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Conversations of the Heart
A Journey of Love
Chapter 5 ~ The Ceremony ~
Lucas had asked Mike and Robert to serve as ushers. By a quarter to noon, they had seated the parents and Julie upfront and the other guests were just being seated. There was Bill, Molly, Florence, and Ned of course, as well as Minnie, Faith and Fiona, Nathan and Allie and Laura. Gustave had to be ordered by Lucas to leave his post in the kitchen to join them as well.
As there was no piano in the library, Anna was going to play the cello. She had a magic touch with the instrument and was playing Pachelbel's Canon in D as the guests were seated. William was awaiting Elizabeth's arrival just in the doorway to keep out of the chill; he saw her approaching the door with Rosie and Fiona and he stepped out to join her. Fiona handed Elizabeth her bouquet, it was mostly made of red and white roses with sprigs of wild greens in a loose flowing style. Fiona entered and was seated and signaled to Anna that she could proceed with the wedding march. Lucas, Lee, and Jack were standing at the front to one side of Joseph. Lucas looked serious as he stood there anticipating Elizabeth's entrance. Rosie proceeded first and took her place opposite Lee and Jack. Anyone watching Lucas knew the moment he saw his bride enter on her father's arm. The stunned look and then joyous smile said everything. She smiled too as she saw him, so dapper in his wedding attire. She was the luckiest woman alive. Not only was she marrying the kindest man she had ever known, but he was also so dashing… so handsome.
The strains of the beautiful cello music filled the room as Elizabeth and William walked down the short aisle. William kissed Elizabeth's cheek and whispered something in her ear. Joseph spoke; "Who gives this woman?" "I do" William replied as he shook Lucas' hand and found his seat next to Grace. Elizabeth handed her bouquet to Rosie before taking her place next to Lucas. Joseph proceeded with the wedding ceremony. He ended with what seemed to fit this couple so well:
Corinthians 13:4-7:Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
He ended with: "Lucas and Elizabeth, you have traveled a long way to this place on this day; are you prepared for the rest of your journey? Together they replied, "we are." Lucas, would you like to recite what you have written to Elizabeth?"
With that, Lucas turned to face Elizabeth and held out his hands for hers. He felt the electricity as she placed her hands in his.
Elizabeth, I told you once that I always had faith that I would know the perfect woman for me when I met her. You were it for me from the start. I quickly realized your circumstances but as you know I am a patient man and would wait as long as I had to, to win your heart. Because you also know that I believe in having a soulmate, that one person that fulfills you. And I knew that I would give up that dream should I give up on my love for you. Plato said, "Every heart sings a song, incomplete until another heart whispers back." Thank you, my love, for completing my song….for making my dreams come true.
Joseph then proceeded to ask Elizabeth to share her vows.
Lucas, I am so overjoyed to be standing with you in our special place about to become your wife. Our journey here has been long and winding, but it just makes the destination that much sweeter. And while the journey took a while, the destination was never in question. My heart was yours at our first meeting; you were the man for me and my heart knew it even if I didn't. The seed was planted and nurtured deep inside me for these past few years just waiting for my heart to open again.
I know that you believe in finding your soulmate, that one person who completes you and can bring you true happiness. In that context, my soul met yours that day, I knew within minutes that we were destined to be great friends and I was not mistaken. You are first of all my friend and that friendship laid the foundation for our story. The love story that is being written as we speak, and it is a beautiful story already. It makes me so excited for the chapters that life has in store for us as a couple and for our life together as a family. You are the perfect man for me and you will be the most perfect of fathers. I am truly blessed. You said to me once that where your soul ends mine begins; today we join together as one as our souls unite.
Joseph looked at the two of them who now were both teary-eyed and said, "Lucas, will you take this woman to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward in sickness and in health? Will you honor her and love her forsaking all others until death do you part?" To which Lucas replied, "I will".
Joseph nodded and then proceeded.
"And will you Elizabeth take this man to be your wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward in sickness and in health? Will you honor him and love him forsaking all others until death do you part?" "I will." She replied.
"Then with the power vested in me by God and this state, I pronounce you husband and wife. Lucas, you may kiss your bride."
Lucas released Elizabeth's hands and tenderly took her face into his and placed his lips on hers in the sweetest kiss. She responded by stepping into him and putting her arms around his waist. He slid his hands down her shoulders to her arms and deepened the kiss as the guests began to clap. They both smiled and leaned their foreheads together and paused for a few moments savoring the joy.
Joseph then announced, "the couple has something special they'd like to share with you… Bill?"
Bill joined Joseph at the front alongside Joseph. "Rosie, Lee, will you join me." To that, they held Jack's hand and led him between the newlyweds. "Lucas, would you like to say some words?"
Lucas brought Jack in close and knelt down so he would be at his level. "Jack, today I have married your Mama and now we are Mr. and Mrs. Bouchard and the three of us are now a family. I love you and want to be your Papa, will you take my name too? We wish to honor your daddy in heaven and you will keep his name too, Jack Thornton Bouchard." To this, Jack just hugged Lucas and said, "I love you Papa." Lucas stood and picked up his son and pulled Elizabeth in next to him.
Bill proceeded, "Lucas Bouchard, you have requested permission to adopt Jack Thornton to be your son, the state has granted your petition and under the authority granted to me by the state, Jack Thornton you will now legally be known as Jack Thornton Bouchard."
Elizabeth's tears began to flow as did Lucas'. "Don't be sad Papa." Jack proclaimed.
"I am not sad Jack; I am the happiest man in the world." With that, he took out his handkerchief and dried Elizabeth's tears and then his own.
The guests were all standing now and clapping. The trio turned to them with big smiles and started to head down the aisle as Anna struck up Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" for the processional. Outside, dozens of friends and neighbors stood to cheer their exit from the library. Her students tossed a bit of rice on them to honor tradition; they had been asked to show restraint. After the guests had exited, the wedding party and parents entered back into the library for the photographs as the other invitees, headed off to the reception.