Spring/Summer 2017

Zoey took to leadership like a fish to water. Less than a year running the place and already it felt like she'd always been in charge. And even planning the wedding had turned out not to be as big a hassle as Max had expected. That is once he'd convinced Zoey not to try and elope.

"Don't you want your family there?" Max had asked her when she'd first brought up the idea.

"This is about you and me," Zoey had replied. "We'll send them pictures."

"This is about us being family," Max countered. "Which includes all of them."

"Eloping will be easier," Zoey had tried next. "Not to mention cheaper."

"What's this really about Zoey?" he'd asked, sensing that her arguments weren't really the point at all.

"You know- I mean-" Zoey sighed. "It's not like dad can walk me down the aisle anyway."

"Have you thought that maybe your mother would like that honour?" Max had offered with a smile.

After that Zoey never brought up eloping again to which Max was glad. If the options were don't marry Zoey or eloping he would have eloped but only marginally. Max wanted to stand up in front of everyone he knew and make his vows. He wanted it to feel real. He'd waited for this moment his entire life and he wasn't about to shorten it.

Apart from wedding planning, his life hadn't actually changed a whole lot. Though he supposed his co-workers did treat him a little different now that they knew he went home with the boss everyday.

At first they were consoling him on having been passed over for his girlfriend. Then when it came out that they'd gotten engaged people started to make dirty jokes about him 'sleeping' with the boss. Like he hadn't been sleeping with her before. The thought almost made him laugh. In fact, taking the term sleeping literally, Max never slept well anymore without her. Not that his co-workers needed to know that.

Max's favourite part about being in a relationship with the boss was when he got to kiss her in front of his co-workers. She usually blushed and his co-workers always grumbled and it never failed to make his day.

Then there were the times when he got to come to the bosses rescue. Like when she'd forgotten her briefing notes at home and he'd gone to get them for her just in time for the meeting.

"You know sometimes I think you are too reliable," Zoey told him at home that evening after her big meeting was a huge success.

"No such thing," Max replied.

"Maybe I should phrase it differently," Zoey said. "Sometimes I think I rely on you too much."

"My answer to that is the same," Max smiled at her. "Not possible."

"No but really," Zoey sighed, moving closer to hold his arm. "Won't you come to resist it if I am constantly needing things from you."

The idea made Max laugh though he knew she would take this the wrong way so he quickly explained. "I love that you rely on me," Max told her. "Makes me feel needed."

"Silly of course I need you," Zoey said, playfully hitting his shoulder.

"I know," Max beamed at her. "What you need to remember is that I rely on you too," Max told her with a gentle tap on her nose as he spoke.

Zoey rolled her eyes. "As if," she said.

"I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree on this point, my love," Max smiled at her.

"Okay then give me an example?" Zoey replied, with the air of calling one's bluff.

"I don't sleep well when you aren't asleep beside me," Max began. "So I need you to get a good night's sleep. I'd really hate to pay the rent of his apartment by myself so I need your help with our cost of living as well. Even if I do the cooking you are far better at cleaning than me and who knows what this apartment would look like without you." He paused to lean forward and kiss her before making his last point. "And then there is the simple fact that I would be miserable without you."

"I said one example," Zoey grumbled. Max just laughed.

"How can I give one when there are so many?" Max grinned at her. "I can keep going if you'd like."

"No that's okay," Zoey sighed. "I concede defeat."

"Excellent!" Max chuckled, reaching out to wrap his arms around his fiancee. "What's my prize?"

"Being relied on more," Zoey said, narrowing her eyes.

"Deal," Max laughed. Then he leaned in and kissed her.

"So what's for dinner oh useful one?" Zoey asked.

"Whatever Zoey's heart desires," Max replied, with as much over the top romantic drama he could muster.

"With that attitude I'll order pizza," Zory scoffed.

"How about stir fry?" Max laughed. Zoey seemed fine with that so Max got to cooking.

Later as they were eating, Zoey's phone went off. Rather than a phone call, it seemed to be an alarm, because seconds later she reacted.

"Oh shit I forgot to send the photographer a deposit," Zoey groaned. She jumped up, as she added. "And we'll lose the date if we delay even another day!"

"I already paid the photographer," Max said grinning.

"See this is what I meant," Zoey sighed as she sat back down again. "Too reliable."

"It's it a groom's job to make the wedding planning process as easy as possible?" Max asked.

"I thought it was the bride's job to make everything as complicated and crazy as possible?" Zoey replied, with a laugh.

"I like mine better," Max grinned.

"So I take it this means you called the cake lady too?" Zoey asked next. "And the flower shop wanted fabric samples."

"Done and done," Max smiled at her. "Who said planning a wedding had to be hard?"

"With you around it's certainly not," Zoey laughed. "Still expensive though."

"True," Max agreed. "But worth it."

"I don't know," Zoey said, but she was smiling. "The more bills we get the more I think eloping would have been cheaper."

Max feigned an expression of horror. "And disappoint poor Maggie who's spent all year landscaping her yard for you!"

"Yeah yeah I know," Zoey chuckled. "So movie tonight?"

"As if you need to ask," Max scoffed, before walking over to their rather substantial dvd collection.

Even with the wedding only months away there wasn't a whole lot left to do. Choosing a venue had been easy, since Maggie wanted nothing more than to decorate her yard for the occasion. The caterers were all organized and the guests all invited. They were planning a small wedding, which Zoey liked the price of and Max liked the intimacy of. It was still sometimes a wonder to him how many things they'd agreed on for the wedding. He heard most couples fought over venues or setting a date or even something as simple as the menu, but he and Zoey hadn't really needed to. Each was more than willing to relinquire power over what the other truly wanted and everything since had been an easy compromise.

Time has a funny way of both slowly down and speeding up when something you are really looking forward to approaches. The weather warmed as the days passed and spring turned to summer.

The morning of July 17th 2017 dawned warm and bright. Max spent the morning in a state of excitement since he'd been unable to sleep in. He knew the girls were all in hair and make up till noon, but the guys had only been asked to put on suits. Max smiled as he remembered Zoey complaining about the unevenness of this just last week.

Thanks to a certain tradition of not seeing the bride before the wedding, Max had slept alone last night at his parents house which meant he hadn't slept all that well. Still it didn't matter since he doubted the excitement of today would allow him to become sleepy. Max was running on adrenaline today. He knew he'd sleep like a baby tonight with his wife in his arms.

Lief, Tobin and Andrew were Max's side of the wedding party while Emily, Joan and their neighbour Mo were Zoey's. They'd made baby Mitch their ring bearer but hadn't really been able to find a flower girl so they'd decided to pre-scatter flowers.

Max stood beside the altar waiting to see his beautiful bride walk towards him. It had only been yesterday afternoon that he'd last seen her and yet he missed her. Just the anticipation of seeing her had a smile permanently on his face.

Rather than stare like a stone at the spot down the hall where he knew she'd appear, Max looked out into the crowd at all the people they'd invited to witness their vows today. Some were crying, but most looked slightly bored. He couldn't blame them. After all this wasn't their special day. It was his.

Maggie had done a beautiful job getting the space ready. A raised platform had been set up at the front with chairs facing it. Smooth stepping stones had been laid out for the bride to walk down. Zoey had called them both decorative and practical. Outside each row of chairs Maggie had planted rose bushes to match the wedding colours. They were all in bloom and quite stunning to set eyes on. The altar had flowers, matching the ones in Zoey's bouquet, tucked into the white weave of the arch. A wooden pergola covered the tables for the reception on the other side of the outdoor space. Ivy wines were inching up the sides of them, providing the perfect amount of shade without making it too dark.

Max had no attention to spare the scenario, the moment Zoey appeared. The rest of the world blurred into the background as his gaze fixed completely on her. He couldn't help but think that this was why grooms never got to see their brides before the wedding. He didn't have words for the emotions of joy and love that overcame him in that moment. The entire dress was an elegant creme color that somehow made Zoey's face look as flawless as porcelain and accentuated the slight flush to her cheeks. Her hair fell in soft curls over the tiny spaghetti straps that held up the chiffon draped top. Just below her bosom a silk ribbon wrapped around the front and tied in the back, dropping down to form a delicate train that followed behind her. The ruching on the top accentuated her fine curves and made Max's lips part slightly in awe. The front was floor length and the slightly high empire waist gave her the illusion of being taller than she really was. Overall the dress was simple and elegant. Max couldn't help but stare as she walked slowly towards him, grateful to every step along the road that had brought them here.

And then she stood before him. Maggie placed her daughter's hand into his as they stood facing each other at the altar.

"We are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses to join Zoey Clake and Max Richman in matrimony," the officiant began. "A vow not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly." He paused, then added that the bride and groom had prepared their own vows. Zoey went first.

"It's funny but I don't actually remember the day I met you," Zoey's vow began. "I can't claim love at first sight or any of that fairy tale stuff but this feels like a fairy tale to me because I was lucky enough to fall in love with my best friend. For as long as I can remember you were with me, there for me. The solid ground beneath my feet, you held me together. So today I promise to do the same for you, to stand by your side in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, to love and to cherish you - as my best friend and my husband - for as long as we both shall live."

"Now repeat after me," the officiant said, holding out a ring to Zoey. "With this ring, I thee wed, and with it, I bestow upon thee all the treasures of my mind, heart, and hands."

Zoey said the words back and then slipped the ring on Max's left hand.

Next it was Max's turn.

"One of my earliest memories is of you asleep in my lap," Max began his vows. "Everything around me is a blurr, but you are in sharp focus. The center of my everything then and even more so now. You are my world and I will forever be grateful to be your orbiting moon. Today I promise to never lose faith in us, to stand by your side in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, to love and to cherish you - as my best friend and my wife - for as long as we both shall live."

"Now repeat after me," the officiant said, holding out a ring to Max. "With this ring, I thee wed, and with it, I bestow upon thee all the treasures of my mind, heart, and hands."

Once again he said the words back and then slipped the ring on Zoey's left hand.

"By the power vested in me," the officiant continued. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss."

Before Max had time to move, Zoey was already upon him, making it more of a kiss the groom situation but he didn't care one bit. Overwhelmed with joy, Max wrapped his arms around his wife and lifted her up into the air.

So was that adorable? I was going for adorable. Also thanks to Connie Brown for helping me with the wedding and dress description.
Only one chapter left guys!

Sneak Peek Chapter 17

"Thank you," Zoey smiled at him. "I do really miss work though. I guess I just want to have my cake and eat my cake."

"You know I'd do anything for you, honey, but even I can't arrange a paradox for you," Max chuckled.

"Just keep your phone on you today, okay?" Zoey said firmly.

"Won't leave my pocket," Max replied. "Promise."

"Okay," Zoey said, taking a deep breath. "I guess I'm going to work."