Trials of the Heart
Chapter 20 - I Do.
Jay hadn't really visited this part of the hospital before. The corridors were gloomy and there was a vaguely depressing air about it. He knew it was because it was usually where people came to pray for dying relatives or to be read their last rights but he hoped he could find what they needed here. A chill ran down his spine as he knocked on the foreboding door in front of him.
"Come in." a strict voice sounded through the door he pressed the handle down ot see the priest looking at him from over his glasses.
"Erm random question mate but you haven't got a licence to perform weddings have you?" he asked the priest who was sorting through some files.
The guy looked vaguely shocked by Jay's bluntness he put down the file he was looking at and nodded.
"You have to be in this profession." He laughed slightly before looking a little more sincere "Unfortunately last minute death bed weddings are my speciality. How can I help?"
"Well my fiancé isn't on her death bed. Neither am I, but you see my Nan is and she wants to be there…" he explained
"I have some matters to attend to but I can squeeze you in in an hour." he nodded "Can you find a couple of witnesses by then?"
"Oh yes, I'm sure someone down in the emergency department will be able to spare half an hour." Jay shrugged an excited smile coving his face.
"Ah you work downstairs? I thought you looked familiar." He nodded "I'll see you in an hour Mr…"
"Faldren. Jay." He took the hand the priest offered and shook it "Thanks!" he added before running out of the office excitedly pulling out his mobile and sending a short and to the point text to Ruth.
'1 Hour, hospital chapel, love you x'
Ruth's phone beeped as she watched River lying next to her Nan. She pulled out her phone and smiled.
"Ruth?" Ellie asked wondering what had cheered the older girl up so much
"Looks like you will get to see the wedding after all!" Ruth beamed "Ellie make sure the three of you are down in the hospital chapel in an hour. The Nurses will point you in the right direction. I'll see you there!"
She rushed out of the room excitedly and took the stairs down to the emergency department where she ran into Adam.
"Good evening Doctor Winters!" He smiled "And what brings you down here in such a hurry?"
"Witnesses. Wedding. Hospital Chapel. One Hour" She panted "Would you?"
He immediately got what she was saying despite her breathlessness and smiled.
"I'd be honoured too!" He winked as she caught her breath tears rising uncontrollably "Hey what's up?"
"I just.. Cant believe after how I used to treat everyone…"
"You should be proud Ruth. You have turned your life around, it takes a lot to do that." He smiled "You are a brilliant doctor and such a strong person. Jay is a very lucky guy."
"Thanks Adam." She smiled choking back the tears
"No you best go find some more witnesses if you want that wedding to go ahead!" he winked before continuing on his way to cubicles.
Who else. Who else. Ruth pondered as she walked through the emergency department. She had an idea, if he could get there, she lent over and picked up the phone, ignoring Noel's protests and dialled the familiar number. Relieved when he picked up.
"Toby? What are you doing in an hour?" she asked her fellow former F2 "Good get your backside down to the hospital chapel, we're getting married and I want you to be my witness." she smiled slightly at his response not noticing that Noel was watching her, she failed to notice the twinkle in his eye as she hung up the phone and rushed out of the doors of the emergency department.
Jay was frantically scribbling on a piece of paper.
I love you because you are you? He crossed it out. I love everything about you? Corny but true.
He sighed and screwed up the paper. There was so much he wanted to say in his speech to Ruth but he couldn't express his feelings on paper. They were too intense. He had an idea. He threw the pen across the room and set out on a mission knowing exactly what he needed to find.
Ruth ran flustered back into the hospital clutching her now clean wedding dress. She rushed into the staffroom in the emergency department and quickly changed. acquiring many a strange look as she left the room, wearing her dress and just a pair of purple socks. She rushed upstairs following the signs to the chapel.
As she burst in the door she spotted Jay wearing what appeared to be a borrowed suit and tie judging by the leg and the arm length being way to long, Toby was just straightening the tie for him and he smiled nervously up at her. She returned the smile as she glanced around the faces in the room. Half the emergency department had seemed to have abandoned their posts, how they knew? Ruth didn't care she couldn't believe they had cared enough to come up for the impromptu wedding in the first place.
Adam was also standing at the front talking to Jay's Nan who was settled in her wheelchair, drip stand to her right and Ellie to her left who was holding River's hand. Too Ruth's surprise Leila was also there. Surprised she had managed to appear in an hour she guessed it must have been a coincidence that she had been around but Ruth found herself happy to see her anyway it was like the pieces of the family were finally being slotted back together. She couldn't have asked for anything more.
"Shall we begin?" The priest suggested as Jay passed Toby the boxes containing the rings.
He gave a brief welcome. Praising god. Ruth didn't say anything she was too busy watching Jay carefully. So when the priest suddenly turned to Jay to ask him if he'd like to say anything she wasn't really paying attention until Toby passed him an old guitar.
Wondering what he was going to do she bit her lip nervously as he began to strum.
"Today is gonna be the day
That they're gonna throw it back to you
By now you should've somehow
Realized what you gotta do
I don't believe that anybody
Feels the way I do about you now"
Ruth had never heard him sing before. He had always shrugged it off strumming on his guitar saying he didn't play to sing because he was useless, but his voice was so amazing, not a note out of place and so beautiful and touching. He could easily sing professionally if he wanted to Ruth pondered to herself as she listened but he was singing for her. Silent tears of joy were began falling down her face as he carried on.
"Backbeat, the word is on the street
That the fire in your heart is out
I'm sure you've heard it all before
But you never really had a doubt
I don't believe that anybody
Feels the way I do about you now."
Several of the members of the emergency department seemed close to tears, Toby was wiping at his eyes trying not to look like a wus but failing miserably. Ben nodded and winked at Ruth as she caught his eye and she smiled back behind the tears. Jay's Nan was smiling proudly. Everyone else was in tears, or close to it but the look on her face was pure happiness.
"And all the roads we have to walk are winding
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I would
Like to say to you
But I don't know how"
Ruth watching him playing carefully. He was so handsome. His dark eyes were focused on his fingers, he looked so happy and so natural. His dark curls were flicking in front of his eyes giving him the look of a mellow rock star and the words coming from his lips made her feel tingly inside. She loved him so much. Things weren't perfect again yet but it made her realise exactly how much she really did love him.
"Because maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
And after all
You're my wonder wall"
As the last note was strummed. He looked up staring at her intently.
"I love you."
Ruth's jaw was now hanging open and the silent tears were still flowing making her resemble a runaway bride.
"What am I supposed to say now!" She suddenly said a small smile crossing her face. "I had such a wonderful speech in my head but that… that just took my breath away."
He put the guitar down and winked as he took her hands before he stared deep in her eyes. His warm brown eyes melting her icy blue ones and in turn her heart.
"Tell me from the heart."
She looked into his eyes and let the words flow from her lips.
"Jamshid Faldren I have never met anyone who infuriates me so much yet makes me love them in so many different ways." She blurted out. as the words fell from her lips more built up inside her mind. "I wouldn't be here without you. I wouldn't be alive nor would I be the person I am today. After years and years feeling alone, I never thought I'd have friends let alone a boyfriend. I thought that love was something that only occurred in fairytales not my life but you are my Prince Charming and I am your Cinderella. I love you and I hope that we spend the rest of our lives together but those pants may have to be burnt." he looked horrified and she smiled slightly "There is not a lot else I can say other than thank you. Thank you for saving me, thank you for being there for me and thank you for loving me." the tears were now making her throat feel tight. "I really do love you and I can't imagine my life without you."
She broke down as the mixture of emotions flowed through her body and found herself wrapped in his arms.
"You've saved me." She whispered in his ear so only he could hear. His eyes began to well up and he was fighting back tears. Those three words. Those three words meant so much to him. He wanted nothing else but for her to be safe. To be loved. To be happy. To him those three words meant a lot more than anyone could ever know.
"As much as I don't want to break this up but I think we should get onto the vows." the priest interrupted the touching scene reminding them they were in front of half their co-workers and Jay's family. They pulled apart, both teary eyed and held hands again. Jay nodded to him to continue.
"Do you Jamshid Faldren take the Ruth Winters to be your lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold until death do you part." He asked
"I do." He smiled slipping a delicate ring onto Ruth's finger.
"And Do you Ruth Winters take Jamshid Faldren to be your lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold until death do you part." He asked turning to Ruth.
"I do." she replied the biggest smile crossing her face that Jay had ever seen as she put on his ring for him.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride."
Jay leant down did just that. He kissed her deeply as their co-workers and family cheered and clapped. Ruth had never felt so happy and she was sure she would never feel this happy ever again because the feeling in her stomach as he kissed her was so amazing she believe it would be impossible to recreate.
This was love.
She was in love.
Ruth Faldren (nee Winters) was in love and no one could take it from her.