyone had a taste of all three.
"Oh, my," Lois gushed. "This is delicious."
"We're glad you like it," Marissa said. "I know we sure do."
"Sometimes, calamari can sometimes be . . . heavy, greasy," Loins went on. "This is so light. Absolutely no grease. And the flavors in this breading are so delicious."
"I'm a fan of these stuffed mussels, myself," Bernie said.
"Everything is so good," Marissa agreed, and passed around baskets of the sourdough bread.
"Don't eat too many of those, Pop," Gary warned. "You'll want to save plenty of room to try the gnocchi. And there's a special dessert they've prepare for us, too."
"The lasagna is also delicious," Marissa added. "All of the pasta dishes look very, good."
The newlyweds enjoyed watching their families having a good time, enjoying a meal from the restaurant that quickly became the couple's 'our place.'
(To be continued . . .)
