12. Wedding

"Jess," Kimee whispered from behind the door to the theater entrance. "Are you ready?"

"Not even close," Jess gasped. "Kimee, am I really getting married?"

"Not if you don't want to," Kimee said, trying to reassure her.

"Yes, I want to," Jess laughed. "I really do."

Kimee laughed quietly. "So are you ready?"

"Definitely."

As the two doors to the theater opened Jess was shocked to see how many people were packed into the rows of chairs. "Kimee," Jess looked over at her best friend, who seemed to be beaming. "How many people did you invite?"

"I lost count at a hundred."

"Oh my God," Jess whimpered.

"You ready beautiful?" Kimee laughed. Since Jess's father was not present Kimee agreed to be the one to give her away and be her maid of honor.

"Ready," Jess laughed.

"Wow," Matt said from behind Shane. "If I was straight, I would probably kill to have Jess be my girl."

Shane laughed at his best man's comment. "Matt, if I were gay I would still kill to have Jess as my girl."

"True that," Matt laughed. "Here she comes."

As Jess started to climb the steps on the stage she never took her eyes of Shane's. When she was finally at his side the preacher started the ceremony.

Shane started with his vows. "I, Shane Justin Patterson, take you, Jessica Celia Williams, to be my friend, my lover, the mother of my children and my wife. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good and bad times, regardless of the obstacles that we may face. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live."

Shane could see the tears that were falling from Jess's eyes and felt a few of his own.

"Jess," the preacher said. "Your vows."

Jess took a deep breath and recited her vows. "I, Jessica Celia Williams, take you, Shane Justin Patterson, to be my husband. I join my life with yours. Where ever you go, I will go; what ever you face, I will face. Where there has been cold, you have brought warmth; when my life was dark, you brought light. I take you to be my life's partner. I will never leave you nor forsake you; I will spend all my days at you side. Today I choose you to be my husband, my friend, my lover, and the father of my children, and I commit myself to you for the rest of my life."

"Now, the rings," the preacher smiled.

"With this ring, I thee wed," Shane smiled as he slipped on Jess's ring.

"With this ring, I thee wed," Jess smiled as she slipped on Shane's ring.

"I now pronounce you, man and wife," the preacher said. "You may kiss your bride."

The room erupted with applause and shouting the minute Shane's lips met Jess's. When they broke apart Jess was smiling, her cheeks tear soaked. "I love you," she mouthed.

"Shane and I would love to thank you all for coming to our wedding and all the wonderful gifts," Jess smiled and motioned towards the gifts. "I think that I would probably go into labor before I am able to open all those boxes," she laughed. "So, thank you, and have a good time," she said and music started to play.

"Would you like to dance?" Shane said from behind her.

"You read my mind," she laughed and took his arm, dragging him to the middle of the room.

"Hey girl!" Kimee smiled, walking up to Jess. "Congratulations for the millionth time," she laughed giving Jess a hug.

"Thanks," Jess laughed. "So," she turned to Shane. "Where were we?"

"I think," Shane pulled her to him. "That we were around here," he smiled, taking her hand and putting his free hand on her lower back.

Resting her head on Shane's chest Jess smiled to herself. How did I get so lucky? She asked herself.