"Phew! Finished the house just in time!" Aro admired as he finished painting the last wall in the new kitchen and family room.
"It's not quite what we had in Texas," Cam noted as he finished removing the last protective drop cloths from the kitchen's countertops and appliances.
"Bro, I am so glad this is not what we had in Texas!" Aro responded.
"I was about to agree — if you'd let me finish!" Cam objected. "Think the ladies will like this . . . our present to them?"
"Well, we'll just have to find out after the wedding, won't we," Aro replied.
"I'm just not sure we shouldn't have consulted them on the paint colors around here," Cam cautioned.
"We agreed this was our surprise and wedding gift to them," Aro answered. "Plus we consulted, Flo, Dana, and Sally on the color choices here, and I'm sure at least one of them talked to Tia and Mia about that. Heck, those two probably had Flo and the others urge us to pick these colors anyway."
"Yeah, they do like red tones, and we sure have painted enough burgundy walls around here," Cam admitted.
"And it wasn't my choice to go with a light pink in my wing's bedroom," Aro commented. "But Flo really pushed that one on me, so I know Tia was involved!"
"Well, it's time," Cam noted. "You ready to have your life changed?"
"Yeah, I am," Aro accepted, " . . . and it pretty much already is."
Cam's mobile rang. "Hello, this is Cam," he answered.
"Just wanted to let you know that something, two somethings actually, are missing from the wedding here," Mia responded.
"We've just finished and are on our way," Cam assured. "And hey, you're not supposed to be talking to me beforehand here, remember? Flo said something about bad luck."
"Mister, I've already been through my whole life's share of bad luck here recently, and I'm going to talk to my lover and rescuer, and even see him, if I want to now," Mia replied warmly. "So come on out here already, where I can see you."
"Mia!" Cam admonished shaking his hood with a smile and looking out a window towards the side street, as she waived a tire at him, decked out in her bridal veil. "You're breaking the rules here!"
"And with you, sir, I'm gonna be breaking the rules every day," Mia replied, " . . . from now on, for so long as we both shall love! Now, get out here already and let's go!"
"Coming . . . dear," Cam smiled.
"Don't you dare call me that . . . ever!" Mia warned, but with a smile.
Cam now opened the front door of their new home as he came out through the covered porch with his tires spread in surrender. "Truce! We give up, peacefully!" he said as he and Aro both came out.
"Aro, it's beautiful," Tia sighed, looking at the new house from the street beside her sister, " . . . the big windows . . . the nice, deep porch, complete with a swing platform for two . . . the landscaping . . ."
"Desert friendly and water conserving, of course," Cam added.
"We wanted this to be a surprise, ladies," Aro groaned, " . . . for after the wedding?"
"Well, it's a little big to hide under a box and put a ribbon on it, sweetheart," Tia noted. "It's wonderful, just as it is . . . and I can't wait to see and celebrate in our wing later! Hope you installed the sound-proofing, like I suggested! I am looking forward to a little 'revving' tonight with you at last!"
"Don't worry, bro, I've been getting the same suggestions," Cam empathized as Aro just smiled and shook his hood at Tia.
"Could we go and make all this official, now?" Mia suggested.
"Yes," Cam gladly accepted as the two couples began to motor away.
— — — — —
"Ladies and gentlecars!" the Sheriff announced in his booming voice from the back of the assembled congregation, bringing everyone to attention. "It is my high honor and distinct privilege to present the two grooms . . . Aron and Cameron Devlin!"
A hired quartet played Wagner's traditional Bridal Chorus as Aro and Cam came down the aisle between the assembled cars together, out in the open desert just east of town.
"This works well," Aro noted to Cam as they motored along, preceded by their groomscars . . . Mater, Ramone, Lightning, and Chef Peugeot, an immaculate, white European sports car who was Cam's mentor and friend from the culinary institute where he had trained and graduated from.
"Yeah, it's what I like about this place," Cam replied, " . . . wide open spaces, beautiful scenery, blue skies — much better than being inside anywhere on a day like this. Just the desert outside of town here works fine."
When Aro and Cam had each taken their places either side of Doc along with their respective pairs of groomscars, Doc nodded for the Sheriff to continue.
"Ladies and gentlecars!" he boomed again. "In honor of their late parents, the brides have requested that the grooms' parents escort them down the aisle. Escorting Tia Miata will be Mister Tex Devlin, and escorting Mia Miata, with the help of our own Fire Chief, Red, will be Misses Amanda Devlin. Everyone, the two brides . . ."
Wagner's Bridal Chorus resumed as first the bridesmaids, Dana, Flo, Sally and Dora proceeded, followed by Tia and Tex, and finally Mia, Amanda and Red came down the outdoor aisle, as Aro and Cam couldn't help but cast admiring gazes at their brides.
"Thannk youu," Mandy softly said to Mia, straining to speak as clearly as she could for the occasion.
"Bet with two boys, you really never thought you would be doing this . . . escorting a bride down the aisle, huh?" Mia asked her with a smile.
Mandy just smiled back at her as they began to proceed.
"But it's me who should be thanking you, Mother," Mia said. "If you hadn't guided everyone to find me, I wouldn't be here today . . . and Cam would be a widower without ever having been married. I think about that almost every day now, and it makes me want to love and care for him all the more."
"I wwannted us all to havve lovving, happy marriages," Mandy said slowly. "It's what I assked for . . . whhen I was 'up there'. I'mm jusst sorry your blessing came about in such a harrd way."
"That guy needed to be caught, and those murders needed to be solved," Mia calmly assured. "It was a lingering chapter in my life that needed to be closed. I should have come forward years ago to say something, but I just couldn't."
"Youu needed someone to lovve, to hellp youu throughh it," Mandy suggested.
"Yeah, wanting to protect Cam was my big reason for leading that guy away from town here," Mia admitted. "I was really torn about leaving Cam behind though, when I prayed to be taken quickly into death and spared the pain and suffering of a lengthy one."
"At least I wass givven the memmories to set it right!" Mandy commented.
"Memories?" Mia asked, as things suddenly seemed to change and slow around her.
"You were up there, too . . . in Heaven, Mia," she now somehow heard Mandy speak softly, but suddenly with amazing clarity inside her mind, as Mia looked forward. "We talked up there. You just don't remember it . . . yet."
Images, recollections, now began to flood Mia's mind as she heard Mandy speak.
"You asked me to come find you, to help you get back to Cam," Mandy's voice continued. "You showed me images of what you saw, of where you were. We talked in Heaven while I was in my coma, and you were lying in that junkyard, even though they did not occur together at the same time here on Earth. When I searched for you, I just had to remember what you had already told and shown me in Heaven. It wasn't a psychic 'trick' . . . just our simple talk up there. You even helped convince me it was worth coming back — that I could share the family, the marriage, and the love that I wanted."
"Why didn't Lightning help find me?" Mia asked, somehow unable to look at Mandy beside her, not wanting to break the miracle she was sensing around her. "Wasn't he up there with us during his crash? Did I ask him?"
"He was focused on Sally, and returning to her on Earth, while he was where we were," Mandy's voice explained. "You and I at least looked around where we were, but he never saw or heard us. He didn't even perceive Sally's essence . . . her future and eternal self . . . parked right next to him. We see what we focus on, and look for — even more so in Heaven than on Earth. We saw him though, and he still helped. He was able to recognize on Earth that I could find you, and convince Sally, when we needed him to."
"But you and I had never met before your coma on Earth," Mia noted. "How did you recognize me in Heaven?"
"Cam was how we found each other," Mandy's voice assured. "Your strong love for him, and your strong desire to both protect and return to him 'introduced' me to you . . . drew me to you while we were both there. I willingly became the 'solution' you were looking for."
"Why?" Mia asked.
"Because, I wanted to experience the real love of a family," the voice replied. "It's something I had long deeply desired . . . just like you desired love with Cam. You offered that to me, and I accepted it with joy. You became my 'solution' as well. I did come back for Tex, but I also came back for you . . . just as you came back for me, as well as for Cam."
"So you knew what would happen to me . . . that morning we talked in the clinic . . . before it all began?" Mia now asked.
"Would you want me to prevent you from having what you are now experiencing? Do you want me to prevent it all . . . even now?" Mandy's voice replied to Mia, " . . . to say even a single word of warning? I can, you know. I can say 'John' in that talk of ours that morning in the clinic, right now . . . that's all it would take . . ."
Time suddenly seemed to slow right to a stop and stand still for Mia as she looked around, and then focused on Cam in front of her.
Mia re-ran her memories . . . of that family she saved and was inspired by at the freeway interchange in Amarillo . . . of how Cam had thoroughly and joyfully spoiled her after they returned home to Radiator Springs . . . of how the entire town had thrown her a welcome home party . . . how she and Cam had even spent a magic few days alone up at the Wheel Well as a 'get well' present from Sally and Lightning. Mia had reconnected in wonderful, new ways with her sister, and taken an even deeper interest in cooking with Cam. She had even started bringing hot, delicious lunches across the street to Lizzy and just talking with her . . . all because of what had happened.
Mia realized she loved Cam so much . . . even more now than she did before. Her life was richer, fuller, in indescribable ways. Her appreciation of it all was so different, and deeper.
But she also vividly remembered the pain, the terror and the hopelessness of what she had experienced with John.
Mia closed her eyes at those recollections. She now hesitated.
"If I said to warn me . . ." she started to answer inside her mind.
Instantly, Mia felt the memories, the awareness, even her love, start to unravel and change within and around her.
"Love will not disappear for you," Mandy's voice observed, " . . . but it will be different . . ."
Mia could feel her memories begin to shift, even change. She could now begin to recall a different set of memories . . . memories where Mandy warned her about John during their conversation in the clinic that morning during the Dinoco retreat . . . about how she had gone to Cam after that, and trusted him in confessing her past with John . . . how they had gone to the Sheriff . . . how John was arrested the moment he entered Radiator Springs, with extra assistance from the State Police. Mia could now remember how the murders were solved, and no one was hurt, or even really traumatized. She had never felt she had to run away now. Cam had never felt he had lost her. There was now never any reunion or return to savor or celebrate.
Her mind and attention were now brought back to the present, but Mia was still paused in between realities at her wedding. She began to feel grayer, plainer somehow. She noticed Cam was subtly changing in front of her now, as he remained motionless. The expression of love and joy in his eyes was still there, but it wasn't what it had been. The deeper, incredibly rich and more meaningful love they had come to share as a result of her ordeal, even her more profound connections with Mandy, Tia, and Lizzy . . . all of it was fading to the lighter tones of a more ordinary life.
"Farewell, Mia . . ." Mandy's voice said. "You will no longer remember our connection in Heaven, because it now never had a chance to happen. All of this will remain a gift though, from both me, and a side of you that you will now never know about . . ."
"No!" Mia exclaimed within herself. "No! Stop . . . please. Change it back . . ." she finally decided. "Don't change this . . . don't warn me . . . don't prevent this . . . don't take this away from me! . . ."
"As you wish . . ." Mandy's clear voice now warmly replied.
Suddenly, all of what Mia treasured about what she had been feeling and experiencing before was now restored, both within and around her. She tearfully reveled in the return of her original feelings and memories. Mia could accept both the good and the bad now . . . use it, even share it. But she still never wanted to repeat or experience anything like her ordeal again.
"No . . . wait!" Mia said sensing the voice drifting away in her mind. "Why am I experiencing this now . . . this talk with you?"
"Because you wanted to remind yourself what had happened, to give yourself this gift, this perspective . . . in just this way, when the time was right . . ." the voice said as it now departed.
"Wait!" Mia asked again. "What about The Manufacturer . . . ?"
The sounds around her, and even time itself, now seemed to resume. For a second, Mia was disoriented.
"Fforr youu, Mmia . . ." Mandy concluded, having now returned, in Mia's hearing, back to her regular speech, and repeating the same words she had said to her that morning in the clinic.
Mia now briefly looked at Mandy in awe. Mandy just smiled.
"Mother . . ." Mia then cried as she nudged against Mandy tightly.
"I-I . . . lovve . . . hearring . . . thhat-t!" Mandy said, closing her own eyes in joy. Mia didn't realize she was now holding up the ceremony, but no one minded.
"Youu d-do rremmember noww whhat Mirra tolld youu, donn't youu?" Mandy added.
"Yes," Mia smiled, looking away, remembering now . . . savoring having simply seen her own mother once again while she was in Heaven, and hearing her own mother's words that Mandy had already shared with her in that past conversation they shared in the clinic . . . Go for it.
"I do," Mia confirmed.
"Hey," Cam quietly interjected, "you're not supposed to be using that line quite yet!"
"Mmarry," Mandy encouraged as Red moved her to the front row now, alongside Tex, ". . . we havve mmuch timme ahead, forr tallk."
"Cam . . ." Mia quietly sighed as she now parked next to him in front of Doc.
"What's the matter, Mia?" Cam quietly asked, seeing that she was somewhat shaken.
"I . . . I can't explain it all now," Mia said. "But, I've just had some experiences . . . some memories, that are difficult to describe. Your mother just helped me realize that I did go to Heaven from that junkyard . . . that I did briefly die."
"I believe you, Mia," Cam replied softly as he looked at her.
"You do?" Mia quietly responded in surprise.
"Yeah, I do," he assured. "Somehow, I could feel you weren't there when I first nudged you. I'm so glad you came back . . . came back to me."
He just lovingly, gratefully nudged her for a moment, not caring that he was now holding up the ceremony.
"Tell me about it later," he said with tears in his eyes as he emerged from their nudging embrace. "I want to hear about it . . . really."
"Cam . . ." Mia marveled with a smile, looking at him with a new wonder. "I will," she assured.
"Well, it's not quite time for that either, yet!" Doc cautioned Mia with a smile, as he began, "Dearly beloved . . . I've never married twins before . . . and oh dear, both couples look alike here! You could have dressed differently, or worn nametags or something!"
The crowd laughed, as Mia and even Cam worked to refocus themselves on the ceremony at hand now.
"But, be that as it may," he proceeded with a smile, "do 'ya want me to marry you individually, or all at the same time?"
"We should have talked about this," Aro admitted to the other three. Whadda y'all want to do here?"
Initially Tia, Mia, and Cam all shrugged. Now all of them were holding up the ceremony.
"Individual vows, with a shared pronouncement," Mia finally suggested. "I have some things I want to say to Cam."
"Fine . . . good idea . . ." the other three agreed.
"Uhh . . . could you define that?" a puzzled Doc asked.
"Two sets of 'Do you's', one 'I proclaim you married'," Mia clarified.
"Oh, gotcha," Doc replied, now knowing what the plan was.
"At least he doesn't get hung up like this during surgeries," Dora confided to Sally as the two brides' maids were parked on Mia and Cam's side, in between Lightning and Chef Peugeot. "But I am thinking of suggesting he retire from the bench."
"Oh no, not yet!" Sally quietly pleaded. "They'll make me become the judge if he goes!"
"Uhh . . . but who wants to go first?" Doc now asked, having stumbled right into another conundrum.
"Aro and Tia," Mia suggested. "They got engaged first."
"Nope," Aro differed. "You two should exchange vows first. It's only fair."
"Possibly needing some inspiration in the 'vows' department?" Mia surmised with a gentle smile as she looked their way. "Didn't exactly discuss them beforehand?"
Aro and Tia kind of looked at their tires at first. "We didn't have a crisis like you two did," Aro admitted. "Everything's gone almost too smoothly for us. It didn't really come up. But we can think of something. Oh yeah, Tia, remember the 'sidewalk talk' at our engagement?"
"That's the ticket!" Tia agreed with relief.
A gentle ripple of laughter passed through the crowd behind them.
"Let me say this . . . just once here," Doc resumed, now that everything was settled . . . he hoped. "Marriage is a sacred union, not to be entered into lightly. If anyone knows just cause why either of these two couples before us may not be married, I bid them to speak now, or forever hold their peace."
"Hearing none," Doc continued, without giving anyone a chance to speak anyway, " . . . we'll start over this side. Cameron, do you take Mia to be your lawfully wedded wife . . ."
Cam looked at his bride . . . his beautiful Mia . . . that he had almost lost.
" . . . to have and to hold," Cam now said right along with Doc without even thinking about it, to Mia's delight, ". . . to love and to cherish, for richer or poorer, in breakdown and in health, for as long as we both shall love . . ."
"You sure that isn't 'live', son?" Doc said. "It says that right here in my book."
"So sure," Cam replied as Mia lovingly nudged against him with tears in her eyes, " . . . and I do."
"Mia, do you take Cameron to be your lawfully wedded husband . . ." Doc began, before he was also cut off by her, " . . . to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for richer or poorer, in breakdown and in health, for as long as we both shall love? . . . I do."
"Guido," Doc now said, turning to a card to read from within his book, and having also practiced it a fair amount, "Attacca prego le loro strutture della targa di immatricolazione . . . per Mia e Cam."
"Bravo, Doc!" Sally cheered from the side. "You got it!"
"Now as their gold license plate frames are attached," Doc continued, "this bride and groom will now share their vows . . ."
"Mia," Cam said with a tear in his eye, " . . . I almost lost you. That already makes my love for you, and our marriage, different than I ever thought it would be. What you experienced may seem like a hardship or a tragedy . . . but I want to make it into a blessing for us, because it will remind me to love you more deeply, listen to you with more compassion and understanding, and to never, ever take you for granted . . . every day we are together from now on. Saying 'I love you' doesn't begin to cover or describe what I now feel for you, Mia. And it never will. Thank you, Mia . . . for coming back from Heaven itself for me . . . Thank you . . ."
Mia could only cry and nudge him tightly for what he had just said to her.
"Cam," she finally said amid her tears, " . . . when I touch you, I do touch Heaven. I may not remember much about whatever time Mandy, your mother, just told me I spent up there . . . but I do remember almost every moment I've ever spent with you . . . right from the moment I fainted when I first saw what I thought was my guardian angel. You were so handsome, but you were far more than just a 'hunk' to me. Yours were the first eyes I saw when I woke up in that junkyard . . . and looking at your eyes, I couldn't help but think that I had made it to Heaven. To me, my love, I am in Heaven with you already. And all I can hope for is that I will be as much of an angel to you, as you have already been to me. Thank you, Cam," she cried. "I love you, so much . . . thank you . . ."
They nudged tightly as everyone around them shed a tear as well.
Tia looked at Aro. "We shoulda gone first," she whispered to him. "No way we're gonna top that."
"We have our own love, Tia," Aro whispered.
"Save that, use it!" she whispered with a smile.
"Cam, Mia, I invite you to continue your special moment as I now turn to Aro and Tia," Doc continued. "Aro, do you take Tia to be your lawfully wedded wife . . ."
Doc now paused, expecting Aro to cut him off as well.
"Oh, right," Aro said, " . . . to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for richer or poorer, in breakdown and in health, for as long as we both shall live, and love? . . . I do."
Doc now just looked at Tia, inviting her to say the whole thing.
"Do I, Tia," she smiled and said, "take Aro as my lawfully wedded husband . . . to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for richer or poorer, in breakdown and in health, for as long as we both shall live, and love? . . . You bet I do!"
The crowd briefly erupted in laughter.
"I hardly even need to be here anymore," Doc shrugged to yet another round of laughter.
"Guido, one more time!" Doc now said.
"Comé?" Guido asked, puzzled.
"Okay," Doc sighed referencing the card again, "Guido, attacca prego le loro strutture della targa di immatricolazione . . . per Tia e Aro."
"Ahh!" Guido said, now understanding, as he went to work attaching the gold license plate frames on Tia and Aro.
"Tia," Aro began, " . . . at times we've both talked about being 'the other twins' . . . of being identical but second copies somehow. But I've fallen in love, completely, with this utterly unique and one-of-a-kind car called Tia. Even though we've been together just a short time, you already know me better than anyone else ever has. You support, help, encourage, even tease, but also deeply love me . . . like no one else ever could. You and I have the best of all worlds now. We are both part of a wonderful, loving family . . . where we will enjoy so much companionship, good times, and celebrations. But we will also have just each other. I look forward to talking with you into the night, to sharing a knowing glance, to know through just the briefest look or touch that something is troubling you, and that you need my help and love. I look forward to traveling our road together in life . . . one that is both shared with our family, and yet is also ours alone. Thank you, Tia . . . for being my partner, and for being just who you are. I love you, and just you."
"Aro," Tia now picked up, hesitating, " . . . it's tough going fourth here!"
Everyone laughed sympathetically.
"I've long felt at times in my life like I've been on the sidelines, or in second place in life," she said.
"Tia . . . I'm sorry," Mia said turning to her sister next to her. "I never really knew . . ."
"I haven't minded being sort of a copy of you, Mia, actually," Tia said looking at her.
"You're not a copy of me, Tia," Mia gently encouraged, nudging her. "You never have been."
Tia paused and just accepted her sister's nudge for a moment.
"You are a wonderful car, Mia," Tia continued. "I've always admired you. And while you haven't done perfectly all the time, following your lead has kept me pretty safe, helped me find happiness . . . and most importantly, helped me find this wonderful guy over here . . . who actually loves me, for just being me."
"Aro," Tia resumed, now turning and facing him, " . . . you've helped me discover who I, Tia, really am. Actually, you're helping me to redefine who I am — to become more, and better, than I was . . . every day now. You're showing me new things, taking me in new directions. And the best thing is, you're challenging me. You don't accept less than my best. No one . . . no one, Aro, has ever done that for me before. I want to be more than I am for you . . . each day we are together, from now on. You are giving me more than yourself . . . and that gift is incredible enough. Aro, you're giving me myself, too. I can't thank you enough for that . . . ever. I vow to give you my best, and all that I am, each and every day. Thank you, Aro . . . I love you."
A strong round of cheering and applause erupted from the congregation after Tia had finished speaking.
"Way to go, Tia," Mia encouraged.
But Tia knew it wasn't just for her.
"Mia," Doc invited, " . . . you told me earlier today that you had one thing you wanted to share before I make the pronouncement here."
"Yes," Mia confirmed. "Could all four of us hold tires. Everyone, if you wouldn't mind, I would like to share a prayer of thanks here."
"Manufacturer," she said as everyone bowed their hoods, " . . . thank you for bringing me back here, alive . . ." Mia broke down crying as she continued. "A short time ago . . . in that junkyard . . . I thought my life was over. That I would be leaving behind my love, Cam, and the family I was so looking forward to becoming a part of . . . before I had much time at all with them. I looked cruelty, brutality and insanity in the face that night. But I never really worried about myself . . . because you had already given me Cam and his family to love and protect from what I was facing. That day and night, I realized you had not only given me something to live for . . . but someone, several someones, who were worth dying for. That I get to come back and, I pray, spend many more years loving them, laughing with them, and celebrating what a wonderful thing it is to be alive with them . . . these are gifts, dear Lord, that I will never take for granted, and cherish each and every day."
"I never thought I'd say or pray this," Mia continued, as both Cam and Tia gripped her tires in theirs tightly, " . . . but Manufacturer . . . thank you for taking me through the ordeal I survived . . . because it gives me an appreciation of, and a love for, my husband, my family, my friends, and this wonderful, wonderful town of Radiator Springs . . . that I would never otherwise have. I pray that you may help me to share what you've given me with others, and that I can help them turn any troubles or trials they may experience into blessings, as you have with mine . . . each and every day. Thank you . . . so much. Amen."
"Mia . . . I love you," Cam said as he nudged her closely afterward.
Mia could only cry and nudge him back as she was overcome by a swirling mixture of relief and grief at what she had survived, as well as love and profound joy.
"I'll come back down to Earth one of these days," she tried to laugh through her tears. "But this Heaven I'm enjoying is just a little intense right now, Cam."
"Take your time, Mia," he assured. "Take all the time you want."
Tia looked at Aro. "I'll take the appreciation, and everything else I got right here," she assured him, " . . . 'cause it's mine!"
"I love you, Tia," Aro said, " . . . and I can't wait to show you that, all the time now!"
"All four of you" Doc said, "are recent arrivals here, but you're all an incredible blessing to this town, and to all of us. Frankly, I've quietly been giving thanks for each of you, a lot lately! And Mia . . . this town never seemed so barren as the day you weren't here. Thank you Mia, for protecting us from a mad car, and thank you, for coming back to us. It would have been so empty around here without you."
Mia could only tearfully smile as she nestled against Cam.
"And with that," he concluded, " . . . it makes me happy, so very happy to proclaim you husbands and wives. Please . . . kiss your spouse!"
A great cheer arose as Aro kissed Tia, while Cam kissed Mia.
"You have to go cook, don't you?" Mia said as she emerged from her kiss with Cam.
"Nope," Cam assured. "Flo said she had it all handled. She wouldn't let me."
"You know, Cam," Mia continued, " . . . I want to cook with you. Could we do that together for everyone, as our first act as chef and wife together?"
"You mean 'chef and chef' together," Cam suggested. "I'm more determined now than ever to help you earn your chef's title and certificate. Peugeot, old friend, . . . you wouldn't mind helping, would you?"
"I would be 'appy to help such a courageous and beautiful bride join our family of chefs," Chef Peugeot replied in his distinctive French accent. "And you do not need to come to 'ze institute. I could use 'ze vacation, as you say . . . right 'ere!"
"Oh Cam," Mia tearfully marveled, with the deepest smile.
"Flo," Cam said still looking at Mia, " . . . my wife and I got dibs on running the barbecue together!"
"I love being called your wife, Cam, I sooo love just being called your wife," Mia enthused as she tearfully nudged him again. "At one point there, I thought I'd never get to hear it, or be called that!"
They both cried openly as they nudged and rocked each other tightly.
"You sure you don't want us manning the grill instead, bro?" Aro asked, observing them being overcome with emotion.
"No," Cam assured, " . . . we got it. My wife, Mia, and I . . . we got it."
"Oui, it shall be Madame Mia's first lesson!" Peugeot added.
"Madame?" Mia exclaimed with a smile emerging from her nudge with Cam.
"That's how the French honor married ladies," Cam explained.
"I am going to be liking this!" Mia relished. "Both the married part, and the chef part!"
"As my final act here," Doc said amid the already celebratory atmosphere, " . . . it is my pleasure to introduce both Aro and Tia Devlin, and Cam and Mia Devlin . . . husbands and wives! Now, let's celebrate!"
"Now the world will get to see the wedding cake we've been working on for days together!" Mia said to Cam as they left down the aisle among cars who were celebrating around them. "I'm so grateful you let me work on that with you, instead of trying to hide it and surprise me with it. It meant a lot to me to just create it with you, as an act of love together."
"Like you said, Mia," Cam noted with a smile, " . . . we were already married on that helicopter flight anyway."