Chapter 17: I Will Honor You
Ainsley surprisingly slept and woke up the next morning with all the feelings she never knew she could have at the same time she was nervous, excited, an just giddy at everything around her. She had the biggest breakfast ever with her mom's pancakes and lots of syrup. She decided to call Sam who spent the night at Josh's to check in. She didn't think talking to him would bring bad luck.
"Hi, Ains," said Sam who noticed the caller-id.
"I miss you, Sam," said Ainsley who had her mouth full of pancakes.
"Me too, Honey. But just think, in 24 hours we will be on our way to Disneyworld for one week by ourselves."
Ainsley let out a sigh. "Sounds wonderful."
"What are you going to be doing this morning?" asked Sam.
"After breakfast we go over to the White House to get ready and stay there until the wedding starts. How about you?"
"Josh had decided for me that we are going to, in his words, 'hang-out until it is time for the wedding and just chill.'"
Ainsley laughed and thought, "Sam won't be able to 'chill.' He would be way to nervous."
Sam said, "I'm just going to do what he wants me to do."
Ainsley whispered in the phone so Donna, who stayed at her and Sam's apartment, couldn't hear, "So is our Lyman-Moss plan still on?"
"Yeah. I'm going to make sure Toby, Charlie, Ed, and Larry push Josh in the front when I throw the guarder," whispered back Sam.
"Alright. I've been practicing my aim with a bouquet so I can throw it right to her."
"Will I see you at two?" asked Sam dreaming of what Ainsley would look like coming down the aisle.
"I promise I'll see you at two."
Nicole yelled at Ainsley, "You are going to see him for one whole week and the rest of your life! Get off the phone before I throw something at you."
"Nicole just yelled at me. I got to go now. I love you."
"I love you too."
Ainsley and her bridal party was greeted by Abbey (she insisted everyone to call her Abbey today) when they arrived at the White House residence at 10 o'clock The bride was so anxious to get ready, but managed to take her time. She was talking in her unusual- usual to her- speech pattern when she gets nervous and couldn't stop eating. By time it was1:30, the seats outside in the Rose Garden were filling up, and the wedding party was all dressed and ready. It was at that time when Ainsley had to do what anyone does when they get jumpy- she had to pee. "I'm going to step out to go to the bathroom," announced Ainsley.
"She would go with you to make sure you don't run off?" asked CJ jokingly.
Ainsley sighed, "No thank you, CJ. I assure you I will be back." And with that, Ainsley ran out of the room she had been locked up in. She took a deep breath, relived to be out of the room. Ainsley made her way to the bathroom down the hall with her full wedding dress on except for the veil. "SAM!"
Sam turned around. "Ains? We aren't supposed to see each other."
"Too late now. What are you doing here?"
"Maybe you haven't heard, but I was supposed to get married in half an hour."
"I know that, but what are you doing here?" asked Ainsley again.
"I had to take a walk. Josh has been annoying me with all of his little things and the President wouldn't stop talking about the history of weddings." At that point Sam stopped to take a good look at his bride. "You look so beautiful."
"You should see me with the veil."
Sam had the biggest urge to kiss her right then, but held himself back for the wedding. "So what are you doing out here?"
"I had to pee."
Sam laughed. "That's my future wife," he thought.
Ainsley said, "You know it's bad luck to see each other right?"
"I'm a Democrat and you are a Republican. I think we already have bad luck," was Sam's comeback.
"I have to pee."
"I'll see you in a bit," said Sam just before Ainsley slipped into the bathroom.
"It's about time you got back!" yelled Nicole.
"We were so close to sending the Secret Service to look for you," said CJ.
Ainsley felt bad for having her friends worry. "Sorry, but I ran into Sam."
"YOU WHAT!"
"I accidentally ran into Sam on my way to the bathroom," explained Ainsley.
At that time the wedding planner lady told them that it was time to head out to the garden. Mrs. Hayes and Nicole put the veil on Ainsley while she checked over herself in the mirror one last time. The lady handed them their bouquets of flowers before they headed out down the aisle. The flower girl and ring barer went first receiving many "awws…" from the 170 people that came to the wedding. CJ and Charlie walked out first followed by Donna and Toby and then Nicole and Josh.
Before the President and First Lady walked out, the President turned to Ainsley to give her one final blessing. "Ainsley, you and Sam are perfect. Enjoy your day." And with that, the President and his wife went down the aisle and people stood up in respect.
"Are you ready?" asked Leo as he took her arm.
Ainsley took a deep breath. "I'm ready." As she took her first step to the altar, something she didn't expect happened. "Leo," she whispered, "My shoe broke."
"What!" asked Leo.
"My shoe!" whispered Ainsley. "The heel just broke."
"Just take it off."
"And walk with one shoe?"
"Take both of them off then."
"Is everyone watching us?" said Ainsley as she stumbled with her shoes pulling them off.
"Just a few. It's your day though, so do whatever you want."
"I'm ready now," said a barefoot Ainsley.
Ainsley began to walk down the aisle again. The guests gasped at her Cinderella like gown. The puffy skirt swayed with every steep. Ainsley's long blond hair was swept up into a bun of curls at the top of her head. A small beaded tiara circled around the bun and the veil came out underneath it. Her bouquet of blue and orange flowers stood out from her white strapless dress.
The glowing bride looked up at the altar and saw her bridesmaids at her left. They wore navy blue strapless gowns with a similar bouquet as Ainsley's. She looked to her right and saw three handsome men all smiling back at her. Then there was Sam. The perfect day made him glow and there wasn't a doubt to anyone that he was the happiest person on earth. He bounced on his toes, anxiously waiting for Ainsley to meet him. "She was right," he thought. "She does look better with the veil."
Ainsley and Leo finally reached the end of the aisle. Leo turned to look at Ainsley and said, "Good luck. We all love you." Then Leo gave her a hug and kiss then shook Sam's hand.
Sam escorted Ainsley up to an archway of blue and orange flowers where the minister stood underneath. Sam just looked into Ainsley's eyes the whole ceremony, not really paying attention to what was going on. Before he knew it- or realized it- it was time for the wedding vows. Sam snapped out of his "coma" when Josh tapped him on his shoulder to give him his vows he had written that day with Toby. Sam took the paper but couldn't read it because of his misty eyes. "Ainsley," he started, "I love you, but you already know that." The crowd laughed a little at Sam's unintended joke. Sam paused for a moment to think about what to say. "I feel like Harry, the Farm Boy, and Rhett. And since you are my Sally, my Princess Buttercup, and my Scarlett, I promise to love you three times as much as these characters loved their significant others. I will be with you ever step you take, whatever political party you vote for, and I'll let you win every argument, even when I disagree. I vow to be a supportive, loving, wonderful husband."
Then it was Ainsley's turn to say her vows- if only she could talk and not be all choked up. Nicole handed Ainsley the paper with the vows and gracefully read them with her southern accent stronger than ever. "My Sam, my man, my prince, my favorite Democrat, my true love: You make me a better person everyday and you challenge me to think differently. With everything you have taught and given me, I hope and I can do the same for you. I promise to be your confidante, always ready to share your hopes, dreams and secrets. I vow to listen to your ideas and views… and then debate them. I vow to share your aspirations and chase them with you. I vow to listen to you secrets, and keep them. And finally, I vow to return the love you have given me and be your wife till death takes us. I love you."
Josh swore he saw the President and Leo wipe their eyes. Donna and CJ barely had control over themselves and Ainsley's strong brothers were sobbing away.
"Now the rings," announced the minister. Toby pulled out the rings from his pocket since Ainsley felt Josh would be too irresponsible. The minister continued with the ceremony. "Sam, repeat after me: I give you this ring as my vow with all that I am and all that I have. I will honor you." After Sam and Ainsley repeated the phrase and slipped the rings on each other's finger, the minister joyfully said, "You are now husband and wife! You my kiss the bride!" Sam lived up to his word the day before when he said that he was saving the good kiss for the wedding. He dipped Ainsley back while the guest jumped up and cheered.
Note: Sam's vows about Harry and Sally, the Farm Boy and Princess, and Rhett and Scarlett are from the movies When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, and Gone With the Wind.