It Won't Come Easily
Chapter Fourteen
"You're sure Carter will meet us at the courthouse?" Lucy asked David through the bathroom door a few days later.
"I'm sure." David told her, starting to laugh. "Knowing him, he has probably been there all day just waiting for it to be 3pm so he can marry you."
Lucy laughed. "I wouldn't put it past him." After she said yes to his third proposal, they talked about when to get married. He wanted to do it that same day but she had to work. So they compromised and agreed to get married on the first day they both had off.
David had agreed to be their witness for the ceremony at the courthouse, and he had volunteered to help Lucy on the day. So she was at his house getting ready. It would have been nice to have Betty here in person, but getting ready in her house somehow made her feel like she was a part of the day.
"Ok, I'm ready to come out." She opened the door and came out to the hallway. "What do you think?"
"You look wonderful." David smiled.
Lucy smiled. She decided on a white, A-Line style dress that came down to her knees and had a v-neckline. It was simple and classy, yet not too over the top for a courthouse wedding. She had her hair softly curled and pinned back.
"Are you ready?" He asked.
She picked up her small purse from the table. "I think so."
They walked together to the front door but she stopped them before they left and kissed him on the cheek.
"What was that for?" David chuckled.
"A thank you." She said.
"For what?"
"Everything." She told him. "You told Carter when he came back that you weren't sure what you would have done if I hadn't been around. Well, the same goes for me. If you hadn't been in my life, I don't know what I would've done either."
He kissed her on the forehead. "You're a hell of a woman. Carter's a lucky guy."
She smiled and gave him a hug. "Can I ask you a question though?"
"Sure."
"It's bugged me for a long time now. You knew who Carter was when you met him. So why did you become his sponsor?"
David pulled away from the hug and started to laugh. "One night, Betty told me some of your history with him. She was convinced that if you two could just have some guidance you would get back together. She believed it with her whole heart. When I ran into him at the meeting and realized exactly who he was, I thought maybe I could give him guidance about sobriety and your relationship. I thought that, combined with Betty guiding you, we might lead you two back together."
"But you didn't tell Betty."
"No." David shook his head. "I didn't. I thought she might try to talk me out of it…which she did after that disastrous dinner fiasco. She was furious, and said I had no right to be Carter's sponsor without letting him know our connection to you. She didn't think it was fair to anyone that I put you two in that situation. But then when I had a chance to explain everything she calmed down."
"Thank you for trying to give him guidance." She smiled, giving him another hug.
"Ok, enough mushy stuff. Let's go get you married."
"Carter and Knight?" The judge called from the doorway.
Carter and Lucy looked at each other and smiled. It was the same judge that married Mark and Elizabeth. "We're here." Carter said, linking arms with Lucy as they entered the room with David behind them.
"I'm Judge Thompson. I'll be performing the ceremony today. Good, you are standing exactly where you should be standing." He looked at them both. "Are we ready to begin?"
"Yeah." Carter nodded, looking at Lucy.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate John and Lucy as they enter into a marriage. Marriage is a bold step into an unknown future. It is risking who we are for the sake of who we can be. In marriage, two lives are intimately shared; and the blending of the two must not diminish either one. Rather, it should enhance the individuality of each partner. It should not be entered into lightly, but after much consideration. It takes work, it takes patience, and it takes time. It takes a commitment from both of you… a commitment to do whatever it takes to make your relationship thrive and not just simply survive. John, please repeat after me."
"I, John, choose you, Lucy, to be my wife/husband and partner from this day forward; to love you, to be a comfort and safe haven in your life, to hold you close, to listen deeply when you speak, to uphold you with my strength, to weigh the effects of the words I speak and the things I do, to never take you for granted, and to always give thanks for your presence in my life."
Carter smiled at Lucy and repeated his vows. "I, John, choose you, Lucy, to be my wife from this day forward; to love you, to be a comfort and safe haven in your life, to hold you close, to listen deeply when you speak, to uphold you with my strength, to weigh the effects of the words I speak and the things I do, to never take you for granted, and to always give thanks for your presence in my life."
"Lucy, please repeat after me." Judge Thompson.
"I, Lucy, choose you, John, to be my husband from this day forward; to love you, to be a comfort and safe haven in your life, to hold you close, to listen deeply when you speak, to uphold you with my strength, to weigh the effects of the words I speak and the things I do, to never take you for granted, and to always give thanks for your presence in my life."
Lucy took a deep breath and smiled as she repeated her vows. "I, Lucy, choose you, John, to be my husband from this day forward; to love you, to be a comfort and safe haven in your life, to hold you close, to listen deeply when you speak, to uphold you with my strength, to weigh the effects of the words I speak and the things I do, to never take you for granted, and to always give thanks for your presence in my life."
"Do you have rings today?" Judge Thompson asked.
"Here you go." David said, handing them over.
"Thank you." He took Lucy's ring and gave it to Carter. "Take this ring and place it on Lucy's finger as you repeat after me. This ring I give as a sign of my love and devotion. With this ring, I thee wed."
Carter winked as he slid the ring on her finger. "This ring I give as a sign of my love and devotion. With this ring, I thee wed."
Judge Thompson gave Lucy the other ring. "Lucy, take this ring and place it on John's finger as you repeat after me. This ring I give as a sign of my love and devotion. With this ring, I thee wed."
Lucy slid the ring on his finger. "This ring I give as a sign of my love and devotion. With this ring, I thee wed."
"By the power vested in me by the state of Illinois, it is my pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Judge Thompson smiled.
Carter didn't hesitate to embrace Lucy and place a slow kiss on her. "We did it." He whispered.
She didn't say anything, instead she just gave him another, shorter kiss.
David pulled out his phone and walked to Judge Thompson. "Could you please take a picture of the three of us?"
"Of course." Judge Thompson agreed.
After the picture was taken, Carter took a picture with Lucy and David. Lucy took a picture of Carter and David. And then David took dozens of pictures of Carter and Lucy.
They soon found themselves back out in the hallway.
"So, you guys are married now." David smiled. "How does it feel?"
"Weird." They both said at the same time.
David laughed, then pulled something out of his pocket. "I know you don't get much of a honeymoon right now. So I got you a suite at the Waldorf-Astoria for the night."
"You didn't have to do that!" Lucy protested.
"I know, but you guys deserve some kind of celebration." David explained, giving the envelope to Carter.
"Thank you." Lucy said, giving David a hug.
"Yes, thank you." Carter nodded.
"Do you want to go to dinner with us?" Lucy offered.
"No." David laughed. "You guys should be alone. We can celebrate another night."
"Ok." Lucy said, going back and grabbing Carter's hand.
"I'll see you newlyweds later." David said with a wave before he left.
Carter looked over at Lucy. "We should go check out this suite."
"You read my mind." She grinned.
Several hours later they were both in white, fluffy robes and finishing up dinner in their suite. Lucy was done but she was waiting for Carter to finish his baked potato. A few moments later she saw him place his napkin on the table.
"Will you dance with me, Mrs. Carter?" He asked, offering her his hand.
She giggled, still not used to the name. "There's no music."
"I can fix that." He went over and picked up his phone. It only took him a moment to connect it to the stereo system in the suite. Soon a slow beat filled the room.
Don't you tell me that it wasn't meant to be
Call it quits, call it destiny
Just because it won't come easily
Doesn't mean we shouldn't try
Carter came over and held out his hand for her. She took his hand and let him lead her to an empty area of the suite. She felt his arm wrap around her waist and she snuggled in as close as she could, laying her head on his chest.
We had a good thing going lately
Might not have always been a fairytale
But you know and I know that they ain't real
I'll take the truth over the story
"I love you." She said as they danced.
"I love you too." He said.
You might've tried my patience lately
But I'm not about to let us fail
I'll be the wind picking up your sail
But won't you do something for me?
"I can't believe we got married." She chuckled.
"Are you happy?" He asked, pulling back just enough so he could see her face.
"I am." She smiled. "I just honestly wasn't sure this would ever happen."
Don't you tell me that it wasn't meant to be
Call it quits, call it destiny
Just because it won't come easily
Doesn't mean we shouldn't try
"I know what you mean." He agreed.
"Are you happy?" She asked with a smile on her face.
"I don't think I could be any happier."
Coming and going, inside out, back to front
All tangled and messy, that's how we've been and
We'll always be, and that's alright with me
Don't you tell me that it wasn't meant to be
Call it quits, call it destiny
Just because it won't come easily
Doesn't mean we shouldn't try
Try, try, just because it won't come easily
Doesn't mean we shouldn't try
Just because it won't come easily
Doesn't mean we shouldn't try
Try, try, just because it won't come easily
Doesn't mean we shouldn't try
Song Credit: Easily by Bruno Major
A/N: Well that is a wrap on this story! Hope you enjoyed it! I have another one coming out soon, called "The Things That Keep Us Apart". Thanks for reading!