Gail, Holly, and Andy got Chloe to the Fairmount Royal York in plenty of time. That hotel was the sight of the wedding and reception. As Gail pulled up in front, Holly remarked, "Wow, nice digs." Chloe quickly replied a thank you before being hurried along by Andy, who was eager to keep things going ahead of schedule. Because as she well knew, leaving time for the unexpected was never a bad idea.
Once they reached the main ball room, they both looked around at the impressive design of the room, and how big it was. "Jeez, Holly was right," Andy said. "How did you guys swing this place?"
"Oh well first responders discount, you know. And Frank may have pulled a few strings and cashed in some favors," Chloe said. As if on cue, Noelle walked in the room at just that moment and wrapped Chloe up in a big hug. She did the same to Andy and said, "So, Price, you ready for today?"
Chloe smiled wide and nodded as she looked around the open space at everything. "I'm just picturing this place full of everybody and how that's going to feel." This smile faded a bit, replaced by some uncertainty. "Actually, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, I think."
"That's normal, but don't worry about it," Andy said. "Tonight, you'll be filled with so much happiness that there won't be room for anything else."
"Listen," Noelle said. "I don't know if Nash told either of you, but I almost ran away from my wedding. She and Steve Peck dragged me back and kept me from making the biggest mistake of my life. That's feeling overwhelmed. You're here and excited to get married. You're going to be just fine. Shall we get you to the prep room?"
Chloe smiled and hugged Noelle again. Fighting back a couple tears, "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."
Noelle led them out of the back of the room and to a split where she turned left and opened up the first door. "The guys are all down there," she said pointing down the hall to the right of where they turned.
"Yeah? Frank too?", Andy asked.
Noelle giggled a bit. "Yep. He was trying to tie his bowtie with some guide he found online. He still can't do it. Anyway, Chloe, you get this first room. Maid of Honor, you get the second." She handed both of them a key card. I'll be right out side if either of you need anything."
"Okay," Chloe said. "I'll let you guys know when I'm ready to get into my dress."
Chloe and Andy both disappeared into their respective rooms while Noelle went to figure out if her husband had any luck with his tie.
Sam was heading back from Hamilton, Mia strapped in the back seat, as quickly as he could but traffic was not working with him. He kept eyeing the clock on his dash and eventually admitted he'd be just a bit late for the wedding. He activated his car's hands-free phone system and told it to "call McNally."
A few rings later Andy picked up. "Hey Sam, how'd it go?"
"About as you'd expect. I have Mia and we're on our way, but traffic is, well, you know how that goes."
"So, you're going to be a little late?"
"Well…"
"A lot late?"
"I'm aiming to be there before it's over. How's that?"
"Sam…"
"Hey, it's not my fault. My plan would have had me there around now.
"Yeah, I know. Dov and Chloe won't mind."
"No, of course not. If they ask about me before, just tell them what happened and that we're on our way."
"Yeah, how's our girl doing, anyway?"
Sam glanced in his mirror, back at his daughter. She was smiling and playing with a stuffed zebra. "She's doing good. Happy. She asked about mommy and I told her that Mommy would be busy for a little while and she'd be staying with us. She seemed curious but accepted it."
"Okay, well, we'll be starting here before too long, so I should go. I love you two."
"And we love you McNally. Don't we Mia."
Mia perked up at her name and made an affirmative sounding noise.
Andy smiled on her end. "Drive safely, see you soon."
"Yep, will do."
Chris and Dov were standing just on the other side of the side entry into the ball room. Dov would walk through there and have a short walk to his side of the altar where he'd wait for the ceremony to start. Chris cracked the door and looked out at the assembled crowd. Most of the chairs were filled, most of the faces recognizable to him. That spoke to how tight-knit their family was. Everyone knew everyone. He even spotted a couple faces he didn't expect but wasn't surprised to see when he saw who they were next to. He didn't bother Dov with it though.
He shut the door and turned to His best friend. You ready, man?"
Dov took a deep breath, made sure his jacket was laying right across his shoulders and asked Chris to check his bow tie one more time. That done, he asked about the rings.
"I've got one, and Andy has the other. Already checked that."
"Good, good," Dov said. I'm ready."
Chris clapped him on the back, opened the door again and said, "Break a leg." He shut the door after Dov walked through and hurried around the hall to the back door where he met up with Andy, ready to walk her down the aisle. He was relieved to see Frank was the only other person waiting.
"The ladies are taking their time," Frank said.
"Yeah, go figure. Is Noelle still back here?"
"Nah, she went up just before you got back. Just McNally and Chloe now."
Chris looked at his watch and then up at the altar. Dov was making conversation with the officiant of the ceremony, which was supposed to be starting right now. Then he heard a door open and Andy and Chloe stepped out of Chloe's room. They both looked great but Chloe, the combination of her always happy self even happier in a beautiful dress on this special day looked breathtaking. Chris made a mental note to make sure he watched Dov as Frank walked his bride down the aisle.
"How's Dov?", Chloe asked.
"He's good, happy. But let's not keep him waiting any longer." He bent his arm for Andy to hook hers through. "Shall we?"
Chris and Andy walked down the aisle to a short but sweet piano piece playing over the speakers. Then they took their places and got ready for the real show to begin. Chis had his attention on Dov when the Bridal suite began to play out, everybody stood, and Chloe emerged from around the corner beyond the ballroom with her arm wrapped through Franks.
Dov's Jaw didn't hit the floor or anything like that. But he had this dumbfounded look on his face for just a couple seconds before replacing it with his wide smile.
"She's beautiful, more so than I could have imagined. And somehow, she's going to be my wife," Dov said quietly to Chris, standing below and slightly in front of him.
When Chloe finally made it to the front and Dov took her hands in his everybody sat back down. Then the officiant began, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…"
"I, Dov Ezekiel Epstein, take you Chloe, to be my lawfully wedded wife. I vow to hold and cherish you. Love and comfort you. Encourage and support you. In sickness and in health. In struggle or prosperity. Until death do us part."
"I, Chloe Lecia Price, to be my lawfully wedded husband. I vow to be open and understanding. Keeping nothing from you and accepting everything from you. I vow to be there for you when you need me. And, even if you don't I'll still be there. I vow that my love and compassion is yours alone until death do us part. And then, even after.
Chloe reached her hand back to Andy who supplied the wedding band she'd been holding on to. She slipped it on to Dov's ring finger. "With this ring, I thee wed." Dov did the same and slid the ring Chris had been holding onto Chloe's ring finger. "With this ring, I thee wed."
Then the officiant spoke, "If anybody here this evening can think of any reason these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold our peace." Everyone waited the customary couple seconds. "Then, By the power vested in me by the Province of Ontario, it is my great joy to now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.
As cheers and applause sounded from those gathered, Dov leaned over and kissed Chloe gently before wrapping her in his arms, lifting her up and kissing her much more deeply. When he set her back down, they were both smiling wide, Chris was clapping loudly, and Andy was wiping away her own tears.
"One final time the officiant spoke, "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor to present to you, for the first time as a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Dov Epstein!" Everybody stood up and cheered the haply newlyweds down the aisle and out of the ball room.
The ball room was also the sight of the reception so the hotel staff hurried in to move the chairs and altar out of the middle of the floor so the whole space could be freed up. There were already tables set up for dining in the back half and the food was being rolled in in catering carts. But now with the middle of the room open, the dance space had been created. When Dov and Chloe made their way to the head table, they decided to let everybody eat first and worry about toasting after. They had a long night ahead anyway, plenty of time. So as people lined up to get food, most passed back by the happy couple, personally congratulating them. Sam, Andy, and Mia were no different.
Dov stood up and the two partners shook hands and grasped clapped each other on the back.
"Sorry I missed most of that, guys," Sam said.
"Don't worry about it," Chloe said. "Andy told me what happened."
"Yeah," Dov said "I don't know what happened but," he indicated Mia, "clearly it was important."
"Besides you caught the end!", Chloe said. "The best part."
A little later Gail and Holly came up to Dov and Chloe. "Well, well, well. The illustrious Holly Flax has returned. Don't tell me this brought you all the way back," Dov said.
"Don't flatter yourself," Gail said.
"Actually, I took a job with the O.P.P. out of Orillia. And I just happened to back in town now."
"And?", Dov tried to lead her.
"And she's my plus one tonight," Gail said.
"For life. Plus one for life," Holly corrected.
Dov looked over at Chloe, surprised that she wasn't as intrigued by Holly's presence. Then it hit him. "Wait, you knew about this too?"
Chloe simply smiled.
"Wow, nobody's telling me anything today," Dov said. "My own wife, nonetheless."
"To take Chloe's side, wow I can't believe I just said that," Gail said, "She hadn't taken her honesty vow yet."
Dov couldn't help but laugh at that a bit. Then he wrapped his arm back around Chloe and pulled her into his chest. "Yeah, I guess you're right about that Gail.
Later still. Traci came up to their table, her plus one beside her. "Bailey?" Chloe said.
"Yeah, that's me," Bailey said.
"Dov stood up to shake her hand and hug Traci. "Forgive her, I just don't think she's seen you out of your ETF uniform before. It's different seeing you when you're not loaded up, ready to go to war."
"Believe me," Bailey said, "It's not the first time I've been told that."
Dov sat back down and said to Chloe, "Finally there's something both of us were in the dark on."
"Actually, everybody was," Traci admitted. Nobody knew about me and Aaron. Not that we're an official couple or anything."
"Naw, we're just two people who enjoy each other's company." Dov couldn't help but notice that Traci and Bailey's hand holding seemed to get tighter at that moment, but he let is slide.
"Really that's so awesome. When did it start I mean, you two hanging out."
"Well," Traci started. "He checked in on me a few times after I got shot."
"And she returned the favor after I got caught in that explosion downtown," Bailey said.
"And we realized we enjoyed doing it and we shouldn't have to wait for one of us to get seriously hurt before we do it again."
"Can't argue with that logic," Dov said. "We're both really happy you two are here. Please, help yourselves to the food and enjoy tonight."
As they walked away, Dov and Chloe both exchanged a moment of knowing looks with slightly raised eyebrows and partial smirks. Then they turned their attention to the next guests that had come to congratulate them.