Chapter 17 "The Wedding Part Two"

Harmony Maine...

The flame haired woman ran breathlessly into the church, her eyes widening in horror when she saw it was empty. The paper she held in her hand said that the wedding was to be held at St Mary Margaret's but the church was empty as a tomb.

"Damn it now what am I going to do?" she wondered, sitting on am empty pew and rubbing her aching head.

Harmony Pier "My Fair Lady"

When Teresa and Fox were kneeling before him Father Lonnigan began the ceremony with the traditional mass. The bride and groom stole glances at each other throughout the mass and were finally rewarded when Father Lonnigan announced that they wanted to recite their own vows.

Extending a hand to Teresa, he helped her to her feet and then he began to recite his vows.

"Teresa, I wanted our wedding to be memorable and because I'm no good at this sort of thing I cheated and looked online for a suitable poem. This poem says everything that's in my heart," he murmured and the crowd held their collective breaths as his deep voice recited the poem.

Now we will feel no rain
for each of us will be shelter to each other.

And now we will feel no cold
for each of us will be warmth to each other.

Now there is no loneliness
we are two bodies, but there is one life before us and one home.

When evening falls, I'll look to you and there you'll be.
And I'll take your hand and you'll take mine.

And we'll turn together and we'll look to the road we traveled to reach this
the hour of our happiness.
It stretched far behind us, and our future lies ahead

a long and winding road where every turning means discovery
all the hopes, new laughter, shared tears, the adventure has just begun.

"I'm standing here and I still can't believe that I deserve you. I wouldn't be the man I am right now if it wasn't for you. I thought I was brave, but I found out that it takes more courage to open up to another person. And I thought I was strong, but you showed me that it takes more strength to let people see your feelings. And I thought I knew how to love, but I know now that it's much harder to let someone love me and that someone is you. You saw into my heart when no one else could- and you believed in me. So I'm going to spend the rest of my life living up to the faith that you have in me. I don't have much baby, but what I have is yours. I'm yours. I love you Sweetness," he concluded

Teresa felt the tears fall down her cheeks as he concluded his vows and pressed her palm to his mouth. With tear filled eyes she began her own vows.

"When I was a little girl, I dreamed of loving a man who was brave and strong and true; and of a romantic wedding on the water surrounded by all the people I love the most. I never told that secret dream to anyone, but some how you found out. You gave me that dream. You made it come true. There's just one thing that's different; this is far more wonderful than I ever imagined. I dreamed of being in love, I never dreamed of sharing my very soul. I dreamed of sharing my thoughts, but I never dreamed that someone could hear me without words. In my darkest trouble, in my coldest silence; I looked for you and you were there. I'm yours forever. I love you."

"I too wanted to my vows to be meaningful and romantic and thus I looked through Mama's book of poems till I found the perfect one. This poem embodies everything that's in my heart," she added as she recited the poem.

"Oh my love is like a red, red rose, that's newly sprung in June.

My love is like the melody, sweetly played in tune.

And I will love thee still my dear, till all the seas gang dry.

Till all the seas gang dry my dear and the rocks melt dry with the sun.

And I will love thee still my dear, though the sands of life shall run.

And I will come again my love, though it was ten thousand miles." Teresa concluded.

Father Lonnigan waited till the bride and groom had dried their tears before he continued.

"And so by the power vested in me by the State of Maine I pronounce you husband and wife. Nicholas, you may kiss your bride," he murmured and to the crowd's cheering Fox bent his head and pressed a soft kiss on Teresa's lips.