Chapter 23 [The Big Wedding Day—St. Matthias Church, Granville, KS]
Lana fretted within the old granite structure on the west side of town. She had almost passed out on a couple of occasions between the cancer and her nerves. Still she determined to get through the day for Clark's sake if for nothing else. Her fingers brushed across the ruffles of her mother's wedding dress resting against her wrists. Fortunately the dress had fit especially given the short time frame for their planning purposes.
"You're doing great," Chloe cheered to her left smoothing the bride's dress and lowering the veil into position. "There! Now you're set!"
"Says you. I feel like I'm about to have a heart attack," Lana replied anxiously. "Where's your Dad?"
"He's waiting right outside the door." Hearing a knock, she answered it to find Gabe standing there. "How are we doing?"
"They're ready for the Big Moment," he revealed pleasantly. "You just keep impressing, Sweetie." He kissed his daughter softly on the cheek. "As do you, Lana. Your folks are watching upstairs right now. They'd be proud of you."
"I know but thanks, Mr. Sullivan. I appreciate that. I just want to be at my best for Clark," Lana declared anxiously. "In this and all things for as long as I can be."
"Trust me, Lana. I just spoke to him. You are his rock and his world. Disabilities mean little in this sense. Trust yourself and him. You love each other. That should be enough," he assured her. "Just make each other happy."
"Amen to that, Dad," Chloe chimed in. "By the way Kara standing by the altar waiting for us along with Clark and Pete. Shall we?"
"It's time. Death won't steal this one from me," Lana insisted as he rolled her out of the room and down the hall toward the main service area. I will not falter. I'll be as tall as I can be. I'll be worthy of you, Clark Kent! I will be in spite of this cancer!
[Altar—Seven minutes earlier]
Clark fussed with his tie nervously. Since he and Lana had parted on the previous evening, time had inexorably ticked by. He worried if she had some cancer attack. Perhaps some enemies with a score to settle had ambushed her and Chloe on the way there….
…perhaps his mind was coming up with reasons to be nervous….
…perhaps it was reacting to the whirlwind fashion of these nuptials….
You know you've wanted this. Perhaps it's going way too fast but so is Lana's remaining time. She doesn't have time for a standard courtship. You two have known each other for a lifetime anyhow. He straightened himself and relaxed. He daydreamt of the remaining time with her. I will make her future a good one. She'll be happy. I will see to that.
"I knew we should've kicked in the serious bachelor party stuff," Pete noted with a bit of humor meant to relax his friend. "Those butterflies from high school are back."
"They never left. Makes me wonder what I saw in Lois," Clark declared.
"Good looks, successful career and driven to soar. Sounds like a match at that point especially after Lana had to leave with the Suit. Now you've got your dream…the one you've had since we were all in nursery school. About damn time, Dude," Pete assessed.
"They'll make each other happy, Pete," Kara noted from across the platform where she waited for the rest of the bridal party."
"Amen to that notion," the minister concurred. He looked over the half-full church and wished that there had been more people there. "Are you doing all right, Clark?"
"Never better, Reverend Sanders. Thanks for doing this on such short notice," Clark expressed.
"In most cases, I'd advise some time to get to know each other. However you and Lana have done that over a lifetime. Besides she has a special circumstance," Sanders assured him. Seeing that everyone was in position, he signaled to Gabe Sullivan. When the latter had slipped into the back hall to fetch the bride, he allowed himself a minute of quiet reflection.
A couple of minutes later, Gabe appeared in the doorway and nodded in affirmation.
Sanders turned to the organist. "Shall we, Mrs. Richards?"
The elderly African-American woman's fingers began their dance across the ivory keys. Their pressures came together in an elegant wedding march wafting through the church.
Martha dabbed her left eye with a handkerchief. It's really going to happen. After so long of a wait! She turned with everyone else as Chloe walked slowly ahead of her father and Lana into the chamber proper.
Chloe for her part moved in time to the music. While she wished that her cousin would've wished the couple well, she knew that would never happen. She saw Oliver shoot them a supportive smile and returned the gesture gladly.
"How are you doing?" Gabe whispered in Lana's ear.
"Great. Thanks," Lana responded pleasantly. She wished that she could've seen the crowd and pageantry within the church at that point. She knew it was being taped so she could watch it with Kara and Clark's assistance later at the farm. Still it felt strange to have so many people watching her and not be able to see them….
…to see her Plaid Prince waiting for her….
Gabe wheeled her up the ramp and over to where the others waited for them. He shook Clark's hand earnestly. "Take care of her, Clark. She's quite a woman."
"I will with everything I have," Clark vowed earnestly while looking toward his beloved. Perhaps he strayed off the path with Lois. But now his heart walked back down its Path True. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. Glad this is happening," Lana admitted.
"As am I," Clark declared proudly. He nodded to Kara. ["Ready?"]
["Ready,"] his cousin agreed while opening herself to him and vice-versa. They combined their concentration and energy to boost the effort before she linked with Lana.
The bride forced herself to stay still as her head buzzed with the now-familiar vibe. Her brain received its input from its outside sources. Her eyes cleared to see Clark standing there beaming warmly on her. She turned her head in tune with Kara's to take in the whole crowd.
"We're all here for Clark and you," Kara whispered in her ear. "Enjoy it."
Lana nodded as she turned back toward the minister. "Reverend, can we start please?"
Sanders smiled and began the service. He waxed perhaps a bit too lengthily on the obligations of husband and wife to care for each other in sunshine and rain; in plenty and in want. He noted how the couple in front of him offered testimony of that notion. He offered some Biblical verses to that effect reminding the crowd of loyalty and fealty in all things.
Then he turned to the couple. "Before God, I ask you, Clark Jonathan Kent, do you swear to take Lana now and forever forsaking all others from this day forth. For richer and poorer? In sickness and health? To treat her with respect and dignity for the days you both shall live?"
"I do," Clark vowed without hesitation. He grinned at her with affection and let his eyes sparkle into hers.
"And you, Lana Elizabeth Lang, before God, do you swear to take Clark now and forever forsaking all others from this day forth. For richer and poorer? In sickness and health? To treat her with respect and dignity for the days you both shall live?"
"I do," Lana vowed without hesitation offering her Love a warm and inviting smile.
"Do we have the rings?" Sanders requested.
Pete handed Clark a simple diamond ring. "Here you go, Clark."
Chloe held up a wedding band. "When the moment comes, Reverend."
Sanders nodded in affirmation. "Clark, place the ring on Lana's hand and repeat after me…."
Clark slid the ring onto Lana's finger and repeated the mantra of fidelity to her and everyone else.
"Now, Lana, if you would?" Sanders requested.
Chloe handed her the wedding band and smiled to Clark with an affirmative nod.
Lana considered the band along with Kara for a long second. Then she enthusiastically slid the bauble onto his ring finger and repeated the words after Sanders.
"There now. Everything is in order. By the authority vested in me by God and the State of Kansas, I declare you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," Sanders concluded.
Clark lifted Lana's veil to see her looking contentedly at him. "At last."
"At long last," she agreed while anxiously grinning. "You heard him. Kiss me already."
He chuckled and locked lips with hers for a long minute. Their energies flowed back and forth between one another. Then they broke away to face the crowd.
"May I present Mr. and Mrs. Clark Kent?" Sanders announced.
The audience stood and applauded enthusiastically. They knew how the couple had struggled with their respective heartaches. They'd watched them wander off the path and run from their common bond. Yet at that point, they'd chosen to return to their destined love. Perhaps it wasn't for as long as might have been but their love was to be celebrated nonetheless.
And that in the final analysis is all that really mattered between them…..