Chapter 21
Since it was an informal ceremony, everyone took their seats and Gary and Kaitlyn stood at the altar. Megan and Emily stood behind Kaitlyn along with Jessica and Casey. Chuck stood behind Gary. Unknown to anyone in the church, the cat sat on the open windowsill.
"Are we ready to begin?" Reverend Manning asked.
"Yes." Gary said.
"We are here today to witness the joining of Kaitlyn and Gary in holy matrimony. Take her hand." Gary reached down and took Kaitlyn's hands in his. "Gary, do you take Kaitlyn to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do." Gary smiled.
"Kaitlyn do you take Gary to be your lawfully wedded husband?" Reverend Manning asked.
"I do." Kaitlyn smiled.
"I understand that the two of you have written and would like to recite your own vows. So, Gary would you like to start?" He asked.
"Yes, thank you Reverend." Gary said as he looked into Kaitlyn's eyes. "Kaitlyn, I have never been one who has been big on words, but today I'm going to speak to you from my heart." He swallowed hard. "God has given us a second chance at happiness and I praise Him for that. I come here today to give you my love, to give you my heart and my hope for our future together. I promise to bring you joy, to be at home with your spirit and to learn to love you more each day, through all the days of our lives. I promise to be your faithful husband; my love for you is seamless, endless and eternal." Gary reached up and wiped a tear from Kaitlyn's cheek.
"That was beautiful." She said.
"Kaitlyn." Reverend Manning said.
"Gary, I take you to be my husband, secure in the knowledge that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love. On this special day, I give to you in the presence of God and our families my sacred promise to stay by your side as your wife in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the good times and the bad. I promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live." Gary smiled.
"Can we have the rings?" Reverend Manning looked at Chuck.
Chuck started to fumble with his pocket like he was looking for them. Gary gave him a slightly irritated look as Chuck pulled the rings from his pocket.
"Don't worry Gar, I wouldn't let you down." Chuck said as he smiled. "Not today anyway." Gary took the rings and handed them to the Reverend.
"Gary place this ring on Kailtyn's finger and repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed." He said.
Gary picked up Kaitlyn's hand and as he put the ring on her finger said, "With this ring, I thee wed."
He handed Kaitlyn Gary's ring. "Kaitlyn, repeat after me, with this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring, I thee wed." Kaitlyn said as she put the ring on Gary's finger.
"Congratulations. Gary you can kiss your bride." Reverend Manning said.
Gary and Kaitlyn smiled at each other. He put his hand on the side of her face and kissed his wife passionately as their family and friends applauded.
"I love you." He whispered when he pulled away from her.
"I love you." Kaitlyn smiled.