Title: 'Smooth sailing...or is it?' [Chapter 14]
Sequel to 'Boy was I wrong'
Chapter 14
She's beyond beautiful....The dress....the hair....wow....this has got to be a dream..How could I have possibly gotten so lucky? Pull yourself together, Lyman. You need to think! You are about to say your vows and your stupid self decided to wing it!
She's standing before me now. My eyes meet hers. Her beautiful, sparkling big blue eyes. Oh god, I think my eyes are starting to water.
The music stops. I let out a sigh. Or more like my breath that I have been holding since my Donna started to walk in.
I'm aching to touch her.....Yes! She's passing her bouquet to CJ. I grab both of her hand as soon as she turns back. Gasp! That was indescribable! I swear there was like a 1000 Watt bolt run through me when I held her hands with both of mine. She smiles at me slowly. Wow! I think I'm gawking at her.
The judge starts speaking about something. I don't know what the heck he's saying. I can't concentrate on anything else besides how gorgeous my bride looks.
"The bride and bridegroom have decided to say their own vows. So, Donna, you may proceed first." My attention finally focuses on what the judge says.
Donna gives me a bigger smile and I can't help but return it. I must be grinning like an idiot right now.
"Joshua...." Oh, I think I just melted by the sound of her voice saying my name.
"When I first met you, I was a pretty depressing, naïve girl. I took such a drastic measure in my life and you took a huge chance on me. I can't even begin to imagine my life if you didn't. That one very moment has become the most important moment of my whole life, and it will be forever. Since then, we have gone through a presidential campaign, elections, votes after votes, conflicts after conflicts.......and somewhere along the line, I fell completely and madly in love with you....Sure, I was in denial for what I think was for a lifetime.." I laugh at that and so does everyone else.
".....and when we finally faced our love for each other, such ordeals we had endured. I'd like to think that some higher power has been testing our love and commitment towards each other.....but finally, we made it here, to this very spot, proving we have passed the tests. I'm certain we will face more of these tests in time to come but as long as we are facing them together, I truly believe we will overcome all of them." I honestly believe that too.
"Josh, you are an amazingly wonderful man with a heart of gold. I admire your courage, your determination, your loyalty, your will power.....I'll be lost without you in my life. And I want to thank you for everything you've done for me. Sometimes I don't think I deserve a man like you." I have to blink back my tears. I don't know if I'm successful or not.
"So, Joshua Matthias Lyman, for as long as we both shall live, I promise to love you, honor you and never bring you coffee." Hahaha! I so did not expect that. Everyone is cracking up especially our colleagues.
"....and never stop for red lights." She whispers to me. I don't think the others heard it in the midst of their laughter. I smile at her warmly.
"Josh, you may say your vows to Donna." The judge says.
Gulp! Maybe off-hand speaking wasn't the best idea!
I actually feel like a princess! I know that sounds cheesy but I don't care, it's MY wedding day after all.
I almost started to cry when I saw Josh look at me the way he did when I was walking down the isle. Then when I saw tears in his eyes, it took all my energy to keep focused. My stylist would have killed me if my mascara starts running and I'll be absolutely mad at myself if I screwed up my vows because I was bawling.
I don't think I screwed up though. I think I did rather well. The words just kept flowing out of me when I looked into his big brown eyes. The way I felt when he just grabbed both my hands was indescribable. I had to hold myself down so I won't start kissing him all over.
Oh, the judge just indicated that it's Josh's turn to say his vows. I take a deep breath.
"Donnatella......" Oooo....I'm melting!
"When I first met you, I thought you were a pathetic and naïve girl as well...." Gosh! Everyone is laughing with me. Okay, I didn't expect him to say that.
"When I gave you my ID badge, I would say that that was the very best thing I've ever done in my whole life. Donna, you make be want to make the world a better place. I've always wanted to do that but you make me wanna do it for all the right reasons. You are my conscious. You keep my ego in check. You completely turned around my belief system that all I needed was success. Now I know all I need is you." Oh wow. My heart is just pounding with overwhelming love for my Josh.
"My heart may be fitted in my body, but it belongs to you...and it always will." Does this man have a mission to completely ruin my makeup? My eyes are filled with tears.
"We have been through the better and worse. The sickness has outrun the health. So Donnatella Gwendolyn Moss, very soon to be Moss-Lyman, with the witness of all our family and friends, I vow to love u, cherish u and treasure you for as long as we both shall live." Sigh! I'm going to be married to the most incredible man in just a few seconds!
"Joshua Matthias Lyman, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The judge asks, snapping me out of the dream that is my Joshua's beautiful eyes.
"I do." Oh, my heart is melting just by the way he says that.
"Donnatella Gwendolyn Moss, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband."
"I do." Duh!
"Okay. Now you may exchange your rings."
I turn around to get the ring from CJ. Oh my god!! This is totally unexpected!! CJ and all the bridesmaid's have tears flowing down their faces. Wow, I can't believe I took all the effort to prevent the tears from flowing out of my eyes! CJ's sniffing as she passes me the ring. I just give her a warm smile.
"Donna, repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed." The judge says.
I hold Josh's shaky hand and repeat after the judge as I slide the ring down his finger.
"Josh. It's your turn now. With this ring, I thee wed."
Josh says the words as he looks straight into my eyes while slightly bending his head down to place the ring on my hand.
"Wonderful! By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."
The biggest dimpled smile emerges on Josh's lips just before he grabs me by waist with both hands and kisses me. Oh......my......Mmmmmm................My cold hands warm up instantly when I hold the sides of his face.
I hear people cheer much louder than I would have anticipated. I think I'm hearing people say things like "Hallelujah", "Finally", "Thank god", and other similar expressions. I would laugh but I'm busy having the most fantastic kiss of my life!
I honestly don't think I have ever been as happy as I was when the judge pronounced us husband and wife.
We had just finished posing for the wedding photos taken by the professional photographer while the other guests were being seated in the ballroom for the reception.
We are now taking our seats in the ballroom which I have to say is very impressive. The round tables are beautifully set where some of them have large arrangements of white flowers in the middle. Those arrangements have thick candles sticking out of them. Other tables have smaller arrangements of red flowers with smaller candles placed in a thin jar-like thing. The lights are very dim. The middle of the room has the dance floor where we are seated at one end of it and the music band is at the other end.
Besides me and Donna, the others who are seated on the head table are my mom who is next to me, followed by Leo and then the President and the First Lady. Sam follows them and Toby and Charlie are next to him. Kimmy and Jane are seated at the end next to Charlie. Donna's parents are next to Donna and then Franny and Nate. CJ is next with the rest of the bridesmaids following her.
Once all the champagne glasses are full, Sam gets our attention by clinking his glass as he stands up.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, could you all lend me your ears for a moment please...Thank you.....I have known Josh for a long time now........" Sam goes on about how he and I met, and how our relationship developed. There are lots of laughter at my expense which I totally predicted. Donna especially is having a great time laughing at me that I had to swat her a couple of times.
"For all the time that I've known him..." Sam's tone changes a little, becoming more serious.
"I've seen him win elections, get bills passed, win impossible cases, change the country for the better....but I've never seen him this happy since Donna walked into his life.....or more like finally got his chaotic life under control...." Another round of laughter starts.
"Let me walk you all through the event of 'when Josh met Donna." Oh no, he's not gonna do that, is he? Apparently he is.
He tells everyone how she tried to con me by hiring herself and how I kept going 'who are you?'. He goes on with further details of our first conversation. I'm really wondering now who could have told him about it in such detail.
"And finally, while she was still talking on the phone, he hands her his ID badge and apparently his heart too." I smile feeling embarrassed as almost everyone goes 'awwww'.
"I'm afraid to even imagine how Josh's life would be if Donna wasn't in it. The rest of us are incredibly envious when we notice how the two of them interact with each other, help each other get through the day, love each other unconditionally. The world would be a much brighter place if every man found his Donna and every woman found her Josh." I don't know about the latter but the former is so true in every sense.
"I don't think that I need to remind you that some happy brides and grooms are so obviously suited for each other, that you know the vows they are exchanging at the ceremony, is the happy fulfillment of a match that surely must have been made in heaven. So, if all of you will join me by raising your glasses...." Everyone picks up their glasses and raise them.
"To Josh and Donna, may there be a generation of children, on the children of your children."
"To Josh and Donna." Everyone echoes as they clink their glasses with each others'.
Sam does have exquisitely beautiful writing. I pity the fool who would follow him. Looks like no one is as we are being served the appetizers.
Josh and I barely had a chance to exchanged more than a few words to each other. Everyone was hovering over us after the ceremony and then with the photos and all, we didn't get any opportunity.
"May I have your attention, everyone?" Who's that clinking on the champagne glass? Oh, looks like my dear maid of honor would like to say a few words.
The guests start quieting down.
"Good evening everyone. I trust everyone of you are having a wonderful time celebrating the union of Donna and Josh. As Donna's maid of honor, I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words. I'm no speechwriter, but I know a thing or two about talking in front of an audience. I'm just glad you lot or not as exasperating as my usual audience." Haha!
We laugh at her referral to the press corp.
"I met Josh just a short while before I met Donna. I've always thought of Josh as my own brother.....but mostly I think of him as an elitist Harvard fascist missed-the-Dean's-list-two-semesters-in-a-row Yankee jackass!" Oh my gosh!!
My mouth is literally hanging, disabling me to join the loud rounds of laughter. I get over the shock and start laughing hysterically. I laugh even harder when I turn to look at Josh who is keeping a straight face trying to look insulted. I touch his arm and he breaks into an embarrassed smile. I'm guessing CJ is not going to be one of his favorite people for some time.
"Which is why I couldn't believe that Donna would fall for him. Donna, a sweet, kind, caring, generous person, with such a pure soul. She's got an amazingly big heart and treats everyone with the utmost respect." Awwww, I'm soo touched.
"Yeah, sure. Complement HER, would'ya?" My god!! Josh just said that out loud, erupting another round of laughter. I slap him playfully on his arm while I start to blush.
"Yes, Josh. Anyway, Donna maybe sweet and gentle but she's the only one who can put Josh in his place and get the last word when he's around...which I have tell you, not many can achieve...besides me of course." I let out a chuckle. She's right though.
"But nevertheless, as Sam said, you ARE a match made in heaven." CJ's tone become more serious.
"I had lost my faith and belief in the idea of truly falling in love and being loved back just as much. But seeing the two of you and being there to watch you throughout your journey to get to this very day, had completely restored my faith in love again. It's not often you see two people together and you go 'now that's one couple who will last for eternity'." I get all warm inside listening to what CJ says. I turn and smile at Josh who takes my palm and kisses it.
"With that, I raise my glass to Josh and Donna. May all your ups and downs...............come only in the bedroom." What the....???
Did she just say what I think she did? Judging by the laughter and noises I'm hearing, she must have. I should probably cut her alcohol intake. I think I'm turning blue. Well, not as blue as my husband next to me......My husband...Wow, I never thought how different it would feel to refer to Josh as my husband. Good different of course.
Okay, CJ is definitely going on my list. Sure, she said a few nice words to us, but that does not permit her to make a fool out of me on my wedding day!
"Joshua, stop being a baby and eat your food will you?" Donna obviously notices me being whiny.
The food is actually very delicious. Carol and Ginger were in-charge of the menu for today.
"Excuse me everyone..." That voice sounds familiar...
Everyone quiets down immediately when they realize who's the one speaking.
"I know it's not tradition for just a guest to speak at the wedding, but since I'm the President of the United States, I don't give a damn." I start chuckling at the President.
"Before I start, I just wanted to explain that this toast is going to be of much higher quality and grace than my other speeches as it's not written by either of my speechwriters." Hahaha! Finally, other people are made fun of!
When the laughter dies down, the President continues.
"A man without ambition is dead. A man with ambition but no love is dead. A man with ambition and love for his blessings here on earth is ever so alive. You, Joshua Lyman, are very much alive indeed...and your biggest blessing on earth is this dazzling, graceful and exceptional woman sitting next to you. But something tells me you knew that already." I nod at him and turn to look at Donna. As I expected, she has turned a few shades redder.
"I see the unconditional love you both have when you look into each other's eyes and as your love grows for one another, may you look back on this day and know this is when you loved each other the least.....trust me when I say this." The President turns to his left and smiles at Abby. They are indeed one loving couple who are meant to be. Just like my parents were...Just like me and Donna are.
The President raises his glass and is followed by everyone else. "To Josh and Donna, Angelis suis Deus mandavit de te.
Ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis."
Okay, everyone is confused now. Abby smacks his arm as he sits down. She dislikes him showing off his Latin. I should probably ask for a translation from him later.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I hope you've been enjoying the selection of music this evening." The singer of the music band gets all our attention by speaking into the microphone.
"The band and I have certainly enjoyed entertaining you. Moving on, the time has come for the bride and groom to have their first dance as husband and wife. So, Josh and Donna, would the two of you kindly come up to the dance floor?"
Ah, this is it! Donna's going to be so psyched.....I hope. I have a surprise for Donna. We had spent ages trying to get the perfect song for our first dance and suddenly it came to me like an epiphany, but I didn't want to tell her. And after much persuasion, she finally let me choose it without her knowing what song it's going to be. So you see, she's very anxious to find out what song I chose. And I'm anxious to see her face when she finds out.
"Not a tiny clue?" She had to ask, didn't she?
"No, pumpkin." I kid as we walk hand-in-hand towards the dance floor.
This man is impossible! I can't believe I agreed to this. What if he completely ruined the choice? We can only have one first dance ever!
Josh places both his hands on my waist and I place mine around his neck as the music begins. I look at Josh skeptically as my ears are listening intently.
Hmmm, that sounds really familiar.
TBC...............The translation of what the President says is "God has given His Angels charge over thee. That they may keep thee in all thy ways."
Sequel to 'Boy was I wrong'
Chapter 14
She's beyond beautiful....The dress....the hair....wow....this has got to be a dream..How could I have possibly gotten so lucky? Pull yourself together, Lyman. You need to think! You are about to say your vows and your stupid self decided to wing it!
She's standing before me now. My eyes meet hers. Her beautiful, sparkling big blue eyes. Oh god, I think my eyes are starting to water.
The music stops. I let out a sigh. Or more like my breath that I have been holding since my Donna started to walk in.
I'm aching to touch her.....Yes! She's passing her bouquet to CJ. I grab both of her hand as soon as she turns back. Gasp! That was indescribable! I swear there was like a 1000 Watt bolt run through me when I held her hands with both of mine. She smiles at me slowly. Wow! I think I'm gawking at her.
The judge starts speaking about something. I don't know what the heck he's saying. I can't concentrate on anything else besides how gorgeous my bride looks.
"The bride and bridegroom have decided to say their own vows. So, Donna, you may proceed first." My attention finally focuses on what the judge says.
Donna gives me a bigger smile and I can't help but return it. I must be grinning like an idiot right now.
"Joshua...." Oh, I think I just melted by the sound of her voice saying my name.
"When I first met you, I was a pretty depressing, naïve girl. I took such a drastic measure in my life and you took a huge chance on me. I can't even begin to imagine my life if you didn't. That one very moment has become the most important moment of my whole life, and it will be forever. Since then, we have gone through a presidential campaign, elections, votes after votes, conflicts after conflicts.......and somewhere along the line, I fell completely and madly in love with you....Sure, I was in denial for what I think was for a lifetime.." I laugh at that and so does everyone else.
".....and when we finally faced our love for each other, such ordeals we had endured. I'd like to think that some higher power has been testing our love and commitment towards each other.....but finally, we made it here, to this very spot, proving we have passed the tests. I'm certain we will face more of these tests in time to come but as long as we are facing them together, I truly believe we will overcome all of them." I honestly believe that too.
"Josh, you are an amazingly wonderful man with a heart of gold. I admire your courage, your determination, your loyalty, your will power.....I'll be lost without you in my life. And I want to thank you for everything you've done for me. Sometimes I don't think I deserve a man like you." I have to blink back my tears. I don't know if I'm successful or not.
"So, Joshua Matthias Lyman, for as long as we both shall live, I promise to love you, honor you and never bring you coffee." Hahaha! I so did not expect that. Everyone is cracking up especially our colleagues.
"....and never stop for red lights." She whispers to me. I don't think the others heard it in the midst of their laughter. I smile at her warmly.
"Josh, you may say your vows to Donna." The judge says.
Gulp! Maybe off-hand speaking wasn't the best idea!
I actually feel like a princess! I know that sounds cheesy but I don't care, it's MY wedding day after all.
I almost started to cry when I saw Josh look at me the way he did when I was walking down the isle. Then when I saw tears in his eyes, it took all my energy to keep focused. My stylist would have killed me if my mascara starts running and I'll be absolutely mad at myself if I screwed up my vows because I was bawling.
I don't think I screwed up though. I think I did rather well. The words just kept flowing out of me when I looked into his big brown eyes. The way I felt when he just grabbed both my hands was indescribable. I had to hold myself down so I won't start kissing him all over.
Oh, the judge just indicated that it's Josh's turn to say his vows. I take a deep breath.
"Donnatella......" Oooo....I'm melting!
"When I first met you, I thought you were a pathetic and naïve girl as well...." Gosh! Everyone is laughing with me. Okay, I didn't expect him to say that.
"When I gave you my ID badge, I would say that that was the very best thing I've ever done in my whole life. Donna, you make be want to make the world a better place. I've always wanted to do that but you make me wanna do it for all the right reasons. You are my conscious. You keep my ego in check. You completely turned around my belief system that all I needed was success. Now I know all I need is you." Oh wow. My heart is just pounding with overwhelming love for my Josh.
"My heart may be fitted in my body, but it belongs to you...and it always will." Does this man have a mission to completely ruin my makeup? My eyes are filled with tears.
"We have been through the better and worse. The sickness has outrun the health. So Donnatella Gwendolyn Moss, very soon to be Moss-Lyman, with the witness of all our family and friends, I vow to love u, cherish u and treasure you for as long as we both shall live." Sigh! I'm going to be married to the most incredible man in just a few seconds!
"Joshua Matthias Lyman, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The judge asks, snapping me out of the dream that is my Joshua's beautiful eyes.
"I do." Oh, my heart is melting just by the way he says that.
"Donnatella Gwendolyn Moss, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband."
"I do." Duh!
"Okay. Now you may exchange your rings."
I turn around to get the ring from CJ. Oh my god!! This is totally unexpected!! CJ and all the bridesmaid's have tears flowing down their faces. Wow, I can't believe I took all the effort to prevent the tears from flowing out of my eyes! CJ's sniffing as she passes me the ring. I just give her a warm smile.
"Donna, repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed." The judge says.
I hold Josh's shaky hand and repeat after the judge as I slide the ring down his finger.
"Josh. It's your turn now. With this ring, I thee wed."
Josh says the words as he looks straight into my eyes while slightly bending his head down to place the ring on my hand.
"Wonderful! By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."
The biggest dimpled smile emerges on Josh's lips just before he grabs me by waist with both hands and kisses me. Oh......my......Mmmmmm................My cold hands warm up instantly when I hold the sides of his face.
I hear people cheer much louder than I would have anticipated. I think I'm hearing people say things like "Hallelujah", "Finally", "Thank god", and other similar expressions. I would laugh but I'm busy having the most fantastic kiss of my life!
I honestly don't think I have ever been as happy as I was when the judge pronounced us husband and wife.
We had just finished posing for the wedding photos taken by the professional photographer while the other guests were being seated in the ballroom for the reception.
We are now taking our seats in the ballroom which I have to say is very impressive. The round tables are beautifully set where some of them have large arrangements of white flowers in the middle. Those arrangements have thick candles sticking out of them. Other tables have smaller arrangements of red flowers with smaller candles placed in a thin jar-like thing. The lights are very dim. The middle of the room has the dance floor where we are seated at one end of it and the music band is at the other end.
Besides me and Donna, the others who are seated on the head table are my mom who is next to me, followed by Leo and then the President and the First Lady. Sam follows them and Toby and Charlie are next to him. Kimmy and Jane are seated at the end next to Charlie. Donna's parents are next to Donna and then Franny and Nate. CJ is next with the rest of the bridesmaids following her.
Once all the champagne glasses are full, Sam gets our attention by clinking his glass as he stands up.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, could you all lend me your ears for a moment please...Thank you.....I have known Josh for a long time now........" Sam goes on about how he and I met, and how our relationship developed. There are lots of laughter at my expense which I totally predicted. Donna especially is having a great time laughing at me that I had to swat her a couple of times.
"For all the time that I've known him..." Sam's tone changes a little, becoming more serious.
"I've seen him win elections, get bills passed, win impossible cases, change the country for the better....but I've never seen him this happy since Donna walked into his life.....or more like finally got his chaotic life under control...." Another round of laughter starts.
"Let me walk you all through the event of 'when Josh met Donna." Oh no, he's not gonna do that, is he? Apparently he is.
He tells everyone how she tried to con me by hiring herself and how I kept going 'who are you?'. He goes on with further details of our first conversation. I'm really wondering now who could have told him about it in such detail.
"And finally, while she was still talking on the phone, he hands her his ID badge and apparently his heart too." I smile feeling embarrassed as almost everyone goes 'awwww'.
"I'm afraid to even imagine how Josh's life would be if Donna wasn't in it. The rest of us are incredibly envious when we notice how the two of them interact with each other, help each other get through the day, love each other unconditionally. The world would be a much brighter place if every man found his Donna and every woman found her Josh." I don't know about the latter but the former is so true in every sense.
"I don't think that I need to remind you that some happy brides and grooms are so obviously suited for each other, that you know the vows they are exchanging at the ceremony, is the happy fulfillment of a match that surely must have been made in heaven. So, if all of you will join me by raising your glasses...." Everyone picks up their glasses and raise them.
"To Josh and Donna, may there be a generation of children, on the children of your children."
"To Josh and Donna." Everyone echoes as they clink their glasses with each others'.
Sam does have exquisitely beautiful writing. I pity the fool who would follow him. Looks like no one is as we are being served the appetizers.
Josh and I barely had a chance to exchanged more than a few words to each other. Everyone was hovering over us after the ceremony and then with the photos and all, we didn't get any opportunity.
"May I have your attention, everyone?" Who's that clinking on the champagne glass? Oh, looks like my dear maid of honor would like to say a few words.
The guests start quieting down.
"Good evening everyone. I trust everyone of you are having a wonderful time celebrating the union of Donna and Josh. As Donna's maid of honor, I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words. I'm no speechwriter, but I know a thing or two about talking in front of an audience. I'm just glad you lot or not as exasperating as my usual audience." Haha!
We laugh at her referral to the press corp.
"I met Josh just a short while before I met Donna. I've always thought of Josh as my own brother.....but mostly I think of him as an elitist Harvard fascist missed-the-Dean's-list-two-semesters-in-a-row Yankee jackass!" Oh my gosh!!
My mouth is literally hanging, disabling me to join the loud rounds of laughter. I get over the shock and start laughing hysterically. I laugh even harder when I turn to look at Josh who is keeping a straight face trying to look insulted. I touch his arm and he breaks into an embarrassed smile. I'm guessing CJ is not going to be one of his favorite people for some time.
"Which is why I couldn't believe that Donna would fall for him. Donna, a sweet, kind, caring, generous person, with such a pure soul. She's got an amazingly big heart and treats everyone with the utmost respect." Awwww, I'm soo touched.
"Yeah, sure. Complement HER, would'ya?" My god!! Josh just said that out loud, erupting another round of laughter. I slap him playfully on his arm while I start to blush.
"Yes, Josh. Anyway, Donna maybe sweet and gentle but she's the only one who can put Josh in his place and get the last word when he's around...which I have tell you, not many can achieve...besides me of course." I let out a chuckle. She's right though.
"But nevertheless, as Sam said, you ARE a match made in heaven." CJ's tone become more serious.
"I had lost my faith and belief in the idea of truly falling in love and being loved back just as much. But seeing the two of you and being there to watch you throughout your journey to get to this very day, had completely restored my faith in love again. It's not often you see two people together and you go 'now that's one couple who will last for eternity'." I get all warm inside listening to what CJ says. I turn and smile at Josh who takes my palm and kisses it.
"With that, I raise my glass to Josh and Donna. May all your ups and downs...............come only in the bedroom." What the....???
Did she just say what I think she did? Judging by the laughter and noises I'm hearing, she must have. I should probably cut her alcohol intake. I think I'm turning blue. Well, not as blue as my husband next to me......My husband...Wow, I never thought how different it would feel to refer to Josh as my husband. Good different of course.
Okay, CJ is definitely going on my list. Sure, she said a few nice words to us, but that does not permit her to make a fool out of me on my wedding day!
"Joshua, stop being a baby and eat your food will you?" Donna obviously notices me being whiny.
The food is actually very delicious. Carol and Ginger were in-charge of the menu for today.
"Excuse me everyone..." That voice sounds familiar...
Everyone quiets down immediately when they realize who's the one speaking.
"I know it's not tradition for just a guest to speak at the wedding, but since I'm the President of the United States, I don't give a damn." I start chuckling at the President.
"Before I start, I just wanted to explain that this toast is going to be of much higher quality and grace than my other speeches as it's not written by either of my speechwriters." Hahaha! Finally, other people are made fun of!
When the laughter dies down, the President continues.
"A man without ambition is dead. A man with ambition but no love is dead. A man with ambition and love for his blessings here on earth is ever so alive. You, Joshua Lyman, are very much alive indeed...and your biggest blessing on earth is this dazzling, graceful and exceptional woman sitting next to you. But something tells me you knew that already." I nod at him and turn to look at Donna. As I expected, she has turned a few shades redder.
"I see the unconditional love you both have when you look into each other's eyes and as your love grows for one another, may you look back on this day and know this is when you loved each other the least.....trust me when I say this." The President turns to his left and smiles at Abby. They are indeed one loving couple who are meant to be. Just like my parents were...Just like me and Donna are.
The President raises his glass and is followed by everyone else. "To Josh and Donna, Angelis suis Deus mandavit de te.
Ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis."
Okay, everyone is confused now. Abby smacks his arm as he sits down. She dislikes him showing off his Latin. I should probably ask for a translation from him later.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I hope you've been enjoying the selection of music this evening." The singer of the music band gets all our attention by speaking into the microphone.
"The band and I have certainly enjoyed entertaining you. Moving on, the time has come for the bride and groom to have their first dance as husband and wife. So, Josh and Donna, would the two of you kindly come up to the dance floor?"
Ah, this is it! Donna's going to be so psyched.....I hope. I have a surprise for Donna. We had spent ages trying to get the perfect song for our first dance and suddenly it came to me like an epiphany, but I didn't want to tell her. And after much persuasion, she finally let me choose it without her knowing what song it's going to be. So you see, she's very anxious to find out what song I chose. And I'm anxious to see her face when she finds out.
"Not a tiny clue?" She had to ask, didn't she?
"No, pumpkin." I kid as we walk hand-in-hand towards the dance floor.
This man is impossible! I can't believe I agreed to this. What if he completely ruined the choice? We can only have one first dance ever!
Josh places both his hands on my waist and I place mine around his neck as the music begins. I look at Josh skeptically as my ears are listening intently.
Hmmm, that sounds really familiar.
TBC...............The translation of what the President says is "God has given His Angels charge over thee. That they may keep thee in all thy ways."