Chapter Fifteen

Betty stood with her sister in the secluded alcove near the entrance to the chapel. Hilda fussed and smoothed Betty's dress one final time before Ignacio came to walk her down the aisle.

"Betty, you look absolutely beautiful." Hilda said kindly. Marc had taken all the girls to the most frou-frou salon on the strip. Antonio, Marc's friend, had expertly handled Betty, washing and setting her hair on large rollers. The manicurist had given her a beautiful French Manicure as Antonio had gently removed the rollers. He piled her hair on top of her head, pulling down a few of the strands to frame her face. He wound a single pink Gerber daisy and some baby's breath through her dark tresses. His makeup assistant Rie had made her up softly, but romantically. Her eyes glowed and her skin looked dewy and flawless.

Christina couldn't have picked a better dress for her to wear, Betty thought. She'd felt like a true princess that morning as she'd slipped the Carolina Herrera gown over her body. It was a beautiful gown, made from rich white silk satin. It was short sleeved with a scoop neck and back, with three pleated slits in the skirt and a chapel length train. All the women had ooh and ahhed over it.

Hilda hugged Betty one more time as the women saw their father approach.

"I'm so happy for you." Hilda said. Betty smiled and hugged her back. She gave Betty her bouquet of pink Gerber daisies, pink and white roses and baby's breath, and then turned towards the chapel. Hilda slowly began to walk down the aisle towards the preacher as Ignacio extended his arm to his youngest daughter.

"Care to take a little walk with me, Mi Hija?" Ignacio asked. Betty nodded. The chapel was small, only about a dozen steps or more separated Betty from Henry. She took a deep breath and smiled at her father.

"I'm ready Dad." Betty said. There was no choir to sing, only the receptionist playing "The Wedding March" on the surprisingly well-tuned piano. Ignacio slowly walked Betty up the aisle, mindful not only of her cast, but the fact that his baby girl was getting married. It seemed like only yesterday he and Rosa were watching the girls play with dolls and argue about which one had the best Barbie clothes. All too soon the walk ended. Ignacio stood in between Betty and Henry as the preacher asked:

"Who gives this woman to be joined in holy matrimony?"

Ignacio smiled at Betty as he joined her hand with Henry's.

"Her mother and I do." Ignacio said, shaking Henry's hand before turning to find his seat quickly, his voice overcome with emotion.

Henry had stood speechless, his mouth gone dry as he watched Betty walking up the aisle towards him with her father. She looked like a perfect goddess with her hair piled on top of her head and her face flushed with happiness. When Ignacio had given his blessing and placed her hand in his, Henry could feel her palm sweating. Hilda stood beside her smiling. Aiden stood next to him, silently watching everything changing for the better. They turned towards one another as the preacher spoke;

"Ladies, gentleman and guests of honor. You are here to witness this man and this woman joined in the bonds of Holy Matrimony. A union which should not be entered into lightly, but entered into with respect, love and commitment." The preacher said. He turned to Henry;

"Henry, do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, honor her, and cherish her through good times and bad? For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her for as long as you both shall live?"

Henry smiled down at Betty. He gave her his ear to ear grin as he gently traced her cheek with his index finger.

"I do." Henry said firmly. The preacher glanced over to Betty;

"Betty, do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, honor him, and cherish him through good times and bad? For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him for as long as you both shall live?" Betty grinned her braces-laden smile up at him as she nodded.

"I do." Betty answered. The preacher looked around.

"The rings, please." Betty's face froze in panic.

"Oh, my god!" Betty exclaimed, "I totally forgot about rings! What are we going to do?" Henry smiled at her as he bent down and whispered in Aiden's ear. Aiden giggled as he pulled a box out of his pocket.

"Sorry Daddy, I forgot." Aiden said. Betty and Henry's guests chuckled as Betty handed off her bouquet to Hilda. Henry took the rings out of the box, handing his to Aiden as he held Betty's between his fingers. Henry took her left hand in his as he looked down at her.

"Betty, I give you these rings as an outward symbol of my love. For the polished gold that shines as brightly as my constant devotion to you, the perfect diamond that reminds me that I don't have to be perfect for you, as long as I'm with you; and the circle of love and commitment that everything rests on, inscribed with the words Mi Amor Forever. Because you truly are that Betty. My love forever. All that I am and everything I want to be begins and ends with you. Take these rings knowing how happy you have made me and how truly loved you are." Henry said eyes misty as he slipped the rings onto her finger. Betty bit her lower lip to keep from crying as she looked at the gorgeous rings. Betty looked down as Aiden handed her his daddy's ring. She looked inside the polished gold band and read the words engraved there.

"Henry, I give you this ring as an outward symbol of my love. Words cannot express for me how I feel at this moment. You have given me more joy and happiness since the first day I met you than anyone else ever could. You accepted me for who I was from the start, and never tried to change me. You love me with unrestrained passion and tenderness, but you listen to me with your sensitive heart. In your eyes I see who I want to be and everything there is for us to accomplish. Take this ring now and forever knowing the words inscribed there will always mean just as much in the future as they do today. Because you are Mi Corazon, my heart, my future and my life." Betty finished as she slipped the band onto Henry's finger. They clasped hands as the preacher spoke again;

"Betty and Henry have come to this place together of their own free will. They have committed themselves to one another in the presence of God and in front of their family and friends. What God has brought together, let no man tear apart." The preacher placed his hand over their clasped ones for a moment;

"By the powers vested in me in the sight of these eyewitnesses and the State of Nevada, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride." The preacher said. Betty gave a surprised little gasp as she looked up at Henry. Henry's fingers caressed her neck as he cradled her face in his hands. He bent his head slowly to hers. When their lips were only a breath apart, Henry slowly ran his thumb over her bottom lip.

"I love you Betty. So much." Henry sighed.

"I love you too Henry." Betty said as his lips finally closed over hers. The kiss was sweet and tender; Betty's arms wrapped around his neck as he picked her up and twirled her around, cast and all. As he set her down gently, Betty noticed Henry's face was flushed and happy. The preacher then said the words she'd waited so long to hear:

"Ladies and gentleman, may I present for the first time as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Grubstick."

TBC………………………………………………….