23.
*Joe*
The wedding day. I was as keyed up as I got before really big missions and I felt like I was going to explode form all of my excitement. I felt like a little kid again as I tied my tie and walked out to where the preacher stood. Jeff Scott was a preacher from France that I knew quite well. He'd so graciously agreed to do the ceremony, which I appreciated. "Thanks again, Jeff."
He beamed at me from beneath his gray mustache. "Anytime, Joe. You know that."
And then Katelyn was there, walking swiftly down the aisle in a simple white, floor length dress. Her hair was in a curly updo and her makeup was flawless, just like always. She beamed at me and took my hand, accepting my assistance up the steps.
Leah followed Katelyn down the aisle in a simple black dress and I smiled at her, mouthing Thank you for coming.
She just smiled and took her place beside Katelyn. I didn't need a best man, I had told Katelyn, so that place was void.
Jeff started in on his little speech about love in general and it was all I could do to not tell him to hurry it along. I wasn't even really listening to the words; I just kept looking over at Katelyn, still in awe that she had chosen me. That she wanted me as much as I wanted her. It was unreal.
And then it was time for the lines. "Joe, do you take Katelyn to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you affirm to love, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others; keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?"
I grinned and squeezed Katelyn's hands. "I do."
"Katelyn, do you take Joe to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you affirm to love, comfort, and cherish him from this day forward, forsaking all others; keeping only unto him for as long as you both shall live?"
Katelyn's voice was just as strong as mine when she vowed, "I do."
I couldn't stop grinning, even as I repeated after Jeff. "I, Joe, take thee, Katelyn, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish; 'til death do us part."
Katelyn repeated those words. "I, Katelyn, take thee, Joe, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold from this day forward. For better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish; 'til death do us part."
Leah handed us both our rings and we both said the words.
"With this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring, I thee wed."
Jeff said a few more words and then pronounced us husband and wife. Katelyn and I kissed, and then Jeff said Mr. and Mrs. Joe Solomon for the first time. I smiled at Katelyn and spoke softly in Arabic. "Now, you're mine."
"And you're mine," she whispered in Farsi. "Forever."
*Katelyn*
Joe and I got back to the safe house that he had in France, both of us still wearing our wedding clothes. "Thank you for bringing Leah," I told him. "That means a lot to me."
"I figured you'd want someone there," he said as he took off his shoes and tossed them into a corner of the living room. He then led me into the bedroom and headed for the stereo on the opposite side of the room.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
He turned it on and a song came on. "I'm ten miles from town, and I just broke down…"
"This song sounds familiar," I mused as Joe approached me and pulled me into his arms.
"It's called 'Life After You'," he informed me as he pressed a kiss to my lips. "It always makes me think of you."
"Is this our first dance?" I asked with a smile.
He grinned back at me. "Yes, it is, Mrs. Solomon."
"I like that," I whispered softly and rested my head against my husband's chest.
"All that I'm after is a life full of laughter; as long as I'm laughing with you. I think that all that still matters is love ever after; after the life we've been through. Cause I know there's no life after you."
"I like this song," I informed him.
"Me too."
"This can be our song," I decided.
He dipped me and then winked. "Agreed."
He pulled me back up and we continued moving across the floor, our bodies close together. I breathed in the scent of his cologne and looked down at the rings on my finger; the engagement ring and the new wedding band. The wedding band on his finger was white gold and one that I had specially ordered. It fit him so well.
The song ended and Joe went to go turn the radio off as I slipped out of the silver heels that I was wearing. Next, I removed my necklace and the earrings I was wearing. Joe came up behind me as I was setting them down on the dresser and wrapped his arms around me. "I love you."
"I love you, too," I whispered in return.
He kissed my neck lightly and said, "I can't wait until we can officially move in together."
"Won't be long now."
"Mmm." He kissed my neck again and then moved up to my jaw. I turned in his arms to kiss him, wrapping my arms around his neck. I worked his tie off easily and then slid the jacket off of his shoulders.
He removed the dress easily and carefully set it aside. I laughed when he picked me up like a rag doll and set me down on the bed. When his lips found mine again, the reality of the situation hit me and I lost my breath.
He pulled away to kiss my neck and whispered, "I love you."
"I love you too, Joe," I whispered back and fell into my husband's embraces.