100 Chapters. I can't believe we made it here! Keep your love coming - it helps me stay really active here!
xo
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Savior
Chapter 100
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Cate let out a deep breath as she ran her hands together in front of the mirror. She knew she was being photographed, but at that moment, she wanted to take in every inch of the work her sister did.
She had to admit – Jackie was damn good at what she did. Her hair and make-up looked flawless; she opted for a partial up-do as her hair laid in curls down her back. Her aunt had made a headband to match the belt she made for her gown. Jackie was going to attach her veil when they made it to the vineyard.
"What do you think?" Jackie asked as she peeked over her sister's shoulder in to the mirror. She played with a stray curl and tucked it back where it was supposed to be.
Cate could on grin as she locked eyes with her older sister through the mirror. "I'm in love," she said softly.
Jackie kissed her sister's cheek. "I'm glad," she answered. "You make a beautiful bride, sis."
Cate reached up to put her hand on top of Jackie's on her shoulder. "Thank you," she replied. "For everything."
"That's what we do," Jackie responded quietly. The older sister peeked over her shoulder to see her mother starting to pack up what needed to go to the vineyard with them. "How about we go get you married now?" she asked with a smirk.
Cate beamed at her sister's words. "Sounds like a plan."
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"Yo, D," Brandon called as he stepped in to the room. They had bottles of beer and whiskey littered throughout the room on different tables. Derek looked up from his cell phone. He was trying to pass the time by playing around on the different apps. "Jackie just dropped this off for you."
He chuckled as his best friend carried over a navy blue gift bag. Derek accepted the bag and looked up at his friend. "Did you," he started, only for Brandon to cut him off.
"I gave it to Jackie," he replied. Derek grinned.
He moved aside the tissue paper and pulled out the card inside. Derek knew immediately by the cursive handwriting inside the card who it was from.
D,
I have dreamed my entire life of this day, of these moments.
My heart has been saved for you.
I cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives together. I love you more than you'll ever know.
You are my everything.
I know you prefer your father's watch, but I wanted to get you a little something to remember our special day by.
Always,
Catie
Derek tried to ignore the photographer watching his every move. He could not hide the grin that took over his expression at Cate's note.
He placed the card and envelope on the table and pulled out the yellow box that sat inside. Derek could only shake his head as he opened it to find the watch he eyed back in Chicago. "Meet me at 5 o'clock, C," read the tag that hung around the piece.
"Wow," Derek said as he ran his fingers over the watch. "She always one ups me," he called out to his groomsmen with a laugh.
"She does that," Alex replied jokingly.
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"Miss Johnson," Jackie called out in a sing song voice as she stepped in to the bridal room. "I have something for you!"
Cate took a deep breath before taking the card and gift bag from her sister. "He's trying to make me cry already," she said to a round of laughs from the ladies in the room. Cate adjusted her white robe that had 'Mrs. Morgan' bedazzled across the back as she took a seat on the couch to open them.
My Catie,
I rack my brain trying to figure out how lucky I am to have you to spend the rest of my life with, but I cannot find a logical explanation. You are the greatest thing to ever happen to me, and I promise to love you to the ends of the earth and back.
'Tomorrow, tonight, the rest of my life
I wanna be the man you want me to be'
I love you,
Derek
"He quoted Kane," she said with a laugh. She took the tissue her sister was offering as she tried her best not to bother her makeup. "I just love him," she sighed as she slipped the card back in to the envelope.
Cate could not help the smile on her face as she pulled out a custom oversized coffee mug that read "Wifey" on one side and their wedding date on the other. She almost missed the small box sitting in the middle of the mug.
Her breath caught in her throat as she opened the box to reveal pave diamond studs. "Those are gorgeous," Jackie exclaimed over her shoulder. "He's such a keeper!"
Cate pursed her lips and nodded. "Definitely," she agreed as she slid everything back in to the gift bag. "What do you ladies say – let's get this show on the road?" She accepted the wine glass that Sarah offered her as she watched her ladies start to move around the room to get changed.
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"Are you ready?" Cate turned to look at her father. Her hands were starting to sweat under the weight of her bouquet.
She let out another deep breath as she tried to steady her heart rate. She nodded. "More than ready," she answered softly.
Jackie turned around from her spot in front of her sister and fixed a stray hair. "A beautiful bride," her sister said softly. "You good?"
Cate nodded again. "Yup," she answered as she let out a long, deep breath.
Jackie winked in her sister's direction. "He looks good up there," she said, causing a smile to take over her sister's face. Jackie always knew just what to say to her.
She could feel Shelby behind her fixing her veil to lay it out completely. Her father gave her hand one last squeeze as she watched Madison start out towards the arbor. Slowly, Derek's sisters followed behind her, and then suddenly Jackie was no longer in front of her.
Cate let out a last deep breath as she kept in step with her father as they sauntered towards the arbor. She could not turn to look at anyone in their seats; her eyes were locked on Derek's.
She beamed when she saw him mutter 'she's beautiful,' to Brandon, and noticed his best friend nod in agreement. It seemed to take a lifetime, but when they finally stood in front of the Officiant, she could only smile at the tear forming in the corner of Derek's eye.
It all seemed like a blur; they were the only two in the world. Cate broke out of her reverie when her father adjusted to shake Derek's hand and then kiss his daughter on the cheek.
Jackie took her bouquet from her and helped her fix her dress as she turned to take Derek's hands. "Hi," she mumbled, not able to wipe away the grin on her face.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered back, trying their best not to interrupt the ceremony.
"Told you," she muttered as she wiped at the lone tear that slid down his face.
His smirk caused the butterflies in her stomach to start their flight. She licked her lips as they slowly turned their attention to the ceremony. "Catherine, repeat after me," he began.
She pursed her lips before reciting, "I take you to be my best friend," she paused for him to continue. "My faithful partner and my one true love." Derek's eyes never left her as she continued. "I promise to encourage you," she could feel his thumb run over the tops of her hands. "And to love you truly – through good times and bad."
Cate could see him slowly shifting his weight back and forth. To everyone else, they only saw how calm, cool and collected he was, but she could see his happiness waiting to explode.
"I will forever be there," she repeated. "To laugh with you," she said with a smile. "To lift you up when you are down," Cate said before pursing her lips as she fought back another deep breath. "And to love you, unconditionally, through all of our adventures in life together."
Their fingers laced together as Derek recited the same words. Cate could not keep the grin off of her face at his words.
All Cate could focus on was answering, "I do," before slipping Derek's wedding band on. She could only see him. She knew if she turned to see any one else in the audience, she was going to break down right then and there. But when Derek slipped her band on, she knew the tears were going to start shortly.
"It is my privilege, on behalf of the state of Virginia, to pronounce you husband and wife." Cate beamed at the pronouncement, but the smile crossing Derek's lips sealed the day for her.
"Derek, you may kiss your bride."
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